Price Increases Research Articles

Understanding housing market responses to stringent energy codes

AbstractIncreased energy efficiency in buildings is essential to reducing carbon emissions and addressing climate change. Massachusetts' Green Communities Act of 2008, aiming for a 50% reduction in carbon emissions by 2030 and net‐zero by 2050, mandates the Stretch Energy Code for eligibility for state funding. This code requires new residential constructions to meet stringent Home Energy Rating System (HERS) Index scores. While these requirements benefit the environment, they may increase construction costs, affecting housing production and affordability. Using the staggered municipal adoption of the Stretch Energy Code to tease out causal relationships, we analyze the effects of the Stretch Energy Code on housing quantity and price across municipalities in Massachusetts. The results indicate that more energy‐efficient single‐family properties command a sales price premium of 4.0%, and the Stretch Energy Code adoption is associated with a decrease in the quantity of new single‐family housing starts. Approximately 45.5% of the price increase is due to higher willingness to pay for energy‐efficient homes, with the remainder attributed to reduced housing supply. Our article is particularly relevant as policymakers seek to balance the objectives and address the tensions between “E” and “S” in their “ESG” policy packages.

Characteristics of users of French smoking cessation services from 2004 to 2018

ObjectivesWe investigated changes in the profile of persons who smoke (PWS) seeking assistance from smoking cessation services (SCS) in France between 2004 and 2018, aligning with national policies.MethodsA prospective study...

Canadian Youth Preferences for E-Cigarettes: A Discrete Choice Experiment.

Objectives: The novelty of e-cigarette regulatory policy poses difficulties for evidence-informed decision making because there is little evaluative evidence on the effects of specific policies. One way to provide evidence to inform Canadian policy in this situation is to learn from users how they would behave under different policy scenarios without actually implementing those policies in real-world settings. Discrete Choice Experiments provide an opportunity to undertake this research. Methods: We recruited an online sample of 600 e-cigarette current and past users aged 16-25, using an existing panel of recently recruited e-cigarette users, to participate in a discrete choice experiment. Participants chose their preferred option from a choice of 2 e-cigarette products described by 4 attributes: flavour availability, location availability, nicotine concentration, and price. Results: Our findings provide an overview of how important each attribute (price, nicotine concentration, availability, and flavour) is to young e-cigarette users. Across all features, as price increases, respondents were less willing to purchase. The study provides evidence that while all 4 attributes have strong effects, nicotine concentration and flavour most significantly influenced preferences for e-cigarettes. Conclusion: This could provide points of comparison and a better understanding of how hypothetical regulatory restrictions could prevent youth uptake of e-cigarettes, encourage current youth vapers to quit vaping, and make e-cigarettes available and useful for smokers interested in vaping to help them completely quit combustible cigarette smoking.

Cascading socio-economic and financial impacts of the Russia-Ukraine war differ across sectors and regions

Disruptions in global food and energy trade can trigger cascading socio-economic losses. Financial markets can amplify such losses and generate systemic cross-sectoral effects, e.g. food insecurity. Our methodology links the real economy and financial markets to quantify cascading impacts across sectors and regions and to capture amplification effects by financial markets. Although applicable to any shock on global key commodity trade, we test its effectiveness with the Russia-Ukraine war, which reveals pronounced, regionally and sectorally diverse impacts. Comparing with real data confirms that our approach captures several key impacts of the crisis: the energy price increase in Europe, the strong reaction of European commodity future markets with large benefits for fossil companies (equity values up to +54%) and losses for companies most exposed to the belligerents (up to−6%), and the worsening of food affordability especially in Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, and Latin America (additionally 10 million people at risk of hunger). Our analysis shows the importance of accounting for cascading risks and amplification effects to strengthen economic, financial, and food system resilience.

Analyzing the Determinants of Maize Price Inflation: A Case Study of the Maize Commodity by Milling Companies in Lusaka

Maize price inflation remains a persistent challenge in Zambia, affecting food security and the livelihoods of millions. As a staple food, maize is a critical component of the Zambian diet, and its price fluctuations have far-reaching implications for the economy, poverty levels, and human well-being. This study investigates the determinants of maize price inflation in Lusaka, Zambia, focusing on the maize commodity by milling companies. Using mixed-methods approach combining quantitative and qualitative data, this research examines the relationship between maize price inflation and three key determinants: Price floors, input costs and transportation costs. This study employs multiple linear regression analysis to quantify the impact of these determinants on maize price inflation. The findings of this study reveal that transportation costs have a significant impact on maize price inflation, accounting for 59.83% of the variation in maize prices. This is consistent with the fact that Zambia is a landlocked country, relying heavily on transportation networks to move maize from production areas to consumption centers. The study also finds that price floors explain 73.8% of the variation in average maize prices. The input costs contribute to maize price increases explain 62.33% of the variation in maize price inflation, meaning there’s a positive impact of input costs on maize price. The implication of these findings are far-reaching. Policymakers, milling companies, and other stakeholders seeking to stabilize maize prices and ensure food security in Zambia must prioritize interventions that address transportation costs such as investing in transportation infrastructure, improving logistics, and promoting competition in the transportation sector. Additionally policymakers should review the price floor mechanism to ensure it balances the interest of farmers, millers and consumers. The study contributes to the existing literature on maize price inflation by providing new insights into the determinants of maize price inflation in Zambia. The findings of this study have important implications for policymakers, businesses and civil society organizations seeking to promote food security, reduce poverty and improve human well-being in Zambia.

Analyzing Transmission Mechanism of Commodity Price on Inflation and Reserves in Pakistan

This research examines the effects that changes in commodity prices have had on the reserves and inflation of Pakistan, emphasizing the impact of such price changes on economic stability. The goal of this paper is to show how gold, oil, and dollar prices affect inflation and reserves. This paper also estimates the effects of the variations in dollar, oil, and gold rates on the reserves and inflation of Pakistan. In this respect, the inflation and reserves are the dependent factors, while the prices of oil, gold, and dollars are the dependent variables. The time series data based on ARDL has been used to estimate the effect of independent factors on the dependent variables for 30 years in the present study. This high correlation between crude oil price and inflation shows that an increase in crude oil prices leads to aggravating the prevalent inflationary pressures in Pakistan. The results, on the other hand, suggest that the changes in the price of gold and the dollar have no effect on the reserves or inflation. These findings also draw on the imperative for close monitoring of the change in crude oil price by policymakers and the implementation of policies that reduce its impacts on inflation. The study further adds to the literature pool by carrying out an in-depth analysis of the relationship between key commodity prices and macroeconomic indicators of Pakistan, focusing on resilience against external shocks and economic diversification. Future policy actions that would aim to improve economic stability and attain sustainable growth in Pakistan can be informed by knowledge culled from this study.

Price Dynamics Unveiled: A Comparative Study on Pre-Sale, On-Sale, and Post-Sale Day Prices on Amazon

This study investigates the authenticity of price reductions during sales events on Amazon by analysing the price dynamics of products before, during, and after the sale. The primary objective is to evaluate whether the advertised discounts genuinely translate into significant consumer savings. By comparing pre-sale prices with on-sale and post-sale day prices, the research aims to offer a macro-level perspective on the actual impact of these discounts. It calculates the percentage change in the aggregate price of products to reveal overarching trends in pricing strategies. Furthermore, the study delves into individual product pricing to identify instances of both price reductions and increases, uncovering variations in pricing tactics. This granular analysis highlights discrepancies between perceived and actual discounts, providing valuable insights into the effectiveness and transparency of Amazon's sales strategies. The findings enhance consumer awareness and contribute to the broader discourse on e-commerce pricing ethics and practices.

Dual exchange rate systems and food inflation in Nigeria: Does Unifying exchange rate matter?

Access to foreign exchange (forex) has been a persistent challenge in Nigeria, leading to calls for exchange rate unification as a potential solution. This study examines the impact of dual exchange rates on food inflation in Nigeria. The study employs the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model to analyze the relationship between various exchange rate measures and food inflation in Nigeria. Key variables include the Bureau De Change (BDC) exchange rate, unified exchange rate, exchange rate differentials, and the official exchange rate. The results indicate that the BDC exchange rate, unified exchange rate, and exchange rate differentials have a positive and significant impact on food inflation in both the short and long run. In contrast, the official exchange rate negatively affects food inflation but remains statistically insignificant over both periods. This implies that rising exchange rate differentials contribute to food price increases, albeit moderately under a unified exchange rate system. The study underscores the importance of exchange rate unification in stabilizing food prices. However, for effectiveness, legal backing and regulatory enforcement are necessary. Policymakers should implement forex market interventions to reduce exchange rate volatility, improve naira stability, and mitigate food inflation.

Effects of food price volatility on food security in rural Ethiopia: a panel data analysis

ABSTRACT Food security (FS) and prices are closely correlated. This study examined the effects of food price volatility on FS in rural Ethiopian communities using data from a national household survey and logistic regression analysis. The findings show that food price volatility significantly negatively affects food consumption, possibly increasing the likelihood of food insecurity by 94 per cent for every 0.0085 USD increase in average food prices. This effect is noticeable for low-income households whose members have limited formal education, and they can affect neighbouring households. Potential solutions include improving access to inclusive credit, exploring alternative markets, prioritising gender-based education, diversifying income sources, and implementing supportive policies.

The impact of import tariff reductions on Chinese firms’ import prices: an empirical analysis considering the adjustment effect of the RMB exchange rate

ABSTRACT Addressing unreasonable increases in import prices has been a significant and persistent challenge for China. This study examined the impact of changes in import tariffs on the tariff-exclusive prices of imported products and explored the moderating role of the RMB exchange rate in this relationship. The results show three main findings. (1) A reduction in China’s import tariffs leads to an increase in tariff-exclusive import prices; however, RMB appreciation significantly dampens the price increase triggered by tariff reductions. (2) The mitigating effect of RMB appreciation on the rise in tariff-exclusive import prices due to tariff cuts is more pronounced when the quality of imported products is higher, when the market power of the importing source is weaker, and when prices from third-party import sources are higher. (3) RMB appreciation significantly mitigates the impact of tariff reductions on import price increases for firms engaged in both imports and exports, state-owned firms, and private firms but has no significant effect on pure importers and foreign-invested firms. In the context of expanding imports, this study provides both a theoretical framework and empirical evidence to support the adjustments in China’s exchange rate and tariff policies in response to changes in import prices.

Is the affordability of cigarettes associated with the prevalence of smoking and quitting at the regional level in Russia?

Is the affordability of cigarettes associated with the prevalence of smoking and quitting at the regional level in Russia?

The effect of cigarette prices on smoking cessation in South Africa using duration analysis: 1970-2017.

The effect of cigarette prices on smoking cessation in South Africa using duration analysis: 1970-2017.

주택가격 급등기 아파트 증여 영향요인 분석: 부동산 규제 특성 중심으로

Since 2020, the Korean real estate market has risen unusually steeply, mainly in apartment prices. With the continuous rise in apartment prices, gifts increased especially in situations where taxation and regulations on multiple homeowners were in effect. Research on apartment gifts has been mainly conducted in the past but considered only the perspective of tax law and accounting. Hence, this study conducted multiple regression analysis and empirically compared and analyzed how the characteristics of the local housing market affect the number of apartment gifts from 2020 to 2023, the period of soaring housing prices. The findings demonstrated that the most common factors influencing apartment transactions were as follows: increase in sales price, the ratio of the elderly population, the amount of tax determined by the comprehensive real estate tax (for housing), the metropolitan area (dummy variable), the regulated area (dummy variable), and the number of households exceeding one house. Based on these results, this study is expected to provide fundamental data for real estate policy establishment, such as the government's real estate market regulation policy and local housing policy.

Overtourism after the COVID-19 pandemic: Ecological degradation and social tensions in tourist destinations

Background: Bali, one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, has experienced a surge in visitor numbers following the COVID-19 pandemic. While tourism has significantly contributed to the recovery of the local economy, overtourism has emerged as a phenomenon that is causing various environmental and social problems. One of the issues caused by tourism in Bali is the increase in land and property rental prices, as well as the transformation and utilisation of traditional spaces for commercial purposes. This shift not only displaces local communities but also threatens the cultural heritage that makes Bali unique, prompting calls for more sustainable tourism practices that prioritize both the environment and the well-being of residents. Methods: The scope of this research is Bali, especially in the south Bali region, which has been reported to experience overtourism after recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic. This research uses secondary data from published research and other sources, as well as interviews with policymakers, local residents, and related institutions. Findings: This paper aims to analyse environmental degradation and social problems caused by overtourism, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. The decline in environmental quality has raised concerns among local communities and conservation activists. Furthermore, the social fabric of the region has been strained, as the increasing number of visitors has contributed to increased competition for resources and changed the traditional way of life for many residents. Conclusion: Overtourism in Bali post-pandemic has led to environmental degradation and social disruptions. Sustainable tourism practices are needed to balance economic benefits with the preservation of local communities and cultural heritage. Novelty/Originality of this article: This study highlights the impact of overtourism in Bali after the COVID-19 pandemic, integrating environmental and social perspectives. By using secondary data and interviews with key stakeholders, it provides insights into the urgent need for sustainable tourism strategies.

Towards Decarbonization: Sustainable Incentives in a Price-Competitive Maritime Supply Chain with Environmentally Conscious Shippers

Transitioning carriers to low-emission technologies requires huge investment, and subsidies have proven to be efficient tools in overcoming cost barriers. In this study, game-theoretic models were formulated to study the impact of subsidies on carbon emissions reduction with green shippers in a price-competitive environment. Equilibrium solutions for three scenarios were derived through model analysis, followed by numerical analyses. The results indicate the following: (1) Government subsidies are effective and advantageous for decarbonization with carrier competition but will lower service prices, profits, and social welfare. (2) Intensified price competition leads to increases in carbon emissions, service prices, and social welfare while decreasing demands and profits in some scenarios. (3) Shippers’ green preferences have a positive effect on carbon emission reduction, profits, and social welfare. These findings provide valuable managerial insights for both the government and shipping companies in promoting a more sustainable environment.

Asymmetric between Oil Prices and Renewable Energy Consumption in the KSA

Examining the impact of oil prices on renewable energy consumption is crucial for supporting the global energy transition, guiding economic and investment decisions, and advancing environmental goals. This research aims to analyze the short-term and long-term connections between fluctuation of oil prices and renewable energy consumption in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from 1990 to 2020. We utilized nonlinear autoregressive distributed lag (NARDL) models to analyze the impact of positive and negative oil price shocks on renewable energy consumption in KSA. Renewable energy consumption is the dependent variable, while GDP, oil prices, and trade openness are independent variables. The results show that increases in crude oil prices, GDP, and trade openness will boost renewable energy use both in the short term and the long term. Conversely, a decrease in oil prices will reduce renewable energy use in the short run, although this effect will diminish the long term. On a policy note, policymakers should focus on stabilizing renewable energy development through diversification and sustained support, irrespective of oil price fluctuations. Introducing a carbon tax or adjusting fuel subsidies could also encourage a long-term shift toward cleaner energy sources.

Technoeconomic feasibility of date palm waste gasification: a pathway to green hydrogen production

AbstractDate palm waste, an abundant resource in the Middle East, has strong potential for sustainable energy production. This study presents a technoeconomic analysis of green hydrogen production through gasification of three types of date palm residues – empty fruit bunches (EFB), fronds, and trunks – using Cycle‐Tempo software. The analysis focuses on optimizing the process based on industrially relevant economic criteria, including internal rate of return (IRR), the payback period (PBT), and sensitivity to hydrogen price fluctuations. The results showed hydrogen yields of approximately 100, 91, and 60 kg t−1 for EFB, fronds, and trunks, respectively. For the EFB‐fed plant, the PBT was 6 years, with an IRR of 14%, making it the most financially attractive option. Sensitivity analysis revealed that a 20% increase in hydrogen price could significantly enhance profitability, reducing the PBT to less than 4 years. This work provides two main contributions: (1) it addresses the lack of comprehensive technoeconomic evaluations for converting agricultural waste into green hydrogen, and (2) it defines the industrial conditions for viable implementation. The findings demonstrate that using EFB as feedstock can offer a competitive alternative to fossil fuels, potentially yielding annual savings of up to $3.3 million for a medium‐scale plant. These results are important for investors, policymakers, and industries aiming to transition to low‐carbon hydrogen production while leveraging local biomass resources.

Effects of carbon pricing on inflation

ABSTRACT This paper provides ex-post empirical evidence on the effects of carbon pricing policies on headline consumer price inflation, as well as on its food, energy and core inflation subcomponents. It considers both carbon taxes and prices of carbon emissions trading systems (ETS) as carbon pricing policies, and a large number of OECD economies from 1995 to 2020. The paper uses dynamic panel estimation of New-Keynesian Phillips curves, which are commonly used for modelling inflation dynamics, and control for macroeconomic variables including the output gap, exchange rate changes and inflation expectations. An increase in prices of ETS by US dollar $10 per ton of carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalents is found to increase energy consumer price inflation by 0.8 percentage points, and headline inflation by 0.08 percentage points, but has no significant effects on food and core consumer price inflation. An increase in carbon taxes by $10 per ton of CO2 equivalents increases food consumer price inflation by 0.1 percentage points, but has no significant effects on energy consumer price inflation, headline and core consumer price inflation. These findings are relevant for future climate policies. They suggest that higher carbon taxes and prices of ETS permits have not led to large increases in headline inflation. Consequently, based on this evidence the use of carbon pricing to speed up the necessary transition to net zero carbon emissions need not be held back by concerns about large overall inflationary effects. This is relevant since these carbon pricing policies have been shown to be effective in reducing carbon dioxide emissions.

Analysis of Energy Requirements in Thermochemical Heat Treatment Using the Example of Gas Nitriding

Abstract In recent years, the metal processing industry has undergone a massive rethinking in terms of energy use. With the phase-out of nuclear energy, Germany wants to take responsibility and embark on a more sustainable path to green electricity. Not only due to the discontinuation of fast-available nuclear energy, but also due to the increasing demand for electrical energy and the geopolitical situation, the costs for production are continuously rising. Furthermore, the use of fossil fuels has come under criticism in the face of current climate policy discussions, and the procurement of fossil fuels such as natural gas has experienced a significant price increase due to the current geopolitical situation. A more efficient use of energy and resources is therefore essential, also with regard to socio- and environmental factors and, in particular, climatic aspects. In this work, a standard industrial gas nitriding process is examined with regard to its key energy figures and potential savings are identified. On the basis of these, the significance of the heating of the components, the insulation technology and other process-relevant energy flows is determined. It was found that, on the basis of conservative calculation models, the heating of these industrial furnaces types is among the largest energy consumers, whereas only a smaller part is required for treating the components. Furthermore, the majority of the electrical power provided dissipates as power loss from the heat treatment process.

Assessing carbon shadow prices and the role of green technology innovation: insights from EU countries

ABSTRACT Reducing greenhouse gas emissions involves trade-offs, with the carbon shadow price serving as a key metric for assessing abatement costs and environmental performance. While green technology innovation is crucial for climate mitigation in the EU, its impact on the carbon shadow price remains underexplored. This study estimates the carbon shadow price for 27 EU member states from 1995 to 2019 using By-production Data Envelopment Analysis and examines the role of green innovation through fixed-effects and threshold regression models. The results show a significant increase in the carbon shadow price, indicating improved environmental performance, though disparities across member states reflect uneven progress. A positive relationship between green innovation and the carbon shadow price underscores its importance in enhancing environmental outcomes. Threshold regression reveals a nonlinear effect, suggesting that innovation only significantly affects the carbon shadow price once economic development and policy intensity surpass certain thresholds. This study offers new insights into the relationship between green innovation, economic development, and environmental policy, guiding low-carbon transitions in the EU and beyond.