Assignment: Energy Economics Research Paper Guidelines
General Research Guidelines:
1. I have posted the list of countries assigned for Solar Demand research. You will find data for estimation of their residential solar energy demand. Follow the following directions carefully. Failure to follow directions is the basis or NO credit for the paper.
a. Use your textbook chapter on renewable energy for background reading. Search the Economics literature for journal articles on demand for solar energy. You do not need a county specific Lit. for your assigned country, if there is none. I allow this flexibility because this bogy of literature is in its infancy. Alternatively, you can look for journal articles focused on demand for renewable energy. Additional articles can be from the Economist, the Financial Times, the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal.
b. Citation of your Literature Review and Reference:
- In the text of your paper do the following:
o For each article, report the name of the author(s), followed by the date of the publication then provide the following:
o For each article describe (1) the research question, (2) the model for the analysis of the demand for energy, (3) the data set used for the research, (4) the results of the research.
o Repotting your Lit in References: Follow one particular style and keep it consistent for all references.
c. Your Estimation Model:
You need to have a demand model for residential solar energy model for your estimation equation. To develop your model, first, write an algebraic demand equation of solar energy for fitting the data into it. Second, locate sources for the data you need. If you cannot find data online and immediately, you need to dig into more sources.
d. Your Data;
The data you gather for estimation of the demand equation should include data for
- Quantity of panels installed in a given year (consumption)
- Price of solar panels (an average price for the location your research is on.
- If possible an average figure for the cost of installation.
- Direct government subsidies or tax breaks to households
- Average Days of Sunshine per year. All these data sets need to be for the same years [2007-current date].
Create an Excel file for your data. Your data is due on April 16.
Estimation of demand is not required for the data submission.
The first draft should include the data and regression results.
Paper Guidelines:
1. Technical Specifications:
a. Use standard fonts (12) and standard margins
b. Page numbers start with the second page (page 2).
c. Pagination must be consecutive. Table should have consecutive numbers and a precise title. For example, your first table would be "Table 1: TITLE" and others will follow consecutively.
d. Charts should also be organized as tables. Charts also should be organized just as tables are.
e. Please DO NOT use quotations.
2. Your paper should have the following sections and organized in that order.
a. Attach a cover sheet to include the title of the paper, your name and the due date for the first draft and the last draft, respectively.
b. Include an outline: You must have an outline for the paper. The outline should be organized according to the sections described below, and any subsections you wish to add. This page will follow the cover sheet, before the first page.
3. Include the following sections to organize your paper:
1. Introduction:
In this section, you first describe the question you want to examine and then discuss how you plan to answer it. Then write an overview of what your paper will include (sections II-V).
II. Literature:
In this section, you the findings of the two journal articles you are using for this research.
III. This Study:
This section will be for the main body of your paper.
- You need to describe your data;
- describe your estimation model. Discuss the expected signs for each of the variables.
- Include your regression output (a computer printout must be included).
- Describe your regression results as follow:
• R2 and its collective power.
• Describe the sings AND the magnitude of each coefficient.
• Consider the (t) statistics for each variable to evaluate the statistical significance of each variable. Use Rule 2 for this.
• You need to use two models; one linear and one the LN version of the linear model.
• Your discussion of the regression results must include a comparison of the two alternative models.
• You should also summarize ALL tables and charts you have created for your research.
• Describe your overall findings.
IV. Summary and Conclusion:
In this section, you summarize all your research. Typically, you this section should be about half a page or one whole page.
V. Bibliography:
The last section of your paper is for presenting the bibliography. Thissection will include sources you mention in the text of the paper AND your data sources.
Journal articles should be listed alphabetically, by the last name of the first authors. Other sources should also be presented alphabetically.
Internet sources should give the full URL specification and the date of your research.
Text Book: INTERNATIONAL ENERGY MARKETS: UNDERSTANDING PRICING by CAROL A. DAHL, 2ND EDITION.