We study optimal pollution abatement under a mixed oligopoly when firms engage in emissions‐reducing research and development (R&D) with imperfect appropriation. The regulator uses a tax to curb emissions. Results show that in a mixed oligopoly, the public firm has positive emissions reduction in equilibrium; however, emissions reductions of the private firm could be positive or zero. Under certain conditions, the optimal pollution tax is positive; otherwise, the tax reverts to a subsidy. Comparing mixed and private duopolies, privatisation leads to reductions in R&D and output, but to an increase in overall emissions, so privatisation tends to make the environment worse.

We employ a three-stage game model with cost-reducing research and development (R&D) that is subject to spillovers to consider the problem of excess entry under free-entry equilibrium relative to the social optimum. Firms choose to enter or exit a market in the first stage, choose R&D in the second stage and output in the final stage. Results show that there is socially inefficient or excessive entry in equilibrium. However, we uniquely demonstrate that research spillovers hold the key to whether established results regarding socially inefficient entry hold. Specifically, excessive entry occurs as long as research spillovers are relatively small, but this is not necessarily the case with large spillovers. Some policy implications are discussed.R&D, entry, social inefficiency, oligopoly,

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Purpose This paper aims to estimate electricity demand functions in Japan’s residential sector. Design/methodology/approach The authors use a partial adjustment model and empirically analyze regional residential electricity demand by using data on 47 Japanese prefectures. Findings The results reveal that the price elasticity of residential electricity demand during the analytical period (1990-2010) is remarkably different among prefectures, depending on the magnitude of floor space per household. In addition, this study finds that price elasticity is high compared with income elasticity, implying that residential electricity demand changes with rates. Furthermore, an analysis of factors influencing electricity demand in the residential sector shows that increasing electricity demand growth in each region can be attributable mainly to declining electricity rates and increasing number of households. Research limitations/implications These results suggest that monitoring the electricity rates and the number of households is important for forecasting future residential electricity demand at region. Originality/value The study considers the impact of the number of households on overall electricity demand and identifies other factors contributing to growth in residential electricity demand. The findings can be used to derive projections for future electricity demand.