Crampes, Claude and Léautier, Thomas-Olivier (2020) White certificates and competition. TSE Working Paper, n. 20-1167, Toulouse

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Abstract

Tradable certificates are a good tool to promote economic activities when they increase the social surplus. White certificates are counterproductive, because although they
encourage activities aimed at reducing energy consumption, these activities are ‘credence goods', i.e. goods whose real quality cannot be verified. They therefore lead to opportunistic behavior by professionals of building renovation and heating system installation. In order to make
the system virtuous, certificates should guarantee the results actually measured, instead of ex ante technical evaluations. Given the cost of controls, the accuracy of the declarations should be ensured by heavy penalties for infringements, which is not feasible when companies are
too small. Concentration in the building renovation sector should therefore be encouraged, respecting a trade-off between the collective benefit of having large companies responsible for energy performance and the risk of abuse of a dominant position or collusion by these same companies

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• White certificates and competition. (deposited 08 Dec 2020 14:23) [Currently Displayed]
  • White certificates and competition. (deposited 09 Mar 2021 12:25)