Economy-wide Impacts of Biofuels in Argentina

• Autores: Timilsina, Govinda R.; Chisari, Omar Osvaldo; Romero, Carlos A.
• Año de publicación: 2013
• Idioma: inglés
• Tipo de recurso: artículo
• Materia: Biofuels; Energy Economics; General Equilibrium Modeling; Argentina
• Institución: Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas

Argentina is one of the world's largest biodiesel producers and the largest exporter, using soybeans as feedstock. Using a computable general equilibrium model that explicitly represents the biofuel industry, this study carries out several simulations on two sets of issues: (i) international markets for biofuel and feedstock, such as an increase in prices of soybean, soybean oil, and biodiesel, and (ii) domestic policies related to biofuels, such as an introduction of biofuel mandates. Both sets of issues can have important consequences to the Argentinean economy. The simulations indicate that increases in international prices of biofuels and feedstocks would increase Argentina's gross domestic product and social welfare. Increases in international prices of ethanol and corn also can benefit Argentina, but to a lesser extent. The domestic mandates for biofuels, however, would cause small losses in economic output and social welfare because they divert part of biodiesel and feedstock from exports to lower-return domestic consumption. An increase in the export tax on either feedstock or biodiesel also would lead to a reduction in gross domestic product and social welfare, although government revenue would rise.
Fil: Timilsina, Govinda R.. The World Bank; Estados Unidos
Fil: Chisari, Omar Osvaldo. Universidad Arg.de la Empresa. Facultad de Ciencias Economicas. Instituto de Economia; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina
Fil: Romero, Carlos A.. Universidad Argentina de la Empresa. Facultad de Ciencias Economicas. Instituto de Economia; Argentina