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The use of external support and the benefits of the adoption of resource efficiency practices: An empirical analysis of european SMEs

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  • Bodas-Freitas, Isabel-Maria
  • Corrocher, Nicoletta

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between the use of external support for the adoption of resource efficiency practices and the extent and profitability of this adoption by Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs). We distinguish between direct financial support and indirect support in the form of advice and consulting services related to the adoption of resource efficiency practices. We use data from the 2013 FLASH EUROBAROMETER survey of a sample of European manufacturing SMEs. Our results show that the effects of the adoption of resource efficiency practices on production costs are higher among firms that receive external financial support for adoption, as well as among those firms that adopt a wide set of process reengineering measures for resource efficiency. However, external technical and business advice plays an important role in the extent of adoption of different resource efficiency measures.

Suggested Citation

  • Bodas-Freitas, Isabel-Maria & Corrocher, Nicoletta, 2019. "The use of external support and the benefits of the adoption of resource efficiency practices: An empirical analysis of european SMEs," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 132(C), pages 75-82.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:enepol:v:132:y:2019:i:c:p:75-82
    DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2019.05.019
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    4. Garrido-Prada, Pablo & Lenihan, Helena & Doran, Justin & Rammer, Christian & Perez-Alaniz, Mauricio, 2021. "Driving the circular economy through public environmental and energy R&D: Evidence from SMEs in the European Union," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 182(C).
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    6. Cunha, Paulo & Neves, Sónia Almeida & Marques, António Cardoso & Serrasqueiro, Zélia, 2020. "Adoption of energy efficiency measures in the buildings of micro-, small- and medium-sized Portuguese enterprises11The financial support of the NECE - Research Unit in Business Science and Economics, ," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 146(C).
    7. Nikos Chatzistamoulou & Phoebe Koundouri, 2024. "Is Green Transition in Europe Fostered by Energy and Environmental Efficiency Feedback Loops? The Role of Eco-Innovation, Renewable Energy and Green Taxation," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 87(6), pages 1445-1472, June.
    8. Milena Angelova, 2023. "Factors for Boosting the Green Transition of the European Micro, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises," Economic Studies journal, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences - Economic Research Institute, issue 2, pages 59-77.
    9. Guglielmo Maria Caporale & Cristiana Donati & Nicola Spagnolo, 2022. "Small and Medium Sized European Firms and Energy Efficiency Measures: A Probit Analysis," CESifo Working Paper Series 10066, CESifo.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Resource and energy efficiency; External support; SMEs;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes
    • Q55 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environmental Economics: Technological Innovation

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