Social Preferences and Environmental Externalities - Ratio

Social Preferences and Environmental Externalities - Ratio

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Article (with peer review)

The autonomous adaptation of US homes to changing temperatures

Cohen, F., Glachant, M., & Söderberg, M.

Publication year

2025

Published in

Journal of Economic Geography

Abstract

Little is known about how households adapt to climate change. Previous research has focused on geographical differences in fuel choice and air conditioning. Using a twenty-eight-year panel of homes, we conducted the first longitudinal analysis of eight categories of adaptations and their impact on electricity, gas, and water expenditures. Exposure to cold or warm days correlates with increased spending on doors, windows, equipment, insulation, energy, and water. Our findings suggest cooling costs will rise, offset by lower heating costs. We predict a significant increase in electricity and water use during summer, leading to seasonal utility adjustments.

Article (with peer review)

The impact of population size and waste bin structure on the cost of municipal solid waste (MSW) management: Evidence from Sweden and Norway

Söderberg, M., Sundriyal, V. K., & Gabrielsson, J.

Publication year

2025

Published in

Waste Management

Abstract

The growing amount of waste worldwide has led to policies requiring cost-effective waste management. Consequently, municipalities responsible for providing waste services are under greater pressure to do so efficiently for their residents. Using data from 225 Swedish and Norwegian municipalities, we investigate how the waste bin structure and population affect the cost of MSW management. Results indicate that 4-compartment bins are the most expensive (+13 %), while using the same bin types in detached and multi-family dwellings leads to coordination savings (−18 %). The cost-minimising population is slightly above 600,000 inhabitants, and the cost per inhabitant can be reduced by up to 30 % in several locations through collaborations with larger neighbours.

Article (with peer review)

Benchmarking in the energy sector: Implications for practice and policy

Månsson, J., Månsson, K., & Söderberg, M.

Publication year

2025

Published in

Energy Economics

Abstract

Efficiency benchmarking has become a cornerstone of energy sector regulation and management, providing tools to evaluate and compare the performance of utilities, power plants, and even national energy systems. Regulators use methods like Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) and Stochastic Frontier Analysis (SFA) to set performance targets, incentivize cost reduction, and guide policy. Yet, applying benchmarking in real-world contexts is challenging. Energy sector stakeholders – regulators, firms, and policymakers – often grapple with complex models, data limitations, and evolving policy goals (such as reliability and decarbonization) that benchmarking must address. This editorial reviews the contributions of papers in this Energy Economics special issue on “Benchmarking,” highlighting their implications for practical benchmarking in the energy sector. We synthesize what these studies reveal about pressing regulatory challenges, unresolved problems in implementation, and needed future developments to strengthen the use of benchmarking in policy and industry. The focus is on translating technical advances into insights for practitioners and decision-makers in the energy field.