Seminar

Pass-Through as a Test for Market Power: An Application to Solar Subsidies

Jacquelyn Pless (University of Oxford)

May 13, 2019, 11:00–12:15

Toulouse

Room MS 003

Environment Economics Seminar

Abstract

We formalize pass-through over-shifting as a simple yet under-utilized test for market power. We apply this test in the market for solar energy. Specifically, we estimate the pass-through of solar subsidies to solar system prices using rich micro-level transaction and subsidy data from California. Buyers of solar systems capture nearly the full subsidy, while there is more-than- complete pass-through to lessees. We conclude that solar markets are imperfectly competitive by ruling out alternative explanations for over-shifting, and reinforce this conclusion with a test of solar demand curvature. This procedure can serve to detect market power beyond the solar market. (joint with Arthur A. van Benthem)