Has the Averch-Johnson Effect Been Empirically Verified?
- Creators
- McKay, Derek J.
Abstract
Recently three studies have been published which claim to confirm the existence of the Averch-Johnson effect in the electric power industry. Each of these papers uses a distinctly different methodology. This paper examines the general problem of what the nature of the A-J effect might be and what sort of data would be required in order to confirm its presence. The other studies are then critically examined on the basis of this discussion. A modification of the method used in one previous study is then used to test the A-J hypothesis, and no evidence of capital bias is found. The principal conclusion of this study is that if the A-J effect is significant in distorting input choices in the electric utility industry, very different sorts of data than those that have been used thus far are going to be required in order to verify its presence. Mechanical usage of gross input and output numbers, without understanding of the technological processes involved, leads only to erroneous conclusions.
Additional Information
Revised. Financial support for preparing this paper was provided by Research Assistantships from EQL and Teaching Assistantship from Sloan Foundation. The patience and helpful comments of James P. Quirk, David M. Grether, and Roger G. Noll are gratefully acknowledged.Attached Files
Submitted - sswp132_-_revised.pdf
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Additional details
- Eprint ID
- 82721
- Resolver ID
- CaltechAUTHORS:20171026-162955582
- Alfred P. Sloan Foundation
- Environmental Quality Laboratory
- Created
-
2017-10-27Created from EPrint's datestamp field
- Updated
-
2019-10-03Created from EPrint's last_modified field
- Caltech groups
- Social Science Working Papers, Environmental Quality Laboratory
- Series Name
- Social Science Working Paper
- Series Volume or Issue Number
- 132