文章基本信息

标题：Consumer Preference Not to Choose: Methodological and Policy Implications
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作者：Brennan, Timothy J.
期刊名称：Journal of Food Distribution Research
印刷版ISSN：0047-245X
出版年度：2005
期号：SUPPL
出版社：Food Distribution Research Society
摘要：Residential consumers remain reluctant to choose new electricity suppliers. Even the most successful jurisdictions, four U.S. states and other countries, have had to adopt extensive consumer education procedures that serve largely to confirm that choosing electricity suppliers is daunting. Electricity is not unique in this respect; numerous studies find that consumers are generally reluctant to switch brands, even when they are well-informed about product characteristics. If consumers prefer not to choose, opening regulated markets can reduce welfare, even for some consumers who do switch, as the incumbent can exploit this preference by raising price above the formerly regulated level. Policies to open markets might be successful even if limited to industrial and commercial customers, with residential prices based on those in nominally competitive wholesale markets.
关键词：electricity markets;deregulation;consumer choice;residential markets