Does marginal price matter? A regression discontinuity approach to estimating water demand

Shanthi Nataraj and Michael Hanemann ()

Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, 2011, vol. 61, issue 2, 198-212

Abstract: Although complex pricing schedules are increasingly common among water and electricity providers, it is difficult to determine whether consumers respond to changes in the pricing schedule because price changes are often confounded with simultaneous demand shocks or non-price policies. To overcome this challenge, we exploit a natural experiment - the introduction of a third price block in an increasing block pricing schedule for water - in Santa Cruz, California. Using a regression discontinuity design, we find that consumers do respond to changes in marginal price. Doubling marginal price leads to a 12% decrease in water use (500 cubic feet per bill) among high-use households.

Keywords: Water; demand; Increasing; block; pricing; Regression; discontinuity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2011
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (64)

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Related works:
Working Paper: Does Marginal Price Matter? A Regression Discontinuity Approach to Estimating Water Demand (2008)
Working Paper: Does Marginal Price Matter? A Regression Discontinuity Approach to Estimating Water Demand (2008)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:jeeman:v:61:y:2011:i:2:p:198-212

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