• KDI Journal of Economic Policy
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.135-149
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• 1991

The economic policy of decreasing the electricity price is widely understood to have the effect of stabilizing the general price level and improving the income distribution. However, the impact of electricity price decrease on the income distribution is not quite sure although the electricity price decrease would increase the disposable income of all households. The electricity price change would affect the income distribution through three channels. The first impact on the income distribution is made through the electricity price sructure; Korean electricity price structure is designed to subsidized the industrial sector at the cost of household consumption sector in the sense that the price per unit electricity for industrial sector is much lower than that for household consumption sector. The second impact on the income distribution is created through the disposable household income effect of the price decrease; Relative disposable income effect among households appeared higher to lower income household group and this relative disposable income effect seem to improve the income distribution although the net effect is very small. The third impact on the income distribution is formulated through the net profit effect of entreprise sector; This unearned net profit increase to the already rich industrial entrepreneurs group could create a negative income distribution effect. A simulation of 10% electricity price decrease with all the price structure given was attempted to calculate the net effect of income distribution and it was found the net income distribution effect of flat electricity price decrease to be negative contrary to the general understanding. The income distribution effect would only be one criterion among many other criteria considered in the electricity price making process. The electricity price decrease would be helpful to the price stabilization and price competitiveness of industrial sector. However, it does not improve the general income distribution status by the electricity price decrease with the price structure given.