Water demand under alternative price structures
By: Sheila Olmstead, W. Michael Hanemann, Robert N. Stavins.
Contributors: Hanemann, W. Michael.; Stavins, R. N. 1948-; National Bureau of Economic Research.
Series: NBER working paper series -- no. 13573.; Working paper series (National Bureau of Economic Research) -- working paper no. 13573.
Publisher: National Bureau of Economic Research
Published: 2007
Place of publication: Cambridge, Mass
Language: eng
Number of pages: 41
Subjects: Water -- Prices -- Econometric models
Description: We estimate the price elasticity of water demand with household-level data, structurally modeling the piecewise-linear budget constraints imposed by increasing-block pricing. We develop a mathematical expression for the unconditional price elasticity of demand under increasing-block prices and compare conditional and unconditional elasticities analytically and empirically. We test the hypothesis that price elasticity may depend on price structure, beyond technical differences in elasticity concepts. Due to the possibility of endogenous utility price structure choice, observed differences in elasticity across price structures may be due either to a behavioral response to price structure, or to underlying heterogeneity among water utility service areas.
Notes: "November 2007"

Includes bibliographical references (p. 32-35).

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