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Wasserverbrauch privater Haushalte in Deutschland: Eine empirische Mikroanalyse

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  • Frondel Manuel

    (Leibniz-Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung Hohenzollernstr. 1–3, 45128 Essen Deutschland)

  • Niehues Delia A.

    (Leibniz-Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung Hohenzollernstr. 1–3, 45128 Essen Deutschland)

  • Sommer Stephan

    (Hochschule Bochum und RWI – Leibniz-Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung Hohenzollernstr. 1–3, 45128 Essen Deutschland)

Abstract

Germany is a rather water-rich country. Nevertheless, climatic changes might make it necessary to use water resources carefully in the future, especially in times of drought. Against this background, this paper estimates the price elasticity of household water consumption, differentiating between households that have a rough knowledge of water prices and households that do not. Based on about 1,100 observations for households living in single-family houses and using the sum of cubic meter prices for water and wastewater as price measure, we find a moderate but statistically significantly non-zero price elasticity of -0.102. Households that have knowledge of water prices tend to exhibit a higher elasticity, while households without price knowledge do not show a statistically significant response in their water consumption. Prices can thus only be used to a limited extent as a means of controlling water consumption.

Suggested Citation

  • Frondel Manuel & Niehues Delia A. & Sommer Stephan, 2021. "Wasserverbrauch privater Haushalte in Deutschland: Eine empirische Mikroanalyse," Zeitschrift für Wirtschaftspolitik, De Gruyter, vol. 70(3), pages 230-254, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:lus:zwipol:v:70:y:2021:i:3:p:230-254:n:1
    DOI: 10.1515/zfwp-2021-2061
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • Q21 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Renewable Resources and Conservation - - - Demand and Supply; Prices
    • Q25 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Renewable Resources and Conservation - - - Water

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