Pass-Through as a Test for Market Power: An Application to Solar Subsidies

A-Tier
Journal: American Economic Journal: Applied Economics
Year: 2019
Volume: 11
Issue: 4
Pages: 367-401

Authors (2)

Jacquelyn Pless (Oxford University) Arthur A. van Benthem (not in RePEc)

Score contribution per author:

2.011 = (α=2.01 / 2 authors) × 2.0x A-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

We formalize pass-through over-shifting as a simple yet underutilized test for market power. We apply this test in the market for solar energy. Specifically, we estimate the pass-through of solar subsidies to solar system prices using rich micro-level transaction and subsidy data from California. Buyers of solar systems capture nearly the full subsidy, while there is more-than-complete pass-through to lessees. We conclude that solar markets are imperfectly competitive by ruling out alternative explanations for over-shifting and reinforce this conclusion with a test of solar demand curvature. This procedure can serve to detect market power beyond the solar market.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:aea:aejapp:v:11:y:2019:i:4:p:367-401
Journal Field
General
Author Count
2
Added to Database
2026-01-29