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Public Preferences for Alternative Electricity Mixes in Post-Fukushima Japan

Author

Listed:
  • Katrin Rehdanz

    (Kiel Institute for the World Economy)

  • Carsten Schroeder

    (German Institute for Economic Research(DIW Berlin)/ SOEP)

  • Daiju Narita

    (JICA Research Institute)

  • Toshihiro Okubo

    (Faculty of Economics, Keio University)

Abstract

Using representative household survey data from Japan after the Fukushima accident, we estimate peoples' willingness-to-pay (WTP) for renewable, nuclear, and fossil fuels in electricity generation. We rely on random parameter econometric techniques to capture various degrees of heterogeneity between the respondents, and use detailed regional information to assess how WTP varies with the distance to both the nearest nuclear power plant and to Fukushima. Compared to fossil fuels, we find a positive WTP for renewable and a negative WTP for nuclear fuels. These effects, in absolute terms, increase with the proximity to Fukushima.

Suggested Citation

  • Katrin Rehdanz & Carsten Schroeder & Daiju Narita & Toshihiro Okubo, 2015. "Public Preferences for Alternative Electricity Mixes in Post-Fukushima Japan," Keio-IES Discussion Paper Series 2015-013, Institute for Economics Studies, Keio University.
    • Handle: RePEc:keo:dpaper:2015-013
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    Cited by:

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    2. Hyo-Jin Kim & Seul-Ye Lim & Seung-Hoon Yoo, 2020. "The South Korean public’s evaluation of the mix of power generation sources: A choice experiment study," Energy & Environment, , vol. 31(7), pages 1181-1190, November.
    3. Cheng, Shulei & Wu, Yinyin & Chen, Hua & Chen, Jiandong & Song, Malin & Hou, Wenxuan, 2019. "Determinants of changes in electricity generation intensity among different power sectors," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 130(C), pages 389-408.
    4. Ossokina, Ioulia V. & Kerperien, Stephan & Arentze, Theo A., 2021. "Does information encourage or discourage tenants to accept energy retrofitting of homes?," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 103(C).
    5. Evgenidis, Anastasios & Hamano, Masashige & Vermeulen, Wessel N., 2021. "Economic consequences of follow-up disasters: Lessons from the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 104(C).
    6. Gao, Lu & Hiruta, Yuki & Ashina, Shuichi, 2020. "Promoting renewable energy through willingness to pay for transition to a low carbon society in Japan," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 162(C), pages 818-830.
    7. Martínez-Cruz, Adán L. & Núñez, Héctor M., 2021. "Tension in Mexico's energy transition: Are urban residential consumers in Aguascalientes willing to pay for renewable energy and green jobs?," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 150(C).
    8. Eva Crespo-Cebada & Carlos Díaz-Caro & María Teresa Nevado Gil & Ángel Sabino Mirón Sanguino, 2020. "Does Water Pollution Influence Willingness to Accept the Installation of a Mine Near a City? Case Study of an Open-Pit Lithium Mine," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(24), pages 1-13, December.
    9. Irie, Noriko & Kawahara, Naoko, 2022. "Consumer preferences for local renewable electricity production in Japan: A choice experiment," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 182(C), pages 1171-1181.
    10. Jobin, Marilou & Siegrist, Michael, 2018. "We choose what we like – Affect as a driver of electricity portfolio choice," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 122(C), pages 736-747.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    electricity mix; willingness-to-pay; preference heterogeneity; renewables; spatial heterogeneity; Fukushima; nuclear power;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D12 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Consumer Economics: Empirical Analysis
    • Q40 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Energy - - - General
    • Q42 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Energy - - - Alternative Energy Sources

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