Peer-Reviewed Publications

Qingran Li and William A. Pizer. (2021). Use of the consumption discount rate for public policy over the distant future. Journal of Environmental Economics and Management (accepted) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jeem.2021.102428 [reproduction code]

Qingran Li, Julia Bronnmann, Rachel Karasik, Martin F. Quaas, Martin D. Smith. (2021). An Age-Structured Backward-Bending Supply of Fish: Implications for Conservation of Bluefin Tuna. Journal of the Association of Environmental and Resource Economists 8(1), 165-192. https://doi.org/10.1086/711225 [reproduction code]

Qingran Li and Martin D. Smith.(2021). Fishery collapse revisited. Marine Resource Economics 36(1), 1-22. https://doi.org/10.1086/711233 [reproduction code]

Pan He, Jing Liang, Yueming Qiu, Qingran Li, Bo Xing. (2020). Increase in domestic electricity consumption from particulate air pollution. Nature Energy, 5(12), 985–995. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41560-020-00699-0 [reproduction code]

Job market paper

"Optimal timing of electric vehicle subsidies" 2-min elevator pitch video

There is geographic variation in the environmental damages from electric vehicles (EVs) relative to gasoline internal combustion engines (ICEs) because power grids have different mixes of generation capacity. On the surface, this cautions against subsidizing EVs before the grid is sufficiently decarbonized. However, in this paper I show that EV subsidies are best introduced before the time when EVs become cleaner than gasoline ICEs for two reasons related to the dynamics of decarbonization and technology diffusion. First, because EVs are durable goods, their lifetime damages can be less than those of gasoline ICEs even if the static emission-per-mile comparison disfavors EV adoption at the time of the subsidy. More importantly, policies boosting technology diffusion have positive spillover effects. As marginal emissions of the power grid decline in the long run, more EV adoption produces environmental gains in the process. I simulate an empirically calibrated EV diffusion model, calculate the discounted lifetime damages of EVs versus gasoline ICEs, and examine EV subsidies enacted in different years. Even when EVs are initially more polluting than ICEs, I find that the environmental return from the policy-induced EV diffusion process decreases when governments delay intervention.


Working papers

Qingran Li, Yang Zhou, William A. Pizer, Libo Wu, "Averting behavior and air pollution: Does time pattern matter" Under Review

Qingran Li, "Impact of tariff change on households' decision: evidence from Arizona's unbundling solar rates"

Archived projects

"Disaggregating and Projecting Electricity Demand in China", Bass Connection Project – Energy (2017-2018)

"Value of Solar Methodology for Next-Generation Solar Rate Design", Energy Transformation Collaborative (2014–2015)