Aggregate Economic Implications of New Technologies in Energy Industry

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dc.contributor.advisorHartley, Peter R.en_US
dc.contributor.committeeMemberMedlock, Kenneth B., IIIen_US
dc.contributor.committeeMemberLoch-Temzelides, Teden_US
dc.contributor.committeeMemberEmbree, Marken_US
dc.creatorZhang, Xinyaen_US
dc.date.accessioned2013-09-16T19:15:08Zen_US
dc.date.accessioned2013-09-16T19:15:10Zen_US
dc.date.available2013-09-16T19:15:08Zen_US
dc.date.available2013-09-16T19:15:10Zen_US
dc.date.created2013-05en_US
dc.date.issued2013-09-16en_US
dc.date.submittedMay 2013en_US
dc.date.updated2013-09-16T19:15:11Zen_US
dc.description.abstractThis thesis studies technological progress in the energy sector and the transition path from fossil fuels to renewable energy, with a particular emphasis on the conse- quences to the whole economy. Currently, there is an active discussion regarding sub- sidizing renewable energy sources, which are often portrayed as the sole future source of energy and the driver of signi cant employment and economic growth. However, innovation in the fossil fuel sector and its continuing development can also be a game changer and should not be ignored. In the rst chapter, we use a dynamic general equilibrium model with endogenous technological progress in energy production to study the optimal transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy in a neoclassical growth economy. We emphasize the importance of modeling technology innovation in the fossil fuel sector, as well as in the renewable energy industry. Advancements in the development of shale oil and gas increase the supply of fossil fuel. This implies that the \parity cost target" for renewables is a moving one. We believe that this important observation is often neglected in policy discussions. Our quantitative analysis nds that these advancements allow fossil fuels to remain competitive for a longer period of time. While technological breakthroughs in the fossil fuel sector have postponed the full transition to renewable energy, they have also created many jobs and stimulated local economies. In the third chapter, we use an econometric analysis to compare job creation in the shale gas and oil sectors with that in the wind power sector in Texas. The results show that shale development and well drilling activities have brought strong employment and wage growth to Texas, while the impact of wind industry development on employment and wages statewide has been either not statistically signi cant or quite small. The rst and third chapters question the current enthusiasm in policy circles for only focusing on alternative energy. Chapter 2 provides some theoretical support for subsidizing renewable energy development. Here we develop a decentralized ver- sion of the model in Chapter 1 and allow for technological externalities. We analyze the e ciency of the competitive equilibrium solution and discuss in particular dif- ferent scenarios whereby externalities can result in an ine cient outcome. We show that the decentralized economy with externalities leads to under-investment in R&D, lower investment and consumption, and delayed transition to the renewable economy. This may provide an opportunity for government action to improve private sector outcomes.en_US
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdfen_US
dc.identifier.citationZhang, Xinya. "Aggregate Economic Implications of New Technologies in Energy Industry." (2013) Diss., Rice University. <a href="https://hdl.handle.net/1911/72069">https://hdl.handle.net/1911/72069</a>.en_US
dc.identifier.slug123456789/ETD-2013-05-524en_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/1911/72069en_US
dc.language.isoengen_US
dc.rightsCopyright is held by the author, unless otherwise indicated. Permission to reuse, publish, or reproduce the work beyond the bounds of fair use or other exemptions to copyright law must be obtained from the copyright holder.en_US
dc.subjectEnergy innovationen_US
dc.subjectEnergy transitionen_US
dc.subjectEnergy costen_US
dc.subjectEconomic growthen_US
dc.subjectTechnological externalityen_US
dc.subjectEmploymenten_US
dc.titleAggregate Economic Implications of New Technologies in Energy Industryen_US
dc.typeThesisen_US
dc.type.materialTexten_US
thesis.degree.departmentEconomicsen_US
thesis.degree.disciplineSocial Sciencesen_US
thesis.degree.grantorRice Universityen_US
thesis.degree.levelDoctoralen_US
thesis.degree.nameDoctor of Philosophyen_US
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