|
|
|
Sort Order |
|
|
|
Items / Page
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Srl | Item |
| 1 |
ID:
186483
|
|
|
|
|
| Summary/Abstract |
The Tokyo emissions trading scheme (ETS) is the first regional ETS in Japan, where a national ETS has not been introduced. In this study, we estimate the policy impacts of the Tokyo ETS on energy usage and economic activities during the scheme’s first phase (2010–2014) and the first four years of its second phase (2015–2018) using business establishment-level panel data from 2007 to 2018. From the matching-based difference-in-differences (DID) estimation results, we find that while regulated business establishments reduced their energy usage beyond their reduction targets set by ETS regulation, the unregulated business establishments chosen by the matching strategy as a comparison group also decreased their energy usage to the same extent. Additionally, the Tokyo ETS did not have a negative impact on the economic activities of regulated business establishments during phases I and II. These results suggest that the emissions cap levels in each phase may not have been sufficiently demanding to induce regulated business establishments to implement additional energy use reduction practices.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 2 |
ID:
166941
|
|
|
|
|
| Summary/Abstract |
This paper examines the impact of revenue decoupling policies on energy efficiency spending by electric utility companies in the US. I identify this impact by using the variation in the implementation of decoupling measures over time and across utility companies in the US. Using individual utility-level data between 2007 and 2011 from the US Energy Information Administration on energy efficiency spending and other utility characteristics I find that decoupled utilities spend, on average, about $16 per customer more on energy efficiency than utilities that have not been decoupled. Therefore, given the increasing importance of energy efficiency as an effective way to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases and an ongoing increase in different regulatory environments of electric utilities, it appears that decoupling policies may be effective instruments to promote energy efficiency spending.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 3 |
ID:
181393
|
|
|
|
|
| Summary/Abstract |
There has been a debate on how the state-driven anticorruption movement during the Xi Jinping administration has influenced state-owned enterprises (SOEs). Research has examined the relationship between corruption and economic development at the country level in Asia and has found paradoxically that economic growth and high corruption levels can coexist. However, the “Asian paradox” that appears at the country level may be a transitional phenomenon of the short term. Not many researchers have empirically compared individual firm-level performance before and after a strong anticorruption drive, drawing on relevant comparison groups. This study tests whether Xi’s 2012 anticorruption campaign improved SOEs’ performance. With a difference-in-differences method, it explores whether the anticorruption campaign had different effects on the financial performance of SOEs and non-SOEs (private companies). We find that the anticorruption initiative improved SOEs’ financial performance and benefited SOEs more than non-SOEs.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 4 |
ID:
186214
|
|
|
|
|
| Summary/Abstract |
We examine the impact of China's higher education expansion on labor market outcomes for young college graduates using China's 2005 1 Percent Population Sample Survey. Exploiting variations in the expansion of university places across provinces and high school cohorts between 1999 and 2003, we apply a difference-in-differences model and take into account the demand-side effect by using the Bartik index. We find that the expansion of higher education in China decreased unemployment rates among males and college graduates in the short term. However, the policy decreased women's labor force participation and individual earnings in high-skilled white-collar jobs. We further discuss potential channels affecting the outcomes that were observed. Our results illustrate the broad economic benefits of higher education. The findings shed new light on the contribution of young skilled labor in the economic growth of China and call for policies that can alleviate the short-term negative impact of higher education on individual students and maximize human capital. Our study also provides an interesting example of the consequences of the unequal expansion of higher education opportunities on the labor market of an emerging economy.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 5 |
ID:
161869
|
|
|
|
|
| Summary/Abstract |
Using Chinese customs data covering all exporters over 2000–06, this paper empirically investigates how Chinese multi-product exporters adjust their product scope and product mix to react to U.S. antidumping. The estimation results indicate that surviving exporters experiencing antidumping would reduce their overall export product scope and concentrate on fewer more successful products, although the overall export value does not change. Specifically, they drop many pre-existing peripheral export products and simultaneously introduce new products that are closer to their main industry into the U.S. market. The analysis also finds that the sophistication of surviving exporters' export product mix increases in response to antidumping, and they export more products that have higher upstreamness.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 6 |
ID:
182791
|
|
|
|
|
| Summary/Abstract |
A quality promotion of neighborhood primary schools no doubt elevates nearby housing price. But which houses benefit from the public policy is important to improve educational equity. Accurate identification of such capitalization effects will help policymakers optimize the allocation of scarce public goods. Previous studies on this issue have been biased due to endogeneity and overlooking the impacts of facility quality change. Based on the Hangzhou's school district adjustment in 2012, the current work contributes to housing price effects of policies and education quality changes, rather than a static educational facility. The difference-in-differences model with quantile regression is constructed to obtain a more precise and detailed estimation among the different sub-markets. Results show that the average price effect estimated by the difference-in-differences is up to nearly 800 yuan/m2, higher than cross-sectional estimation. Only housing with better schools after reassignment witness a price premium. Low-priced and small houses earn more than 1000 yuan/m2, whereas high-priced and large houses are not significantly affected. The results demonstrate that future policies should ensure the rights of low-income groups to attend high quality primary school and guard against the gentrification of low-priced houses.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 7 |
ID:
185702
|
|
|
|
|
| Summary/Abstract |
Decarbonisation implies conversion to electrification with a subsequent increase in electricity consumption. The EU Emission Trading System (EU ETS) compensates firms for the higher electricity costs. We exploit sectoral and country differences in regulation and a unique dataset on beneficiaries to evaluate the impact of EU ETS indirect cost compensation on the performance of aided firms. Receiving compensation for indirect costs does not have a statistically significant impact on labour productivity. Conversely, there is evidence of a negative performance in terms of turnover, value of total assets and employment of beneficiaries. Results suggest that the amounts transferred to firms might not fully compensate for the higher cost of energy in aided countries. However, the negative effects fade in sectors more exposed to carbon leakage risk. As far as aid intensity is concerned, estimates imply that higher compensation amounts improve performance.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 8 |
ID:
191375
|
|
|
|
|
| Summary/Abstract |
Renewable energy (RE) auctions have become an increasingly popular policy instrument for decarbonizing the global energy matrix, and have been rapidly adopted by several countries worldwide. Previous research has used data from higher-income countries and two-way fixed effects models to estimate the impact of auctions on RE capacity, mostly with favorable results. However, these studies did not account for heterogeneous treatment effects across units to explore whether auctions are also effective in countries with unstable business environments. We analyze whether auctions also foster RE in countries experiencing macroeconomic instability or poor institutional quality. For this purpose, this study has drawn from multiple publicly available databases to build a dataset comprising 98 countries from 2000 to 2020. Our definition of RE includes solar, wind, and biomass sources. We first cluster countries by the quality of their business environment and then perform a differences-in-differences analysis considering staggered treatment adoption. We find that auctions positively affect RE capacity, yet the average treatment effects are higher for countries with better business environments. Thus, governments should exercise caution in adopting this instrument, especially in countries that experience macroeconomic or institutional instability. At the same time, dynamic treatment effects suggest that the policy needs time to show results.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 9 |
ID:
192770
|
|
|
|
|
| Summary/Abstract |
Renewable energy (RE) auctions have become an increasingly popular policy instrument for decarbonizing the global energy matrix, and have been rapidly adopted by several countries worldwide. Previous research has used data from higher-income countries and two-way fixed effects models to estimate the impact of auctions on RE capacity, mostly with favorable results. However, these studies did not account for heterogeneous treatment effects across units to explore whether auctions are also effective in countries with unstable business environments. We analyze whether auctions also foster RE in countries experiencing macroeconomic instability or poor institutional quality. For this purpose, this study has drawn from multiple publicly available databases to build a dataset comprising 98 countries from 2000 to 2020. Our definition of RE includes solar, wind, and biomass sources. We first cluster countries by the quality of their business environment and then perform a differences-in-differences analysis considering staggered treatment adoption. We find that auctions positively affect RE capacity, yet the average treatment effects are higher for countries with better business environments. Thus, governments should exercise caution in adopting this instrument, especially in countries that experience macroeconomic or institutional instability. At the same time, dynamic treatment effects suggest that the policy needs time to show results.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 10 |
ID:
188157
|
|
|
|
|
| Summary/Abstract |
This paper develops a theoretical model to describe how exporting firms manage their inventory stocks in response to an exogenous trade policy uncertainty shock. Using firm-level data from China Industrial Enterprise Database and China Customs Database on inventory and exports over the period around China's WTO accession, we show that a reduction in trade policy uncertainty significantly increased exporting firms' inventory holdings. The result was robust to various robustness checks. This effect was found to be stronger for private and foreign firms than state-owned enterprises and mainly driven by firms from the coastal region. We also found that the reduction in trade policy uncertainty increased the frequency and the average volume of export transactions, and that this was the mechanism behind the effect. This paper helps to understand exporting firms' optimal inventory problem arising from trade-policy uncertainty and shocks.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 11 |
ID:
170089
|
|
|
|
|
| Summary/Abstract |
This paper empirically examines the effect of language barrier on elderly migrants' health status by exploiting individual-level data from the “China National Health Survey of Migrants 2015” database. We build an indicator of language barrier with geographical distribution information of Chinese dialect regions, and further separate the language effect from the migration effect by checking whether migrants move into a region with a different dialect. Results indicate a significant and negative impact of the language barrier on the health status of elderly migrants. Specifically, a language barrier results in poorer health conditions for younger elders. The mechanism test shows that a language barrier reduces migrants' abilities to build a social network, which is harmful to their health. Elderly migrants who are less-educated, live in host residence for a shorter time and move for business incentives suffer more from a language barrier. This study proves the power of a verbal language barrier to migrants' health.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 12 |
ID:
182731
|
|
|
|
|
| Summary/Abstract |
This paper examines the impact of pilot zones for integrating informatization and industrialization (PZIIs), a novel place-based techno-industrial policy for innovation. Combining quality-adjusted invention patent data, we find that PZIIs have a significant and positive impact on urban innovation. Direct or indirect government support plays a vital role in mediating policy effects. The higher the government's fiscal self-sufficiency rate, or the more economic resources it has, the stronger the policy effects. Moreover, policy effects are amplified in pilot zones that incorporate PZII performance into local government performance assessments and span multiple prefectural administrative units. Indirect government support is reflected in the promotion of market-oriented reforms. Policy effects are greater in pilot zones with a higher degree of marketization. Further, based on firm data, we show that PZIIs effectively guide firms to increase R&D investment, indicating that PZIIs create innovation incentives. Our paper facilitates understanding the role of government in accelerating the penetration of new technology into industrial upgrades.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 13 |
ID:
188551
|
|
|
|
|
| Summary/Abstract |
Understanding how economic agents alter their energy consumption in response to seismic shocks has direct implications on the economic cost of natural disasters. This article exploits variation in peak ground acceleration from the 2015 earthquake in Nepal to investigate the impact of seismic shocks on household energy choices. Results from a difference-in-differences research design show that households exposed to large seismic shocks were 40.83% more likely to use firewood for cooking after the earthquake. This increase in the use of traditional fuel coincided with a decrease in electricity expenditure and a reduction in adoption of gas cylinders for cooking purposes. Unit prices of firewood also decreased significantly in response to seismic shocks, causing households in earthquake-affected districts to rely more on firewood as a source of cooking fuel. Results further illustrate that household consumption in electricity and kerosene for lighting declined in earthquake-affected districts. These findings conclude that large earthquakes induce poor households to use traditional fuel, exacerbating their transition to modern energy sources. Policymakers working on sustainable economic growth need to consider these disaster-induced changes in energy outcomes to ensure a successful implementation of commitments made under the Paris Agreement (COP21).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 14 |
ID:
189000
|
|
|
|
|
| Summary/Abstract |
How does exposure to aerial bombing influence voting for the target country’s leadership? Do voters tend to punish incumbents for policy failure? These questions are relevant for understanding the target country’s postwar politics because aerial bombing remains one of the deadliest and most widely used military options for coercive bargaining. Despite the historical and contemporary relevance of these questions, there are only a few studies in the air-power literature arguing that strategic bombing produces a temporary rally effect but no subsequent political consequences other than political apathy. Most studies ignore important variation within states even though leadership responsibility can vary tremendously on the substate level. This article analyzes the effect of the 1999 NATO bombing of Yugoslavia on Serbian local elections using the difference-in-differences identification strategy and identifies the effect of airstrikes on the vote-share of Slobodan Milosevic’s regime. The results show that the regime’s vote-share is 2.6% lower in municipalities exposed to the bombing. Challenging prior studies, this finding demonstrates that retrospective voting applies to aerial bombing even in competitive authoritarian regimes.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 15 |
ID:
182720
|
|
|
|
|
| Summary/Abstract |
This paper exploits a quasi-natural experiment – the U.S. granting of Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) to China after China's accession to the World Trade Organization – to examine whether trade liberalization affects the incidence of child labor. PNTR permanently set U.S. duties on Chinese imports at low Normal Trade Relations (NTR) levels and removed the uncertainty associated with annual renewals of China's NTR status. We find that the PNTR was significantly associated with the rising incidence of child labor in China. A one percentage point reduction in expected export tariffs raises the odds of child labor by a 1.2 percentage point. The effects are greater for girls, older children, rural children, and children with less-educated parents. The effect of trade liberalization on the incidence of child labor, however, tends to weaken in the long run, probably because trade liberalization can induce exporters to upgrade technology and thus have less demand for unskilled workers.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 16 |
ID:
176114
|
|
|
|
|
| Summary/Abstract |
Sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions from coal-fired power plants in China have declined significantly since an incentive-based policy named as the desulfurated electricity pricing premium program (DEPPP) was implemented for all coal-fired power plants in 2006. Using industrial pollution panel data from 350 prefectures in China and difference-in-differences models, we estimate causal effects of the DEPPP on the coal-fired power plants. We find that the DEPPP provided the coal-fired power plants strong incentives to invest in capital-intensive flue gas desulfurization (FGD) equipment and to operate the installed FGD at a higher rate, and thus contributed to significant reductions in total SO2 emissions in China. Our results suggest that the DEPPP reduced uncertainty faced by the coal-fired power plants when making large capital investments in SO2 abatement techniques such as FGD to comply with stringent environmental regulations. However, the DEPPP may not be cost-effective in reducing SO2 emissions given heterogeneous marginal costs for operating FGD units in different coal-fired power plants. Furthermore, the effectiveness of the DEPPP also depends on strengthened environmental regulatory capacities to enforce coal-fired power plants to comply with the operating rate requirement for the installed FGD.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|