Do Markets Reduce Costs? Assessing the Impact of Regulatory Restructuring on US Electric Generation Efficiency

S-Tier
Journal: American Economic Review
Year: 2007
Volume: 97
Issue: 4
Pages: 1250-1277

Authors (3)

Kira R. Fabrizio (not in RePEc) Nancy L. Rose (National Bureau of Economic Re...) Catherine D. Wolfram (not in RePEc)

Score contribution per author:

2.681 = (α=2.01 / 3 authors) × 4.0x S-tier

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

Abstract

While neoclassical models assume static cost-minimization by firms, agency models suggest that firms may not minimize costs in less-competitive or regulated environments. We test this using a transition from cost-of-service regulation to marketoriented environments for many US electric generating plants. Our estimates of input demand suggest that publicly owned plants, whose owners were largely insulated from these reforms, experienced the smallest efficiency gains, while investor-owned plants in states that restructured their wholesale electricity markets improved the most. The results suggest modest medium-term efficiency benefits from replacing regulated monopoly with a market-based industry structure. (JEL D24, L11 , L51, L94, L98)

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:aea:aecrev:v:97:y:2007:i:4:p:1250-1277
Journal Field
General
Author Count
3
Added to Database
2026-01-29