By adopting a semiparametric approach, the 'traditional' regional knowledge production function is developed in three complementary directions. First, the model is augmented with region-specic time trends in order to account for endogeneity due to selection on unobservables. Second, the...

In this work we test for the presence of convergence in the main municipal solid waste-related indicators across EU countries over the years 1995-2009. We analyse in particular both sides of the waste sector: generation, considering waste collected per capita, and the main disposal choices, i.e....

This paper examines the different forces underlying the adoption of environmental innovations (EI), with a focus on policy related EI. In particular, exploiting the 2006-2008 wave of the Italian Community Innovation Survey (CIS), we investigate whether the first phase of the European Emissions...

The aim of this work is to evaluate the economic stability of the choices made by the Government of Ecuador regarding the management of natural resources in the context of the Revolucion Ciudadana designed to create a society based on Buen Vivir. The choice of an intensification of the mining...

The paper investigates the effectiveness and efficiency of energy-environmental policy interactions in Italy, adopting a broad optimality perspective that includes policy feasibility and dynamic efficiency. The analysis highlights that though some complementarity among different policies exists,...

Although waste minimization is considered a priority to face the waste problem, EU targets on waste prevention are very recent and most policy interventions have been oriented towards increasing recycling rates. As a result, signi?cant improvements in recycling performance have been attained,...

Energy efficiency technologies represent a key driver for the reduction of the energy demand, leading to environmental and economic benefits. This aspect appears to be particularly relevant in the residential sector, where the demand for energy has not showed a decreasing trend over the last two...

In this paper we investigate the relationship between investments in environmentally-oriented equipment and firms' productivity. Drawing on Porter hypothesis, we estimate the impact of capital-embodied environmental innovations on the level of firm productive efficiency (TFP), distinguishing...

A dynamic energy-economic CGE model is used to analyse how sensitive simulation results are to alternative values assumed by several types of elasticity of substitution. Substitutability in the energy mix is analysed by taking into account the nest structure of the CGE model in the energy...

In this paper we investigate the trade-offs between growth and low carbon targets for both developing and developed countries for the period to 2035. The issues examined include two policy options for being on track to meet the 450 ppm target: (a) national/regional targets without international...