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Consumer Demand and Welfare under Increasing Block Pricing

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  • Panos Pashardes
  • Soteroula Hajispyrou

Abstract

This paper argues that an increasing block pricing structure needs to be supplemented by allowances for household size and composition to be equitable. Household behaviour is modelled as the outcome of a two-stage budgeting resulting in an integrable water demand model. The welfare effects of block pricing are studied using the concept of relative equivalence scale, modified to allow for the dependence of price on household size and composition. We use individual household data to estimate residential demand for water, provide empirical illustration of the welfare effects of increasing block pricing on demographically different households and show how these effects can be compensated.

Suggested Citation

  • Panos Pashardes & Soteroula Hajispyrou, 2002. "Consumer Demand and Welfare under Increasing Block Pricing," University of Cyprus Working Papers in Economics 0207, University of Cyprus Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:ucy:cypeua:0207
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    File URL: https://papers.econ.ucy.ac.cy/RePEc/papers/0207.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Henrique Monteiro, 2010. "Residential Water Demand in Portugal: checking for efficiency-based justifications for increasing block tariffs," Working Papers Series 1 ercwp0110, ISCTE-IUL, Business Research Unit (BRU-IUL).
    2. Otieno, James Origa, 2019. "Valuing water services: A review of what water pricing and demand management would mean for Nairobi city," EconStor Preprints 191052, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics.
    3. Hoffmann, Mark & Worthington, Andrew & Higgs, Helen, 2006. "Urban water demand with fixed volumetric charging in a large municipality: the case of Brisbane, Australia," Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society, vol. 50(3), pages 1-13, September.
    4. Ramón Barberán & Fernando Arbués, 2009. "Equity in Domestic Water Rates Design," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 23(10), pages 2101-2118, August.

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