Environmental regulations and productivity growth: the case of fossil-fueled electric power generation

Journal Article · Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1983 · J. Polit. Econ.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/261170· OSTI ID:5866155

Gollop, F M; Roberts, M J

This paper measures and analyzes the effect of sulfur-dioxide-emission restrictions on the rate of productivity growth in the electric-power industry over the 1973-1979 business cycle. A firm-specific measure of regulatory intensity is developed which depends on the severity of the emission standard, the extent of enforcement, and the unconstrained emission rate relevant to each utility. The results indicate that emission regulations result in significantly higher generating costs, primarily from the increased use of low-sulfur fuels. The average rate of productivity growth was reduced by 0.59 percentage points per year for constrained utilities. 26 references, 5 tables.

• OSTI ID: 5866155
• Journal Information: J. Polit. Econ.; (United States), Vol. 91:4
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING
POLICY AND ECONOMY
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ELECTRIC UTILITIES
POLLUTION REGULATIONS
FOSSIL-FUEL POWER PLANTS
PRODUCTIVITY
ECONOMIC IMPACT
AIR POLLUTION
POLLUTION
POWER PLANTS
PUBLIC UTILITIES
REGULATIONS
THERMAL POWER PLANTS
290300* - Energy Planning & Policy- Environment
Health
& Safety
290200 - Energy Planning & Policy- Economics & Sociology
296000 - Energy Planning & Policy- Electric Power
500600 - Environment
Atmospheric- Regulations- (-1989)