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

Social Preferences and Environmental Externalities

Campos-Mercade, P., Ek, C., Söderberg, M., & Schneider, F. H.

Publication year

2025

Published in

Working paper series: Department of Economics, School of Economics and Management, Lund University.

Abstract

Standard economic theory assumes that consumers ignore the externalities they create, such as emissions from burning fossil fuels and generating waste. In an incentivized study (N = 3, 718), we find that most people forgo substantial gains to avoid imposing negative externalities on others. Using administrative data on household waste, we show a clear link between such prosociality and waste behavior: prosociality predicts lower residual waste generation and higher waste sorting. Prosociality also predicts survey-reported pro-environmental behaviors such as lowering indoor temperature, limiting air travel, and consuming eco-friendly products. These findings highlight the importance of considering social preferences in environmental policy.

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.