Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/167585 
Year of Publication: 
2017
Series/Report no.: 
Working Paper Sustainability and Innovation No. S10/2017
Publisher: 
Fraunhofer-Institut für System- und Innovationsforschung ISI, Karlsruhe
Abstract: 
The cost-effectiveness of energy technology upgrade programs critically depends on free riding. This paper assesses ex ante the effects of free riding on the cost-effectiveness of a rebate program that promotes the adoption of energy-efficient heating systems, relying on contingent valuation choice experiments carried out through identical representative surveys in eight EU Members States. The anal-ysis distinguishes between strong and weak free riders: strong free riders already plan to adopt a new heating system in the next five years; weak free riders decide to purchase once propositioned with an attractive technology package (and there-fore do not require a rebate to adopt). The reservation rebates for incentivized adopters (those who decide to adopt because of a rebate) differ substantially across countries. On average, they amount to approximately 40% of the heating system's purchasing price, suggesting generally high opportunity costs for prem-ature upgrades. The reservation rebate and weak free-ridership vary with income, risk and time preferences, and environmental identity. At a rebate level that cor-responds to half the purchase price of the offered heating system, the estimated share of free riders exceeded 50% for most countries, with a typically higher share of weak free riders than strong free riders. Specific rebate cost estimates (in €/tCO2) differ considerably across countries, suggesting that cooperation can yield budgetary benefits.
Subjects: 
free rider
subsidies
energy efficiency
contingent valuation
JEL: 
Q41
Q48
Q51
Persistent Identifier of the first edition: 
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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