Does Energy Policy Hurt International Competitiveness of Firms? A Comparative Study for Germany, Switzerland and Austria

Abstract

Die Dis cus si on Pape rs die nen einer mög lichst schnel len Ver brei tung von neue ren For schungs arbei ten des ZEW. Die Bei trä ge lie gen in allei ni ger Ver ant wor tung der Auto ren und stel len nicht not wen di ger wei se die Mei nung des ZEW dar.Dis cus si on Papers are inten ded to make results of ZEW research prompt ly avai la ble to other eco no mists in order to encou ra ge dis cus si on and sug gesti ons for revi si ons. The aut hors are sole ly respon si ble for the con tents which do not neces sa ri ly repre sent the opi ni on of the ZEW. AbstractThis paper investigates the impact of energy policies on the export performance of firms. There has been a long policy debate on potentially negative impacts of cost-increasing energy policies on international competitiveness. We use firm-level data from three countries with similar industry structure but different energy policies: Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. We rely on firm manager assessments on the relevance of energy policy (in terms of taxes, regulations, standards, subsidies and demand stimulation) for their firm operation and link data on the adoption and development of new energy technologies. Regression analyses and matching approaches both show very few impacts of energy policy on export performance, suggesting that either policy impacts on firms' cost are negligible in the period of study (2012 to 2014) or likely negative impacts are balanced by the adoption of new technology.

The readiness of industry for a transformative recovery from COVID 19

“…A widely used measure of comparative advantage is export share (e.g. Rammer et al, 2017) and specifically the Balassa index of RCA (see Balassa, 1965). There are several variants of the Balassa index, each with its own advantages and disadvantages (Iapadre, 2001;Laursen, 1998).…”

Energy Costs and Competitiveness in Europe

“…Also Gerster (2017) does not find evidence of short-run effects on firms' gross output, exports and employment. Rammer et al (2017) use firm-level data for countries featuring similar industry structures but different energy policies and their findings suggest that these policies have no relevant influence on firms' international market position (they explain their results with the evidence that cost effects are neutralised by the adoption of more efficient technologies).…”

Evolution of Enterprise Competitiveness in Multiplex Networks of Standards: A Case Study of the Communication Industry in China

“…e existing research has focused on the impact of different factors on w, or on the comprehensive evaluation of it through a system of indicators. Numerous factors affect enterprises competitiveness: in addition to existing technical advantages [42][43][44][45][46], some of the literature has focused on the mode of employment [47], prices of energy [48], freetrade agreements [49], captive finance [50], venture capital [51], and intellectual capital [52]. A contentious subject concerns whether environmental protection exerts positive or negative influences on enterprises competitiveness [53][54][55][56].…”