IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/jcecon/v52y2024i2p509-533.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Transition from plan to market: Imperfect regulations in the electricity sector of China

Author

Listed:
  • Cao, Jing
  • Ho, Mun S.
  • Ma, Rong
  • Zhang, Yu

Abstract

We present evidence on the distortions that arise from imperfect regulations compared with market allocation mechanisms. Using a triple difference strategy, we evaluate the effectiveness of the Energy-Saving Generation Dispatch reform in China, which aims to allocate more generating hours to power plants with higher energy efficiency. We find that the new dispatch rule improved resource allocation within provinces compared with the previous equal-share dispatch rule. However, despite these improvements, the reform fell short of its intended goals because of the failure to strictly implement the merit order based on real-time coal consumption rates. We demonstrate how the lack of compensation for losers, technical requirements for grid stability, the existence of multiple goals, and information costs contribute to imperfect regulation.

Suggested Citation

  • Cao, Jing & Ho, Mun S. & Ma, Rong & Zhang, Yu, 2024. "Transition from plan to market: Imperfect regulations in the electricity sector of China," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 52(2), pages 509-533.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jcecon:v:52:y:2024:i:2:p:509-533
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jce.2024.01.001
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147596724000027
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.jce.2024.01.001?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Pollitt, M. & Yang, C-H. & Chen, H., 2017. "Reforming the Chinese Electricity Supply Sector: Lessons from International Experience," Cambridge Working Papers in Economics 1713, Faculty of Economics, University of Cambridge.
    2. Clément de Chaisemartin & Xavier D'Haultfœuille, 2020. "Two-Way Fixed Effects Estimators with Heterogeneous Treatment Effects," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 110(9), pages 2964-2996, September.
    3. Li, Jianglong & Ho, Mun Sing, 2022. "Indirect cost of renewable energy: Insights from dispatching," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 105(C).
    4. Mark R. Jacobsen & Christopher R. Knittel & James M. Sallee & Arthur A. van Benthem, 2020. "The Use of Regression Statistics to Analyze Imperfect Pricing Policies," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 128(5), pages 1826-1876.
    5. Byrd, William A., 1987. "The impact of the two-tier plan/market system in chinese industry," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 11(3), pages 295-308, September.
    6. Tankha, Sunil & Misal, Annasahed B. & Fuller, Boyd W., 2010. "Getting reforms done in inhospitable institutional environments: untying a Gordian Knot in India's power distribution sector," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(11), pages 7121-7129, November.
    7. Paul L. Joskow, 2010. "Market Imperfections versus Regulatory Imperfections," ifo DICE Report, ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich, vol. 8(03), pages 3-7, October.
    8. Zheng, Xuemei & Menezes, Flavio & Nepal, Rabindra, 2021. "In between the state and the market: An empirical assessment of the early achievements of China's 2015 electricity reform," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 93(C).
    9. Zhao, Xiaoli & Ma, Chunbo, 2013. "Deregulation, vertical unbundling and the performance of China's large coal-fired power plants," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 40(C), pages 474-483.
    10. Lawrence J. Lau & Yingyi Qian & Gerard Roland, 2000. "Reform without Losers: An Interpretation of China's Dual-Track Approach to Transition," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 108(1), pages 120-143, February.
    11. Cl'ement de Chaisemartin & Xavier D'Haultf{oe}uille, 2020. "Difference-in-Differences Estimators of Intertemporal Treatment Effects," Papers 2007.04267, arXiv.org, revised Dec 2024.
    12. Lade, Gabriel E. & Rudik, Ivan, 2020. "Costs of inefficient regulation: Evidence from the Bakken," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 102(C).
    13. Chenggang Xu, 2011. "The Fundamental Institutions of China's Reforms and Development," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 49(4), pages 1076-1151, December.
    14. Severin Borenstein & James Bushnell, 2015. "The US Electricity Industry After 20 Years of Restructuring," Annual Review of Economics, Annual Reviews, vol. 7(1), pages 437-463, August.
    15. Commander, Simon, 2012. "A Guide to the Political Economy of Reforming Energy Subsidies," IZA Policy Papers 52, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    16. Steve Cicala, 2022. "Imperfect Markets versus Imperfect Regulation in US Electricity Generation," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 112(2), pages 409-441, February.
    17. Tooraj Jamasb and Michael Pollitt, 2005. "Electricity Market Reform in the European Union: Review of Progress toward Liberalization & Integration," The Energy Journal, International Association for Energy Economics, vol. 0(Special I), pages 11-42.
    18. Steve Cicala, 2015. "When Does Regulation Distort Costs? Lessons from Fuel Procurement in US Electricity Generation," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 105(1), pages 411-444, January.
    19. Michael Pollitt, 2021. "Measuring the Impact of Electricity Market Reform in a Chinese Context," Working Papers EPRG2111, Energy Policy Research Group, Cambridge Judge Business School, University of Cambridge.
    20. Sicular, Terry, 1988. "Plan and Market in China's Agricultural Commerce," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 96(2), pages 283-307, April.
    21. Hao Chen & Chi Kong Chyong & Zhifu Mi & Yi-Ming Wei, 2020. "Reforming the Operation Mechanism of Chinese Electricity System: Benefits, Challenges and Possible Solutions," The Energy Journal, , vol. 41(2), pages 219-246, March.
    22. Dong, Jun & Xue, Guiyuan & Dong, Mengmeng & Xu, Xiaolin, 2015. "Energy-saving power generation dispatching in China: Regulations, pilot projects and policy recommendations—A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 43(C), pages 1285-1300.
    23. Borenstein, Severin & Bushnell, James, 2000. "Electricity Restructuring: Deregulation or Reregulation?," Competition Policy Center, Working Paper Series qt22d2q3fn, Competition Policy Center, Institute for Business and Economic Research, UC Berkeley.
    24. Kira R. Fabrizio & Nancy L. Rose & Catherine D. Wolfram, 2007. "Do Markets Reduce Costs? Assessing the Impact of Regulatory Restructuring on US Electric Generation Efficiency," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 97(4), pages 1250-1277, September.
    25. He, Guojun & Fan, Maoyong & Zhou, Maigeng, 2016. "The effect of air pollution on mortality in China: Evidence from the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 18-39.
    26. Paul L. Joskow, 2008. "Lessons Learned From Electricity Market Liberalization," The Energy Journal, , vol. 29(2_suppl), pages 9-42, December.
    27. Hogan, William W, 2002. "Electricity Market Restructuring: Reforms of Reforms," Journal of Regulatory Economics, Springer, vol. 21(1), pages 103-132, January.
    28. repec:ces:ifodic:v:8:y:2010:i:3:p:14566927 is not listed on IDEAS
    29. Chen, Siyuan & Liu, Pei & Li, Zheng, 2020. "Low carbon transition pathway of power sector with high penetration of renewable energy," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 130(C).
    30. Meredith L. Fowlie, 2009. "Incomplete Environmental Regulation, Imperfect Competition, and Emissions Leakage," American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, American Economic Association, vol. 1(2), pages 72-112, August.
    31. Trebilcock, Michael J., 2014. "Dealing with Losers: The Political Economy of Policy Transitions," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780199370658.
    32. Yang Yu & Jianxiao Wang & Qixin Chen & Johannes Urpelainen & Qingguo Ding & Shuo Liu & Bing Zhang, 2023. "Decarbonization efforts hindered by China’s slow progress on electricity market reforms," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 6(8), pages 1006-1015, August.
    33. Liu, Yang & Jiang, Zhigao & Guo, Bowei, 2022. "Assessing China’s provincial electricity spot market pilot operations: Lessons from Guangdong province," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 164(C).
    34. Callaway, Brantly & Sant’Anna, Pedro H.C., 2021. "Difference-in-Differences with multiple time periods," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 225(2), pages 200-230.
    35. Paul L. Joskow, 2010. "Market Imperfections versus Regulatory Imperfections," ifo DICE Report, ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich, vol. 8(3), pages 3-7, October.
    36. Ma, Teng & Takeuchi, Kenji, 2020. "Cleaning up the air for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games: Empirical study on China's thermal power sector," Resource and Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 60(C).
    37. Chenxi Xiang & Xinye Zheng & Feng Song & Jiang Lin & Zhigao Jiang, 2023. "Assessing the roles of efficient market versus regulatory capture in China’s power market reform," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 8(7), pages 747-757, July.
    38. Chan, H. Ron & Fell, Harrison & Lange, Ian & Li, Shanjun, 2017. "Efficiency and environmental impacts of electricity restructuring on coal-fired power plants," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 81(C), pages 1-18.
    39. Arocena, Pablo & Kuhn, Kai-Uwe- & Regibeau, Pierre, 1999. "Regulatory reform in the Spanish electricity industry: a missed opportunity for competition," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 27(7), pages 387-399, July.
    40. Ma, Chunbo & Zhao, Xiaoli, 2015. "China's electricity market restructuring and technology mandates: Plant-level evidence for changing operational efficiency," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 47(C), pages 227-237.
    41. Alwyn Young, 2000. "The Razor's Edge: Distortions and Incremental Reform in the People's Republic of China," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 115(4), pages 1091-1135.
    42. Katharine Ricke & Laurent Drouet & Ken Caldeira & Massimo Tavoni, 2018. "Country-level social cost of carbon," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 8(10), pages 895-900, October.
    43. Ding, Qingguo & Wang, Jianxiao & Zhang, Bing & Yu, Yang, 2023. "Economic burden of China's fairness regulations on power generation sector," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 278(C).
    44. Bhattacharyya, Anjana & Bhattacharyya, Arunava & Kumbhakar, Subal C., 1996. "Government Interventions, Market Imperfections, and Technical Inefficiency in a Mixed Economy: A Case Study of Indian Agriculture," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 22(3), pages 219-241, June.
    45. Chen, Hao & Cui, Jian & Song, Feng & Jiang, Zhigao, 2022. "Evaluating the impacts of reforming and integrating China's electricity sector," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 108(C).
    46. Martimort, David, 1996. "The multiprincipal nature of government," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 40(3-5), pages 673-685, April.
    47. Fei Teng & Frank Jotzo & Xin Wang, 2017. "Interactions between Market Reform and a Carbon Price in Chinas Power Sector," Economics of Energy & Environmental Policy, International Association for Energy Economics, vol. 0(Number 2).
    48. Kevin M. Murphy & Andrei Shleifer & Robert W. Vishny, 1992. "The Transition to a Market Economy: Pitfalls of Partial Reform," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 107(3), pages 889-906.
    49. Dani Rodrik, 1996. "Understanding Economic Policy Reform," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 34(1), pages 9-41, March.
    50. Morales-España, Germán & Nycander, Elis & Sijm, Jos, 2021. "Reducing CO2 emissions by curtailing renewables: Examples from optimal power system operation," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 99(C).
    51. Du, Limin & He, Yanan & Yan, Jianye, 2013. "The effects of electricity reforms on productivity and efficiency of China's fossil-fired power plants: An empirical analysis," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 40(C), pages 804-812.
    52. Michael R. Davidson and Ignacio Pérez-Arriaga, 2020. "Avoiding Pitfalls in China's Electricity Sector Reforms," The Energy Journal, International Association for Energy Economics, vol. 0(Number 3), pages 119-142.
    53. Le Grand, Julian, 1991. "The Theory of Government Failure," British Journal of Political Science, Cambridge University Press, vol. 21(4), pages 423-442, October.
    54. Wei, Yi-Ming & Chen, Hao & Chyong, Chi Kong & Kang, Jia-Ning & Liao, Hua & Tang, Bao-Jun, 2018. "Economic dispatch savings in the coal-fired power sector: An empirical study of China," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 330-342.
    55. Sun, Liyang & Abraham, Sarah, 2021. "Estimating dynamic treatment effects in event studies with heterogeneous treatment effects," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 225(2), pages 175-199.
    56. Paul L. Joskow, 1997. "Restructuring, Competition and Regulatory Reform in the U.S. Electricity Sector," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 11(3), pages 119-138, Summer.
    57. Sanjay Jain & Sharun W. Mukand, 2003. "Redistributive Promises and the Adoption of Economic Reform," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 93(1), pages 256-264, March.
    58. Geoffrey Heal & Jisung Park, 2016. "Editor's Choice Reflections—Temperature Stress and the Direct Impact of Climate Change: A Review of an Emerging Literature," Review of Environmental Economics and Policy, Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 10(2), pages 347-362.
    59. Alwyn Young, 2000. "The Razor's Edge: Distortions and Incremental Reform in the People's Republic of China," NBER Working Papers 7828, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    60. Yavlinsky Grigory & Braguinsky Serguey, 1994. "The Inefficiency of Laissez-Faire in Russia: Hysteresis Effects and the Need for Policy-Led Transformation," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 19(1), pages 88-116, August.
    61. Kahrl, Fredrich & Williams, James H. & Hu, Junfeng, 2013. "The political economy of electricity dispatch reform in China," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 53(C), pages 361-369.
    62. OGGIONI, Giorgia & MURPHY, Frederic H. & SMEERS, Yves, 2014. "Evaluating the impacts of priority dispatch in the European electricity market," LIDAM Reprints CORE 2554, Université catholique de Louvain, Center for Operations Research and Econometrics (CORE).
    63. Severin Borenstein & James B. Bushnell & Frank A. Wolak, 2002. "Measuring Market Inefficiencies in California's Restructured Wholesale Electricity Market," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 92(5), pages 1376-1405, December.
    64. Zhao, Xiaoli & Liu, Suwei & Yan, Fengguang & Yuan, Ziqian & Liu, Zhiwen, 2017. "Energy conservation, environmental and economic value of the wind power priority dispatch in China," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 111(C), pages 666-675.
    65. Luo, Qian & Garcia-Menendez, Fernando & Yang, Haozhe & Deshmukh, Ranjit & He, Gang & Lin, Jiang & Johnson, Jeremiah X, 2023. "The Health and Climate Benefits of Economic Dispatch in China’s Power System," Department of Agricultural & Resource Economics, UC Berkeley, Working Paper Series qt2vq7v90q, Department of Agricultural & Resource Economics, UC Berkeley.
    66. David J. Bulman & Xun Yan & Qiong Zhang, 2022. "Picking Losers: How Career Incentives Undermine Industrial Policy in Chinese Cities," Journal of Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 58(6), pages 1102-1123, June.
    67. Zhong, Haiwang & Xia, Qing & Chen, Yuguo & Kang, Chongqing, 2015. "Energy-saving generation dispatch toward a sustainable electric power industry in China," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 83(C), pages 14-25.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Eisenberg, Tom, 2024. "Missing data and the effects of market deregulation: Evidence from Chinese coal power," International Journal of Industrial Organization, Elsevier, vol. 93(C).
    2. Chen, Hao & Cui, Jian & Song, Feng & Jiang, Zhigao, 2022. "Evaluating the impacts of reforming and integrating China's electricity sector," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 108(C).
    3. Chenxi Xiang & Xinye Zheng & Feng Song & Jiang Lin & Zhigao Jiang, 2023. "Assessing the roles of efficient market versus regulatory capture in China’s power market reform," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 8(7), pages 747-757, July.
    4. Alexander Hill, 2023. "Price freezes and gas pass-through: an estimation of the price impact of electricity market restructuring," Journal of Regulatory Economics, Springer, vol. 63(1), pages 87-116, April.
    5. Wang, Chang & Guo, Yue & Yang, Yu & Chen, Shiyi, 2022. "The environmental benefits of electricity industry restructuring in China: Ownership mixing vs. vertical unbundling," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 115(C).
    6. Sun, Kege & Wu, Libo, 2020. "Efficiency distortion of the power generation sector under the dual regulation of price and quantity in China," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 86(C).
    7. Zhao, Da & Guo, Jingyuan & Yu, Shule & Yu, Litian, 2024. "Tradeoff between local protection and public sector performance: Lessons from judicial fiscal centralization," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 220(C), pages 254-278.
    8. Wang, Jiexin & Wang, Song, 2023. "The effect of electricity market reform on energy efficiency in China," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 181(C).
    9. Liu, Yang & Jiang, Zhigao & Guo, Bowei, 2022. "Assessing China’s provincial electricity spot market pilot operations: Lessons from Guangdong province," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 164(C).
    10. Hang Gao & Johannes Van Biesebroeck, 2014. "Effects of Deregulation and Vertical Unbundling on the Performance of China's Electricity Generation Sector," Journal of Industrial Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 62(1), pages 41-76, March.
    11. Suarez, Carlos, 2022. "Private management and strategic bidding behavior in electricity markets: Evidence from Colombia," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 111(C).
    12. Tang, Rongsheng & Tang, Yang, 2022. "Market formation in China from 1978," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 95(C).
    13. Xuejuan Su, 2015. "Have customers benefited from electricity retail competition?," Journal of Regulatory Economics, Springer, vol. 47(2), pages 146-182, April.
    14. Di Maria, Corrado & Lange, Ian & Lazarova, Emiliya, 2018. "A look upstream: Market restructuring, risk, procurement contracts and efficiency," International Journal of Industrial Organization, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 35-83.
    15. Karney, Daniel H., 2019. "Electricity market deregulation and environmental regulation: Evidence from U.S. nuclear power," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    16. Lange, Ian & Maniloff, Peter, 2021. "Updating allowance allocations in cap-and-trade: Evidence from the NOx Budget Program," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 105(C).
    17. Wei, Yi-Ming & Chen, Hao & Chyong, Chi Kong & Kang, Jia-Ning & Liao, Hua & Tang, Bao-Jun, 2018. "Economic dispatch savings in the coal-fired power sector: An empirical study of China," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 330-342.
    18. Linn, Joshua & Anna Muehlenbachs, Lucija & Wang, Yshuang, 2014. "How Do Natural Gas Prices Affect Electricity Consumers and the Environment?," RFF Working Paper Series dp-14-19, Resources for the Future.
    19. Song, Feng & Bi, De & Wei, Chu, 2019. "Market segmentation and wind curtailment: An empirical analysis," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 132(C), pages 831-838.
    20. Ohler, Adrienne & Mohammadi, Hassan & Loomis, David G., 2020. "Electricity restructuring and the relationship between fuel costs and electricity prices for industrial and residential customers," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 142(C).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Imperfect regulation; Regulatory distortion; Electricity sector; Electricity system reform;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • L51 - Industrial Organization - - Regulation and Industrial Policy - - - Economics of Regulation
    • L94 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Transportation and Utilities - - - Electric Utilities
    • P21 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Socialist and Transition Economies - - - Planning, Coordination, and Reform
    • Q48 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Energy - - - Government Policy

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:jcecon:v:52:y:2024:i:2:p:509-533. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/inca/622864 .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.