Policy and Business Strategy
Policy and Business Strategy researchers are developing an understanding of the role of the policy process on the potential transition to an alternative fuel-based transportation system. This research contains a number of projects focused on: the policy process surrounding alternative fuels; evaluation of policy alternatives and their likely implications for the transition; and the development of business strategies for an alternative fuel based economy. Researchers are employing a variety of tools to assess these complex issues including policy development frameworks, microeconomic theory, and modeling.
Research Leader: Chris Knittel, and Dan Sperling
Graduate Student Researcher: Jonathan Hughes, and Sinnott Murphy
Collaborating Researchers: Nic Lutsey
Recent Publications
- Holland, Stephen P., Christopher R. Knittel, Jonathan E. Hughes (2008) Greenhouse Gas Reductions under Low Carbon Fuel Standards?. Institute of Transportation Studies, University of California, Davis, Research Report UCD-ITS-RR-08-01
- Lutsey, Nicholas P. (2008) Prioritizing Climate Change Mitigation Alternatives: Comparing Transportation Technologies to Options in Other Sectors. Institute of Transportation Studies, University of California, Davis, Research Report UCD-ITS-RR-08-15
Major Project Areas
- Optimal strategies for regulating CO2 emissions
- The impact of ethanol policies on land use, land prices and input prices. Study evidence from Brazil
- Gas prices, future gas prices & consumer demand for automobiles. reduced form and structural tests
- Refueling station entry. Implications for alternative fuel policy and firm strategy (i.e. E85 stations)
- NOx regulation across transportation modes. implications for optimal pollutant regulation
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Pollution and infant health. implications for optimal pollutant policy
Structure of "Cross-Comparison" in this research
Many, but not all, of the research projects will study policies or business strategies that take all of the alternatives into consideration. For example, the regulation of CO2 emissions in the transportation sector will inherently have some effect on all alternatives (some more than others). In a project such as “refueling station entry”, hydrogen and biofuel alternatives will be included but electricity will not. However, the results from the refueling study (costs on businesses and possible government incentives, for example) may directly affect policy/business decisions for electricity solutions.
Relevant Posters and Presentations
- Biofuel Supply in the Western United States - Parker, Tittman, Lay, and Jenkins
- Import Demand for Brazilian Ethanol: A Cross-County Analysis - Farinelli, Lin, Sumner, and Carter
- Market Power in Ethanol Transport - Hughes
- Modeling of Optimal Oil Production and Comparing with Actual and Contractual Oil Production- Iran Case - Ghandi and Lin
- Oil Production in Alaska - Leighty and Lin
Donald Gautier, USGS geologist, presents on petroleum in the arctic