Entry of alternative fuels in a volatile U.S. gasoline market Academic Article

abstract

• Dramatic increases in levels and volatility of gasoline prices observed in recent years may create market incentives for adoption of alternative fuels characterized by lower price volatility. This hypothesis is investigated by applying the real-options pricing approach to develop optimal thresholds for switching from conventional gasoline to alternative fuels such as ethanol blends. The main result of the paper is that given the historical price patterns of conventional gasoline and ethanol, switching to ethanol blends is an economically sound decision provided this does not decrease efficiency of the vehicle. Analysis of data subsamples during the periods of higher volatility of gasoline prices (Gulf War and War on Terrorism) provides even stronger support for this result. Copyright 2006 Western Agricultural Economics Association.

authors

• Vedenov, Dmitry

published proceedings

• Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics

author list (cited authors)

• Vedenov, D. V., Duffield, J. A., & Wetzstein, M. E.

complete list of authors

• Vedenov, DV||Duffield, JA||Wetzstein, ME

publication date

• April 2006

published in

• JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND RESOURCE ECONOMICS  Journal

start page

• 1

end page

• 13

volume

• 31

issue

• 1