Speaker： Dr. Yin Chu

Time：14:30-16:00, 13.Oct.(Thursday)

Site：B251

Abstract: This study investigates the divestiture of transmission control from vertically-integrated power producers, aimed to maintain non-discriminatory access of the electricity network. I ask whether the vertical separation is sufficient to enhance how efficiently production is allocated among producers (i.e., regional production efficiency). Using a difference-in-difference strategy, I compare the treated region, Southwest Power Pool (SPP), with a control region, where no restructuring activities were implemented. Based on relatively noisy estimates of the coefficient of primary interest, I fail to find any significant gains in regional production efficiency. The empirical results are also robust to alternative specifications, including treatment dates, sizes of the event window, and control groups.

Dr. Chu is Assistant Professor of Economics at Wenlan College of Business, Zhongnan University of Economics and Law, China. He obtained the Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville in 2015, and MS in economics from UCSB in 2010. He received BS in Finance from Shandong University in 2009. His research interests focus on Energy Economics, Environmental Economics and Empirical Industrial Organization.