From Green Users to Green Voters

Posted: 24 Jul 2013

See all articles by Diego Comin

Diego Comin

Harvard University - Business School (HBS)

Johannes Rode

KfW Bankengruppe; Technische Universität Darmstadt

Date Written: July 2013

Abstract

We estimate the effect of the diffusion of photovoltaic (PV) systems on the fraction of votes obtained by the German Green Party. The logistic diffusion of PV systems offers a new identification strategy. We take first differences and instrument adoption rates (i.e. the first difference in the diffusion level) by lagged diffusion levels. The existing rationales for non-linearities in diffusion, and ubiquity of logistic curves ensure that our instrument is orthogonal to variables that directly affect voting patterns. We find that the diffusion of domestic PV systems caused 25 percent of the increment in green votes between 1998 and 2009.

Keywords: feed-in tariff, PV systems, technology diffusion, voting

JEL Classification: E13, O14, O33, O41

Suggested Citation

Comin, Diego and Rode, Johannes, From Green Users to Green Voters (July 2013). CEPR Discussion Paper No. DP9573, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2297212

Diego Comin (Contact Author)

Harvard University - Business School (HBS) ( email )

Soldiers Field Road
Morgan 270C
Boston, MA 02163
United States

Johannes Rode

KfW Bankengruppe ( email )

Palmengartenstraße 5-9
Frankfurt am Main, 60325
Germany

Technische Universität Darmstadt ( email )

Chair of International Economics
Hochschulstraße 1
Darmstadt, 64289
Germany

HOME PAGE: http://www.vwl2.wi.tu-darmstadt.de/rode

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