The Electricity Consumption Choice Ased On The Model Of Personal Carbon Trading Behavior

The transition to low-carbon economy not only means changing the traditional mode of production, but also changing the way of lifestyle. It has become a major issue to be solved to strengthen the guidance and encouragement of consumer behavior, and then build the low-carbon consumption patterns. However, the current emission reduction policy is primarily on producers, few effective means of regulation on consumers. The assume responsibility of consumers is unequal and the consumer’s emission reduction incentive is also insufficient It caused that the actual emission reduction results did not achieve the desired goals, and even produced a "rebound effect". Therefore, the concept of Personal Carbon Trading (PCT) is proposed by researchers to reduce carbon emission of consumers. However, there is no country carrying out the mechanism of PCT; the study of PCT is based on qualitative analysis and lack of empirical research on mathematical model, especially, the study on consumer behavior. What is the behavior feature of PCT? How PCT influence production choice behavior of consumer? How PCT influence consumer welfare? These answers to these questions are important to the implement of PCT mechanism.The major works of this paper include the following aspects:(1) The conceptual model of electricity consumption choice behavior is constructed to identify the factors and mechanism that influence electricity consumption choice under the PCT. Based on the theory of property rights trading and consumer behavior, we build a conceptual model of electricity consumption choice behavior under the PCT to study the impact of personal carbon allowance and personal carbon trading behavior on electricity consumption choice, and the impact of electricity consumption choice on power generation behavior. These studies provide theoretical basis to the model of personal carbon trading behavior and electricity consumption choice behavior.(2) The theoretical model of personal carbon trading behavior is constructed to identify the characteristic of personal carbon trading behavior and its influence mechanism. Based on the mechanism of "Cap and Trade" and consumer utility theory, we build a mathematical model of personal carbon trading behavior. Then we study the influence of the consumer income and the emissions rights price on personal carbon trading behavior when the emissions rights price is above, below and equal to the critical carbon price. Based on the excess demand function, we discuss the market equilibrium of PCT. The construction of personal carbon trading behavior offers the basis of electricity consumption choice behavior under PCT.(3) The models of electricity consumption choice behavior and electricity consumption welfare are constructed to uncover the influence mechanism of PCT on consumer behavior choice and consumer welfare. Based on the model of personal carbon trading behavior, we build the model of electricity consumption choice behavior and electricity consumption welfare to analysis the impacts of emissions rights price, consumer’s income and personal carbon allowance on electricity consumption choice behavior and electricity consumption welfare when the emissions rights price is above, below and equal to the critical carbon price.(4) The research methods of experimental economics are used to examine the feature of personal carbon trading behavior and the influence of PCT on consumer choice behavior and consumer welfare. We design the experimental environment, basic experimental data, the pricing mechanism and incentive conditions of PCT, and then we conduct the personal carbon trading experiment to test equilibrium price of PCT and the relationship between emissions trading quantity and the consumer income. On this basis, we conduct the electricity consumption choice behavior experiment to identify the influence of PCT on electricity consumption choice and electricity consumption welfare, and then we find out the encouragement effect of PCT and internalization effect of consumption externality.We find that PCT can realize the stable market equilibrium, and the equilibrium price is the critical carbon price; it can encourage consumers to choose low-carbon products to realize low-carbon consumption; it can also reflect the social fairness to realize subsidies from the consumer with high carbon emissions to low carbon emissions.The major innovative points are the following:(1) Based on the perspective of consumers, this paper studies the feature of consumer low-carbon behavior under the market-based reduction mechanism. The nature of PCT is to build a market-based reduction mechanism to encourage the consumers’low-carbon behavior, which will influence the implement of PCT. This paper constructs the models of personal carbon trading behavior and electricity consumption choice to identify the feature of consumer behavior and its influence mechanism, and then assesses the encouragement effects of PCT on low-carbon behavior.(2) The research methods of experimental economics are used to study the mechanism of PCT. As we all know PCT is a new and unpracticed reduction mechanism, therefore it is difficult to disclose its operation mechanism and discipline with traditional empirical research method. Based on the research methods of experimental economics, we design the experimental environment to test the mechanism of PCT.In a word, in terms of theoretical value, this paper provides a basis mathematical model and research example of experimental economics for the further study of PCT; In terms of practice enlightenment, it is meaningful to the reformation of electricity tiered pricing in China.