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Zhou, Wenchao
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Publications (10 of 10) Show all publications
Vesterberg, M., Zhou, W. & Lundgren, T. (2021). Wind of change: small-scale electricity production and distribution-grid efficiency in Sweden. Utilities Policy, 69, Article ID 101175.
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Wind of change: small-scale electricity production and distribution-grid efficiency in Sweden
2021 (English)In: Utilities Policy, ISSN 0957-1787, E-ISSN 1878-4356, Vol. 69, article id 101175Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

In this paper, we measure the technical efficiency for local electricity distribution firms in Sweden, and in particular how small and micro-scale generation affects efficiency scores. Using a two-stage data envelopment analysis to model the technical efficiency and a double bootstrap approach to estimate the determinants of inefficiencies, we show that firms are heterogeneous in terms of inefficiency, but that a large share of small and micro-scale generation is not associated with more inefficient operations.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Elsevier, 2021
Keywords
Data envelopment analysis, Bootstrap, Efficiency
National Category
Economics
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-179231 (URN)10.1016/j.jup.2021.101175 (DOI)000632636100003 ()2-s2.0-85100068452 (Scopus ID)
Available from: 2021-01-27 Created: 2021-01-27 Last updated: 2023-09-05Bibliographically approved
Amjadi Torshizi, G., Lundgren, T. & Zhou, W. (2020). A Dynamic Analysis of Industrial Energy Efficiency and the Rebound Effect. Umeå universitet
Open this publication in new window or tab >>A Dynamic Analysis of Industrial Energy Efficiency and the Rebound Effect
2020 (English)Report (Other academic)
Abstract [en]

Energy efficiency improvement (EEI) is generally known to be a cost-effective measure for meeting energy, climate and sustainable growth targets. Unfortunately, behavioral responses to such improvements (called energy rebound effects) may reduce the expected savings in energy and emissions from EEI. Hence, the size of this effect should be considered to help set realistic energy and climate targets. Currently there are significant differences in approaches for measuring rebound effect. Here, we used a two-step procedure to measure both short- and long-term energy rebound effects in the Swedish manufacturing industry. In the first step, we used data envelopment analysis (DEA) to obtain energy efficiency scores. In the second step, we estimated energy rebound effects using a dynamic panel regression model. This approach was applied to a firmlevel panel dataset covering all 14 sectors in the Swedish manufacturing industry over the period 1997–2008. We showed that, in the short run, partial rebound effects exist within most of manufacturing sectors, meaning that the rebound effect decreased, but did not totally offset, the energy and emission savings expected from EEI. The long-term rebound effect was smaller than the shortterm effect, implying that within each sector, energy and emission savings due to EEI are larger in the long run compared to the short run.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Umeå universitet, 2020. p. 29
Series
CERE working paper ; 2020:1
Keywords
Energy efficiency improvement, rebound effect, data envelopment analysis
National Category
Economics
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-176336 (URN)
Funder
Swedish Energy Agency
Available from: 2020-10-30 Created: 2020-10-30 Last updated: 2020-11-02Bibliographically approved
Lundgren, T. & Zhou, W. (2017). Firm performance and the role of environmental management. Journal of Environmental Management, 203, 330-341
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Firm performance and the role of environmental management
2017 (English)In: Journal of Environmental Management, ISSN 0301-4797, E-ISSN 1095-8630, Vol. 203, p. 330-341Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

This paper analyzes the interactions between three dimensions of firm performance productivity, energy efficiency, and environmental performance and especially sheds light on the role of environmental management. In this context, environmental management is investments to reduce environmental impact, which may also affect firm competitiveness, in terms of change in productivity, and spur more (or less) efficient use of energy. We apply data envelopment analysis (DEA) technique to calculate the Malmquist firm performance indexes, and a panel vector auto-regression (VAR) methodology is utilized to investigate the dynamic and causal relationship between the three dimensions of firm performance and environmental investment. Main results show that energy efficiency and environmental performance are integrated, and energy efficiency and productivity positively reinforce each other, signifying the cost saving property of more efficient use of energy. Hence, increasing energy efficiency, as advocated in many of today's energy policies, could capture multiple benefits. The results also show that improved environmental performance and environmental investments constrain next period productivity, a result that would be in contrast with the Porter hypothesis and strategic corporate social responsibility; both concepts conveying the notion that pro-environmental management can boost productivity and competitiveness.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
ACADEMIC PRESS LTD- ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD, 2017
Keywords
Energy efficiency, Environmental investment, Environmental performance, Productivity, Malmquist index, Panel VAR
National Category
Environmental Management Environmental Sciences
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-141396 (URN)10.1016/j.jenvman.2017.07.053 (DOI)000412251300034 ()28806649 (PubMedID)2-s2.0-85027985549 (Scopus ID)
Available from: 2017-11-01 Created: 2017-11-01 Last updated: 2023-03-23Bibliographically approved
Färe, R., Grosskopf, S., Lundgren, T., Marklund, P.-O. & Zhou, W. (2017). The impact of climate policy on environmental and economic performance: evidence from Sweden. London ; New York: Routledge
Open this publication in new window or tab >>The impact of climate policy on environmental and economic performance: evidence from Sweden
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2017 (English)Book (Refereed)
Abstract [en]

Sweden has a long history of ambitious environmental, energy, and climate policy. Due to the large amount of data available it is possible to perform statistically sound analysis and assess long-term changes in productivity, efficiency, and technological development. The data at hand together with Sweden’s ambitious energy and climate policy provide a unique opportunity to shed light on pertinent policy issues. The Impact of Climate Policy on Environmental and Economic Performance answers several key questions: What is the effect of the CO2 tax on environmental performance and profitability of firms? Does including emissions in productivity measurement of the industrial firm matter? Did the introduction of the EU ETS spur technological development in the Swedish industrial firm? What air pollutant is most inhibiting production when regulated? Being aware and learning from the Swedish case can be very relevant for countries that are in the process of shaping their climate policy. This book is of great importance to researchers and policy makers who are interested in environmental economics, industrial economics, and climate change.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
London ; New York: Routledge, 2017. p. 145
National Category
Economics
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-208024 (URN)10.4324/9781315726809 (DOI)2-s2.0-85020351853 (Scopus ID)9781315726809 (ISBN)9781138847477 (ISBN)
Available from: 2023-05-26 Created: 2023-05-26 Last updated: 2023-05-26Bibliographically approved
Zhang, S., Lundgren, T. & Zhou, W. (2016). Energy efficiency in Swedish Industry: A firm-level data envelopment analysis. Energy Economics, 55, 42-51
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Energy efficiency in Swedish Industry: A firm-level data envelopment analysis
2016 (English)In: Energy Economics, ISSN 0140-9883, E-ISSN 1873-6181, Vol. 55, p. 42-51Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

This paper assesses energy efficiency in Swedish industry. Using unique firm-level panel data covering the years 2001–2008, the efficiency estimates are obtained for firms in 14 industrial sectors by using data envelopment analysis (DEA). The analysis accounts for multi-output technologies where undesirable outputs are produced alongside with the desirable output. The results show that there was potential to improve energy efficiency in all the sectors and relatively large energy inefficiencies existed in small energy-use industries in the sample period. Also, we assess how the EU ETS, the carbon dioxide (CO2) tax and the energy tax affect energy efficiency by conducting a second-stage regression analysis. To obtain consistent estimates for the regression model, we apply a modified, input-oriented version of the double bootstrap procedure of Simar and Wilson (2007). The results of the regression analysis reveal that the EU ETS and the CO2 tax did not have significant influences on energy efficiency in the sample period. However, the energy tax had a positive relation with the energy efficiency.

Keywords
Energy efficiency, EU ETS, Data envelopment analysis, Double bootstrap
National Category
Economics
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-119120 (URN)10.1016/j.eneco.2015.12.023 (DOI)000375358100005 ()2-s2.0-84958547921 (Scopus ID)
Available from: 2016-04-12 Created: 2016-04-12 Last updated: 2023-03-24Bibliographically approved
Lundgren, T., Marklund, P.-O., Samakovlis, E. & Zhou, W. (2015). Carbon prices and incentives for technological development. Journal of Environmental Management, 150, 393-403
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Carbon prices and incentives for technological development
2015 (English)In: Journal of Environmental Management, ISSN 0301-4797, E-ISSN 1095-8630, Vol. 150, p. 393-403Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

There is concern that the carbon prices generated through climate policies are too low to create the incentives necessary to stimulate technological development. This paper empirically analyzes how the Swedish carbon dioxide (CO2) tax and the European Union emission trading system (EU ETS) have affected productivity development in the Swedish pulp and paper industry 1998-2008. A Luenberger total factor productivity (TFP) indicator is computed using data envelopment analysis. The results show that climate policy had a modest impact on technological development in the pulp and paper industry, and if significant it was negative. The price of fossil fuels, on the contrary, seems to have created important incentives for technological development. Hence, the results suggest that the carbon prices faced by the industry through EU ETS and the CO2 tax have been too low. Even though the data for this study is specific for Sweden, the models and results are applicable internationally. When designing policy to mitigate CO2 emissions, it is vital that the policy creates a carbon price that is high enough otherwise the pressure on technological development will not be sufficiently strong. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Keywords
CO2 tax, EU ETS, Luenberger total factor productivity, indicator, GMM
National Category
Environmental Sciences
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-100944 (URN)10.1016/j.jenvman.2014.12.015 (DOI)000349504300041 ()25560661 (PubMedID)2-s2.0-84921276509 (Scopus ID)
Available from: 2015-03-20 Created: 2015-03-16 Last updated: 2023-03-24Bibliographically approved
Lundgren, T., Zhang, S. & Zhou, W. (2015). Energy efficiency in Swedish industry: a data envelopement analysis. Umeå: Umeå universitet
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Energy efficiency in Swedish industry: a data envelopement analysis
2015 (English)Report (Other academic)
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Umeå: Umeå universitet, 2015
Series
CERE working papers ; 2015-3
National Category
Economics
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-101967 (URN)
Available from: 2015-04-17 Created: 2015-04-17 Last updated: 2018-06-07Bibliographically approved
Lundgren, T., Marklund, P.-O., Samakovlis, E. & Wenchao, Z. (2013). Carbon prices and incentives for technological development. Umeå: Department of Economics, Umeå University
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Carbon prices and incentives for technological development
2013 (English)Report (Other academic)
Abstract [en]

How to significantly decrease carbon dioxide emissions has become one of the largest challenges faced by modern society. The standard recipe prescribed by most economists is to put a price on carbon, either through a tax or through emissions trading. Such measures can reduce emissions cost-effectively and create incentives for technological development. There is, however, a growing concern that the carbon prices generated through the European Union emission trading system (EU ETS) have been too low to create the incentives necessary to stimulate technological development. This paper empirically analyzes how the Swedish carbon dioxide tax and the EU ETS have affected productivity development in the Swedish pulp and paper industry 1998-2008. A Luenberger total factor productivity (TFP) indicator is computed using data envelopment analysis. How the policy measures affect TFP is assessed using a system generalized method of moments estimator. The results show that climate policy had a modest impact on technological development in the pulp and paper industry, and if significant it has been negative. The price on fossil fuels, on the contrary, seems to have created important incentives for technological development. Hence, results suggest that the carbon prices faced by the industry through EU ETS and the carbon dioxide tax have been too low.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Umeå: Department of Economics, Umeå University, 2013. p. 29
Series
CERE Working Paper / CERE arbetsrapport ; 2013:4
Keywords
CO2 tax, EU ETS, Luenberger productivity indicator, GMM
National Category
Economics
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-88448 (URN)
Available from: 2014-05-06 Created: 2014-05-06 Last updated: 2018-06-07Bibliographically approved
Färe, R., Grosskopf, S., Lundgren, T., Marklund, P.-O. & Wenchao, Z. (2013). Which bad is worst?: An application of Johansen's capacity model. Umeå: Department of Economics, Umeå University
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Which bad is worst?: An application of Johansen's capacity model
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2013 (English)Report (Other academic)
Abstract [en]

The production of desirable (good) outputs is frequently accompanied by unintended production of undesirable (bad) outputs. If two or more of these undesirable outputs are produced as byproducts, one may ask: ‘Which bad is worst?’ By worst we mean which bad inhibits the production of desirable outputs the most if it is regulated. We develop a model based on Leif Johansen’s capacity framework by estimating the capacity limiting effect of the bads. Our model resembles what is referred to as the von Liebig Law of the Minimum, familiar from the agricultural economics literature. To illustrate our model we apply our approach to a firm level data set from the Swedish paper and pulp industry.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Umeå: Department of Economics, Umeå University, 2013. p. 20
Series
CERE Working Paper / CERE arbetsrapport ; 2013:2
Keywords
von Liebig Law of the Minimum, DEA, emissions, regulation
National Category
Economics Earth and Related Environmental Sciences
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-88446 (URN)
External cooperation:
Funder
Swedish Energy Agency
Available from: 2014-05-06 Created: 2014-05-06 Last updated: 2018-06-07Bibliographically approved
Färe, R., Grosskopf, S., Lundgren, T., Marklund, P.-O. & Wenchao, Z. (2012). Productivity: should we include bads?. Umeå: Department of Economics, Umeå University
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Productivity: should we include bads?
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2012 (English)Report (Other academic)
Abstract [en]

This paper studies the interaction between economic and environmental performance. Applying the directional output distance function approach, the purpose is to compare estimates of Luenberger total factor productivity indicators, including and excluding bad outputs. Specifically, based on unique firm level data from Swedish manufacturing covering the period 1990 to 2008, we explore to what extent excluding bad outputs leads to erroneous productivity measurement. The main conclusion is that bad outputs should not only be included in the estimations, but also reduction in bad outputs should be credited. From this point of view the directional output distance function approach and the Luenberger indicator serves as an appropriate basis of productivity measurement.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Umeå: Department of Economics, Umeå University, 2012. p. 26
Series
CERE Working Paper / CERE arbetsrapport ; 2012:13
Keywords
Swedish manufacturing, Luenberger indicator, emissions, productivity
National Category
Economics Earth and Related Environmental Sciences
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-88445 (URN)
External cooperation:
Available from: 2014-05-06 Created: 2014-05-06 Last updated: 2018-06-07Bibliographically approved
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