The Induced Innovation Hypothesis and Energy-Saving Technological Change

Richard Newell, Adam Jaffe and Robert Stavins

No 10521, Discussion Papers from Resources for the Future

Abstract: We develop a methodology for testing Hick'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: (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 sizeable portion of efficiency improvements were autonomous.

Keywords: Resource/Energy; Economics; and; Policy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 43
Date: 1998
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (12)

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Related works:
Journal Article: The Induced Innovation Hypothesis and Energy-Saving Technological Change (1999)
Working Paper: The Induced Innovation Hypothesis and Energy-Saving Technological Change (1998)
Working Paper: The Induced Innovation Hypothesis and Energy-Saving Technological Change (1998)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ags:rffdps:10521

DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.10521

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