An Economic Analysis of the Determinants of Metal Recycling in the United States: A Case Study of Secondary Copper.

摘要

This study proposes to identify and assess the relative importance of the major factors affecting the supply and demand of secondary copper,which in turn determine the amount of copper scrap recycled. The analysis is confined to the American secondary copper industry and to the postwar period. An econometric model is developed to aid in this investigation. The report briefly reviews several econometric models of relevance to this study,describes the institutional framework of the secondary copper industry in the United States,examines the nature of costs in this industry,analyzes the principal factor affecting the supply and demand of copper recovered from scrap,describes the econometric model and the results it produces,summarizes the major findings,considers a few of the implications for public policy,and identifies avenues for future research.