The Induced Innovation Hypothesis and Energy-Saving Technological Change

S-Tier
Journal: Quarterly Journal of Economics
Year: 1999
Volume: 114
Issue: 3
Pages: 941-975

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

We develop a methodology for testing Hicks's induced innovation hypothesis by estimating a product-characteristics model of energy-using consumer durables, augmenting the hypothesis to allow for the influence of government regulations. For the products we explored, the evidence suggests that (i) the rate of overall innovation was independent of energy prices and regulations; (ii) the direction of innovation was responsive to energy price changes for some products but not for others; (iii) energy price changes induced changes in the subset of technically feasible models that were offered for sale; (iv) this responsiveness increased substantially during the period after energy-efficiency product labeling was required; and (v) nonetheless, a sizable portion of efficiency improvements were autonomous.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:oup:qjecon:v:114:y:1999:i:3:p:941-975.
Journal Field
General
Author Count
3
Added to Database
2026-01-25