IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jeners/v18y2025i4p770-d1585778.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Price Behavior and Market Integration in European Union Electricity Markets: A VECM Analysis

Author

Listed:
  • Cristian Valeriu Stanciu

    (Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, University of Craiova, 200585 Craiova, Romania)

  • Narcis Eduard Mitu

    (Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, University of Craiova, 200585 Craiova, Romania)

Abstract

This study examines the integration and price behavior of European Union electricity markets using a Vector Error Correction Model (VECM). Employing daily wholesale day-ahead electricity prices from 24 EU countries spanning October 2017 to September 2024, the research identifies seven regional clusters of markets based on similarities in price trends. The analysis reveals strong long-term equilibrium relationships and dynamic short-term adjustments, highlighting the interconnectedness of these markets. Central players, such as Germany in Block 1 and France in Block 2, emerge as pivotal in driving regional stability, while markets like Romania and Bulgaria (Block 3) demonstrate significant interconnections. Scandinavian and Baltic regions (Blocks 4 and 5) showcase unique balancing mechanisms influenced by shared infrastructure. Aggregated inter-block dynamics underscore the critical role of central hubs like Blocks 1 and 3 in bridging market disparities. Despite progress, regional heterogeneity persists, with slower adjustments observed in certain clusters. The findings emphasize the need for targeted policies to enhance cross-border electricity trading and infrastructure investments, ensuring equitable integration across all regions. By addressing these disparities, the EU can bolster market efficiency and resilience, contributing to its overarching energy strategy and transition to sustainable energy systems.

Suggested Citation

  • Cristian Valeriu Stanciu & Narcis Eduard Mitu, 2025. "Price Behavior and Market Integration in European Union Electricity Markets: A VECM Analysis," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-25, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:18:y:2025:i:4:p:770-:d:1585778
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/4/770/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/4/770/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Diebold, Francis X. & Yilmaz, Kamil, 2012. "Better to give than to receive: Predictive directional measurement of volatility spillovers," International Journal of Forecasting, Elsevier, vol. 28(1), pages 57-66.
    2. Alberto Menéndez Medina & José Antonio Heredia Álvaro, 2024. "Using Generative Pre-Trained Transformers (GPT) for Electricity Price Trend Forecasting in the Spanish Market," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(10), pages 1-15, May.
    3. Francis X. Diebold & Kamil Yilmaz, 2009. "Measuring Financial Asset Return and Volatility Spillovers, with Application to Global Equity Markets," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 119(534), pages 158-171, January.
    4. Diebold, Francis X. & Yılmaz, Kamil, 2014. "On the network topology of variance decompositions: Measuring the connectedness of financial firms," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 182(1), pages 119-134.
    5. Georg Zachmann & Carlos Batlle & Francois Beaude & Christoph Maurer & Monika Morawiecka & Fabien Roques, 2024. "Unity in power, power in unity- why the EU needs more integrated electricity markets," Bruegel Policy Brief node_9728, Bruegel.
    6. Do, Hung Xuan & Nepal, Rabindra & Pham, Son Duy & Jamasb, Tooraj, 2024. "Electricity market crisis in Europe and cross border price effects: A quantile return connectedness analysis," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 135(C).
    7. Hatem Brik & Jihene El Ouakdi, 2024. "Interplay of Volatility and Geopolitical Tensions in Clean Energy Markets: A Comprehensive GARCH-LSTM Forecasting Approach," International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, Econjournals, vol. 14(4), pages 92-107, July.
    8. Nikolaos Antonakakis & Ioannis Chatziantoniou & David Gabauer, 2020. "Refined Measures of Dynamic Connectedness based on Time-Varying Parameter Vector Autoregressions," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-23, April.
    9. Escribano, Gonzalo & González-Enríquez, Carmen & Lázaro-Touza, Lara & Paredes-Gázquez, Juandiego, 2023. "An energy union without interconnections? Public acceptance of cross-border interconnectors in four European countries," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 266(C).
    10. Lei, Xiang & Yu, Hang & Shao, Ziyun & Jian, Linni, 2023. "Optimal bidding and coordinating strategy for maximal marginal revenue due to V2G operation: Distribution system operator as a key player in China's uncertain electricity markets," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 283(C).
    11. Johansen, Soren, 1988. "Statistical analysis of cointegration vectors," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 12(2-3), pages 231-254.
    12. Johansen, Soren, 1995. "Likelihood-Based Inference in Cointegrated Vector Autoregressive Models," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780198774501, Decembrie.
    13. Dai, Zhifeng & Tang, Rui & Zhang, Xiaotong, 2023. "A new multilayer network for measuring interconnectedness among the energy firms," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 124(C).
    14. Bunn, Derek W. & Gianfreda, Angelica, 2010. "Integration and shock transmissions across European electricity forward markets," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 32(2), pages 278-291, March.
    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. Sikorska-Pastuszka, Magdalena & Papież, Monika, 2023. "Dynamic volatility connectedness in the European electricity market," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 127(PA).
    2. Shi, Huai-Long & Zhou, Wei-Xing, 2022. "Factor volatility spillover and its implications on factor premia," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 80(C).
    3. Juncal Cunado & David Gabauer & Rangan Gupta, 2024. "Realized volatility spillovers between energy and metal markets: a time-varying connectedness approach," Financial Innovation, Springer;Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, vol. 10(1), pages 1-17, December.
    4. Han, Lin & Kordzakhia, Nino & Trück, Stefan, 2020. "Volatility spillovers in Australian electricity markets," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 90(C).
    5. Elsayed, Ahmed H. & Asutay, Mehmet & ElAlaoui, Abdelkader O. & Bin Jusoh, Hashim, 2024. "Volatility spillover across spot and futures markets: Evidence from dual financial system," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).
    6. Gabauer, David & Chatziantoniou, Ioannis & Stenfors, Alexis, 2023. "Model-free connectedness measures," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 54(C).
    7. Evrim Mandacı, Pınar & Cagli, Efe Çaglar & Taşkın, Dilvin, 2020. "Dynamic connectedness and portfolio strategies: Energy and metal markets," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    8. Muneer Shaik & Mohd Ziaur Rehman, 2023. "The Dynamic Volatility Connectedness of Major Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Stock Indices: Evidence Based on DCC-GARCH Model," Asia-Pacific Financial Markets, Springer;Japanese Association of Financial Economics and Engineering, vol. 30(1), pages 231-246, March.
    9. Zhang, Hua & Chen, Jinyu & Shao, Liuguo, 2021. "Dynamic spillovers between energy and stock markets and their implications in the context of COVID-19," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 77(C).
    10. Cagli, Efe Caglar, 2023. "The volatility spillover between battery metals and future mobility stocks: Evidence from the time-varying frequency connectedness approach," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 86(PA).
    11. Lyu, Chenyan & Do, Hung Xuan & Nepal, Rabindra & Jamasb, Tooraj, 2024. "Volatility spillovers and carbon price in the Nordic wholesale electricity markets," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 134(C).
    12. Shi Chen & Wolfgang Karl Hardle & Brenda L'opez Cabrera, 2020. "Regularization Approach for Network Modeling of German Power Derivative Market," Papers 2009.09739, arXiv.org.
    13. Yousaf, Imran & Jareño, Francisco & Tolentino, Marta, 2023. "Connectedness between Defi assets and equity markets during COVID-19: A sector analysis," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 187(C).
    14. Feng, Huiqun & Zhang, Jun & Guo, Na, 2023. "Time-varying linkages between energy and stock markets: Dynamic spillovers and driving factors," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
    15. Li, Xingyi & Gan, Kai & Zhou, Qi, 2023. "Dynamic volatility connectedness among cryptocurrencies and China's financial assets in standard times and during the COVID-19 pandemic," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 51(C).
    16. Chatziantoniou, Ioannis & Gabauer, David & Stenfors, Alexis, 2020. "From CIP-deviations to a market for risk premia: A dynamic investigation of cross-currency basis swaps," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 69(C).
    17. Umar, Zaghum & Aziz, Saqib & Tawil, Dima, 2021. "The impact of COVID-19 induced panic on the return and volatility of precious metals," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Finance, Elsevier, vol. 31(C).
    18. Shang, Jin & Hamori, Shigeyuki, 2021. "Do crude oil prices and the sentiment index influence foreign exchange rates differently in oil-importing and oil-exporting countries? A dynamic connectedness analysis," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    19. Inglesi-Lotz, R. & Dogan, Eyup & Nel, J. & Tzeremes, Panayiotis, 2023. "Connectedness and spillovers in the innovation network of green transportation," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 180(C).
    20. Ozcan Ceylan, 2023. "Analysis of Dynamic Connectedness among Sovereign CDS Premia," World Journal of Applied Economics, WERI-World Economic Research Institute, vol. 9(1), pages 33-47, June.

    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:gam:jeners:v:18:y:2025:i:4:p:770-:d:1585778. 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: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    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.