Economics Research

Abstract By supplying energy for many activities, electricity is one of the most important drivers of industrial development. But, electricity industry is one of the largest producers of polluting gases due to combustion of fossil fuels. This has raised serious concerns about the externalities of pollutant emissions in power generation processes. This paper aims at modeling and estimating the health effects and costs of electricity generation in thermal power plants in Iran based on the Impact Pathway Approach using SimPacts software. Based on our results, the health costs of electricity generation in Iran in year 2014 are more than 110 trillion Rials, which accounts for about 1 percent of GDP in this year. Also, the research results show that combined cycle and gas turbine power plants respectively impose the lowest and highest social health costs per kilowatt-hour of electricity generation. Ultimately, by modifying the fuel mix and only using natural gas as the fuel for power plants, the health costs of electricity generation will be reduced by more than 53 percent.

Abstract  
This paper examines the impacts of fuel price reform on the technology mix of power plants and other outputs of the Iran electricity market. In this regard, Iran electricity market has been simulated by using an agent-based model for a long-term period. Then, as a result of fuel price reform, the changes in the outputs of the electricity market, including the average price, average efficiency, capacity and technology mix of generation has been studied and analyzed. The results show that, the current situation of technology mix of power plants is far from optimum conditions. Accordingly, the reform of fuel prices may change the returns and incentives of investment in different technologies so that, technology mix of power plants would face major changes, and by increasing share of more efficient power plants like combined cycle power plants, the average efficiency of electricity production increase from current 36% to more than 55%.

Abstract Abstract           Technological evolutions as one of basic resources of productivity growth plays a significant role in economic growth. Therefore, after world war ІІ, the determination of measure and bias of technological change has been subject of many research efforts.            In this paper we have studied on the trend and bias of technological change in Iran’s industry by econometric approach from 1971 to 2008. We estimated a translog cost function in addition to equations system of cost share, using Seemingly Unrelated Regressions (SUR) approach. The results show that the rate of technological change has been -1.10 percent during the study years. It means that there is a decline in rate of cost of productive units over time. Furthermore, the results indicate that technological change has been biased towards the use of more energy and material, while labor and capital have been saved.

Abstract

Abstract In this paper, by using the computable general equilibrium model, the effect of tariff cuts importing goods on the employment level and income distribution based on different scenarios of tariff cuts through GAMS software have been simulated. The results show that general tariff cuts raise the employment level of unskilled labor workers and improve income distribution in rural households. Moreover, tariff cuts in foods, apparel and textile sector increase the employment level of unskilled labor workers and improve income distribution in rural households. In addition tariff cuts in agriculture sector reduce the employment level of unskilled labor workers and improve income distribution in urban households.