1. Energieeffizienz -- eine neue Aufgabe staatlicher Regulierung?
- Author
-
Sturm, Bodo and Mennel, Tim
- Subjects
ENERGY policy ,ENERGY consumption ,ENVIRONMENTAL protection ,DISTRIBUTIVE justice ,ENERGY tax ,EMISSIONS trading - Abstract
In the political debate, calls for regulation of energy efficiency are usually based on environmental or resource economic arguments. This paper analyses the case for energy efficiency regulation as a policy to curb excessive resource consumption, to protect the climate and to achieve energy security. The economic rationale for regulation on these grounds is market failure due to externalities and asymmetric information as well as intergenerational distributive justice. We show, however, that most instruments used in energy efficiency regulation, such as standards, subsidies and white certificates, do not meet the criterion of cost efficiency. Tradable emission permits and specific energy taxes are more effective in achieving the policy goals and less costly. Energy efficiency is shown to be a result, not a means of sound environmental and resource policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2009
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