Der Einsatz von Informations- und Kommunikationstechnologien (IKT) ist sowohl mit positiven als auch negativen Effekten verbunden. Der negative Nachhaltigkeitsbeitrag besteht z. B. im Ressourcenverbrauch für die Herstellung der einzelnen Komponenten (z. B. Antennen für die Basisstationen des...

In dieser Studie nehmen wir neben den klassischen Zielen der Frequenzregulierung, wie z. B. der Schaffung wettbewerblicher Marktstrukturen, auch die Aspekte der Nachhaltigkeit und Resilienz in den Blick. So hat z. B. die Ausgestaltung von Versorgungsauflagen für Mobilfunknetzbetreiber im...

The European Commission has intensively discussed the mandatory separation of natural gas transmission from production and services. However, economic theory is ambiguous on the price effects of vertical separation. In this paper, we empirically analyse the effect of ownership unbundling of...

In 2007, Germany changed network access regulation in the natural gas sector and introduced a so-called entry-exit system. The re-regulation’s spot market effects remain to be examined. We use cointegration analysis and a state space model with time-varying coefficients to study the...

We analyze the relation between European natural gas storage facilities and price patterns at major trading points, considering the theory of storage to derive a testable hypothesis imposed by the non-arbitrage condition. To model the efficiency of the natural gas market, we apply two indirect...

The authors suggest a multi-layered system of three convergence criteria – similar to those used in the run-up to the European monetary union – that define the notion of „demonstrable progress“ towards reaching the emission commitments under the Kyoto Protocol. These are the existence of...

The Kyoto Protocol sets legally binding emission targets for industrialized countries without accounting for reductions carried out prior to 2008, the beginning of the first commitment period. There exists only one exception, the project-based Clean Development Mechanism. Two other possible ways...

A whole bundle of so-called „flexible mechanisms“ has been foreseen by the Kyoto Protocol in order to help industrial countries to fulfil their agreed reduction targets in the most costeffective way. Emission permits will act as the backbone of all market-orientated mechanisms. Therefore,...

Transaction costs will reduce the attractiveness of the Kyoto Mechanisms compared to domestic abatement options. Especially the project-based mechanisms CDM and JI are likely to entail considerable costs of baseline development, verification and certification. The AIJ pilot phase and the PCF...

Transaction costs and risk have generally not been taken into account in assessing the Kyoto mechanisms JI, CDM and emissions trading. However, they can have a significant influence. With regard to the project-based mechanisms, the factor that most determines the influence of transaction costs...