Competition, regulation, and pricing behavior in the Spanish retail gasoline market

The restructuring of the Spanish oil industry produced a highly concentrated oligopoly in the retail gasoline market. In June 1990 the Spanish government introduced a system of ceiling price regulation in order to ensure that "liberalization" was accompanied by adequate consumer protection. This paper examines the pricing behavior of the retail gasoline market using multivariate error correction models over the period January 1993 (abolishment of the state monopoly)-December 2004. The results suggest that gasoline retail prices respond symmetrically to increases and decreases in the spot price of gasoline. However, one the ceiling price regulation was abolished, the "collaboration" between the government and the major operators, Repsol-YPF and Cepsa-Elf in order to control the inflation rate results in a slower rate of increase (decrease) of gasoline retail prices when gasoline spot prices went up (went down) than elsewhere in the European Union. Finally, retail margins were by the end of our timing period of analysis, as in the first years after the abolishment of the state monopoly, well above the European ones.regulation, pricing behavior, competition, gasoline market

Competition, regulation, and pricing behavior in the Spanish retail gasoline market

The restructuring of the Spanish oil industry produced a highly concentrated oligopoly in the retail gasoline market. In June 1990 the Spanish government introduced a system of ceiling price regulation in order to ensure that "liberalization" was accompanied by adequate consumer protection. This paper examines the pricing behavior of the retail gasoline market using multivariate error correction models over the period January 1993 (abolishment of the state monopoly)-December 2004. The results suggest that gasoline retail prices respond symmetrically to increases and decreases in the spot price of gasoline. However, one the ceiling price regulation was abolished, the "collaboration" between the government and the major operators, Repsol-YPF and Cepsa-Elf in order to control the inflation rate results in a slower rate of increase (decrease) of gasoline retail prices when gasoline spot prices went up (went down) than elsewhere in the European Union. Finally, retail margins were by the end of our timing period of analysis, as in the first years after the abolishment of the state monopoly, well above the European ones.Ignacio Contín-Pilart gratefully acknowledges financial support from the Spanish Ministry of Education project SEJ2004-07242-C03-02

Pricing (A) symmetries and evolution of margins in the Spanish diesel market

With the restructuring of the Spanish oil sector during the 1980s and early 1990s, a highly concentrated oligopoly emerged in the automotive fuels market. The restructuring ended up with the abolishment of the sate oil monopoly in January 1993. A system of price ceiling replaced administered prices in June 1990, which was abolished for automotive diesel in June 1996. This paper analyzes the price dynamics of the Spanish retail automotive diesel market over the period 1993-2005. Concretely, it deals with the issue of asymmetries in the relation between the retail price of diesel before taxes and its spot price. The paper also analyzes the “collaboration” between the government and the major operators in setting prices. For the period 1993-1998, we find symmetric and full adjustment of the Spanish retail diesel prices before taxes to the Rotterdam prices, whereas from the late 1998 onward the empirical evidence suggests a weak positive price asymmetry. Furthermore, the paper shows how the government and the major operators have effectively “collaborated” in setting retail diesel prices since 1999 in order to control the inflation rate.Competition, price asymmetries and diesel.

Mathematical modeling of the electric spark ignition of the coal-water particle fuel under conditions relevant to the internal combustion engines

The results of the mathematical simulation of the coal-water fuel particle in the conditions of electric-spark discharge have been given. It has been found that the CWF particle can ignite even in a relatively low (Tg<500K) ambient temperature. It has been shown that the strength of the current and ambient temperature have a significant effect on the characteristics and conditions of ignition

A healthy metaphor? The North Sea consultation and the power of words

The North Sea Consultation was set up to resolve conflicting claims for space in the North Sea. In 2020, this consultation process resulted in the North Sea Agreement, which was supported by the Dutch Parliament and cabinet as a long-term policy; however, the fishing sector felt excluded, left the consultation process, and does not support the agreement. Using semi-constructed interviews and the method of wide reflective equilibrium, this research found that in this conflict the metaphor of ‘health’ has played a decisive role. While all stakeholders want to keep the sea ‘healthy’, they disagree on what a healthy sea actually means, leading to contrastive positions on the desirability of trawler fishing, wind parks, and conservation areas—the North Sea Agreement’s main foci of interest. To prevent the unproductive escalation of such a conflict, it is inevitable to acknowledge the moral connotations of such metaphors, as this allows a decision-making process that can be considered more just.Industrial EcologyEnvironmental Biolog

Further reflections on the temporality of energy transitions: a response to critics

In tandem with the call for more careful, thoughtful, reflexive thinking on the topic of energy transitions, in this paper we attempt to unpack some of the themes advanced in this Debate. We begin by investigating the multi-dimensionality of energy transitions as well as transition speeds for different parts of energy systems at different scales. We then call on analysts to consider transition speeds and scalar levels. We also argue for focusing on accelerated diffusion driven by rapid changes in cost, improvements in technology, or other factors

How long will it take? Conceptualizing the temporal dynamics of energy transitions

Transitioning away from our current global energy system is of paramount importance. The speed at which a transition can take place—its timing, or temporal dynamics—is a critical element of consideration. This study therefore investigates the issue of time in global and national energy transitions by asking: What does the mainstream academic literature suggest about the time scale of energy transitions? Additionally, what does some of the more recent empirical data related to transitions say, or challenge, about conventional views? In answering these questions, the article presents a “mainstream” view of energy transitions as long, protracted affairs, often taking decades to centuries to occur. However, the article then offers some empirical evidence that the predominant view of timing may not always be supported by the evidence. With this in mind, the final part of the article argues for more transparent conceptions and definitions of energy transitions, and it asks for analysis that recognizes the causal complexity underlying them