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The French Biodiesel Production: An Assessment of the Impacts and Interaction Effects of Policy Instruments

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  • Virginie Doumax

    (CERGAM-CAE, Aix-Marseille Université)

Abstract

This paper proposes to explore the welfare impacts of the French biodiesel policies on the consumer fuel prices. We use a theoretical model to determine under which conditions a binding mandate may lead to an increase in fuel prices. We distinguish between two cases, i.e. when the mandate is used alone and when it is implemented alongside a tax credit on biodiesel. The mandate is defined as a minimum percent requirement. Then we use historical data to make an empirical assessment of the effects of these policies. We derive from the observed quantities and prices of diesel and biodiesel in France over the past the value of the price elasticities of the diesel supply, the biodiesel supply and the fuel demand. This allows us to determine the sign of the fuel price change and thus the impact on consumers’ welfare. Results show that the marginal effect of the mandate alone has been until now a decline of the fuel prices. But as the incorporation rates still grow, the situation is likely to reverse in the coming years. Hence the consumers’ welfare would be negatively affected. But this policy may be efficient to reduce GHG emissions as the rise of fuel prices could lower fuel consumption and thus fossil fuel use. A tax credit allows a mitigation of the increase in the biodiesel price. However, this absorbing effect may disappear as the rate of the tax credit is decreasing.

Suggested Citation

  • Virginie Doumax, 2010. "The French Biodiesel Production: An Assessment of the Impacts and Interaction Effects of Policy Instruments," CAE Working Papers 87, Aix-Marseille Université, CERGAM.
  • Handle: RePEc:cgm:wpaper:87
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. de Gorter, Harry & Just, David R. & Tan, Qinwen, 2009. "The Socially Optimal Import Tariff and Tax Credit for Ethanol with Farm Subsidies," Agricultural and Resource Economics Review, Northeastern Agricultural and Resource Economics Association, vol. 38(1), pages 1-13, April.
    2. Loïc Guindé & Florence Jacquet & Guy Millet, 2008. "Impacts du développement des biocarburants sur la production française de grandes cultures," Review of Agricultural and Environmental Studies - Revue d'Etudes en Agriculture et Environnement, INRA Department of Economics, vol. 89(4), pages 55-81.
    3. Thaeripour, Farzad & Tyner, Wallace E., 2007. "Ethanol subsidies, Who gets the benefits?," Biofuels, Food and Feed Tradeoffs Conference, April 12-13, 2007, St, Louis, Missouri 48776, Farm Foundation.
    4. Lapan, Harvey E. & Moschini, GianCarlo, 2009. "Biofuels Policies and Welfare: Is the Stick of Mandates Better Than the Carrot of Subsidies?," Staff General Research Papers Archive 13076, Iowa State University, Department of Economics.
    5. Harry de Gorter & David R. Just, 2008. "The Economics of a Blend Mandate for Biofuels," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 91(3), pages 738-750.
    6. Gardner, Bruce L., 2003. "Fuel Ethanol Subsidies And Farm Price Support: Boon Or Boondoggle?," Working Papers 28599, University of Maryland, Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics.
    7. Rozakis, S. & Sourie, J. -C., 2005. "Micro-economic modelling of biofuel system in France to determine tax exemption policy under uncertainty," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 33(2), pages 171-182, January.
    8. Taheripour, Farzad & Tyner, Wallace E., 2007. "Ethanol Subsidies, Who Gets the Benefits?," Biofuels, Food and Feed Tradeoffs Conference, April 12-13, 2007, St, Louis, Missouri 313702, Farm Foundation.
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    Cited by:

    1. de Gorter, Harry & Drabik, Dusan & Just, David R., 2010. "On the EU–U.S. Biodiesel ‘Splash & Dash' Controversy: Causes, Consequences and Policy Recommendations," 2010 Annual Meeting, July 25-27, 2010, Denver, Colorado 61425, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    2. Peri, Massimo & Baldi, Lucia, 2013. "The effect of biofuel policies on feedstock market: Empirical evidence for rapeseed oil prices in EU," Resource and Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 35(1), pages 18-37.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    biofuels; blend mandate; subsidy; social costs;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H23 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Externalities; Redistributive Effects; Environmental Taxes and Subsidies
    • Q41 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Energy - - - Demand and Supply; Prices
    • Q42 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Energy - - - Alternative Energy Sources
    • Q48 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Energy - - - Government Policy

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