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Effects of digital transformation on electricity sector growth and productivity: A study of thirteen industrialized economies

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  • Vu, Khuong
  • Hartley, Kris

Abstract

This study examines growth patterns and sources of labour productivity growth and catch-up in the electricity sector. The study uses decomposition analysis to examine 13 industrialized economies from 2000 to 2015, a period of high growth in the sector. The study finds that total factor productivity and digital assets are the most powerful drivers of labour productivity growth and catch-up, while non-ICT assets have only a minor effect. Furthermore, labour quality outpaces R&D as a determinant of productivity. This study has implications for labour and industrial policy in the context of technological transformation and institutional restructuring in the electricity sector.

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  • Vu, Khuong & Hartley, Kris, 2022. "Effects of digital transformation on electricity sector growth and productivity: A study of thirteen industrialized economies," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:juipol:v:74:y:2022:i:c:s0957178721001594
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jup.2021.101326
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    Cited by:

    1. Vu, K. & Asongu, S., 2023. "Patterns and drivers of financial sector growth in the digital age: Insights from a study of industrialized economies," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 66(C).
    2. Diane Coyle & Jen‐Chung Mei, 2023. "Diagnosing the UK productivity slowdown: which sectors matter and why?," Economica, London School of Economics and Political Science, vol. 90(359), pages 813-850, July.
    3. Liu, Fengzhong & Liu, Xing, 2024. "Digital transformation is not a painless change:Evidence from corporate risk," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 86(C).
    4. Vu, Khuong & Hartley, Kris, 2022. "Sources of transport sector labor productivity performance in industrialized countries: Insights from a decomposition analysis," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 129(C), pages 204-218.
    5. Cheng, Yiran & Zhou, Xiaorui & Li, Yongjian, 2023. "The effect of digital transformation on real economy enterprises’ total factor productivity," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 488-501.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Electricity; Productivity performance; Growth decomposition; Catch-up; Digital transformation; R&D;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O10 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - General
    • O13 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Agriculture; Natural Resources; Environment; Other Primary Products
    • O30 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - General
    • O40 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - General
    • O47 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - Empirical Studies of Economic Growth; Aggregate Productivity; Cross-Country Output Convergence

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