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The effects of publicly supported environmental innovations on firm growth in the European Union

Author

Listed:
  • Florian Flachenecker

    (European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Brussels, Belgium)

  • Martin Kornejew

    (University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany)

  • Mario Lorenzo Janiri

    (European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Brussels, Belgium)

Abstract

Enabling innovations with environmental benefits is considered crucial to align economic and environmental objectives. We estimate the economic effects of publicly supported environmental innovations for the business economy of 13 Member States of the European Union. Using an instrumental variable approach to address the inherent endogeneity problem, we find that the average publicly supported environmental innovation increases firm employment by 9%, turnover by 12% and market share by 12% over a two-year period. Notwithstanding country and sector heterogeneity, essentially all countries and sectors show positive effects. Moreover, the results are not driven by highly innovative firms but are based on small and medium-sized enterprises with limited innovation activity. Thus, this paper provides robust evidence that public financial support for environmental innovations can align economic and environmental objectives for a broad set of firms, sectors and countries. Public policy supporting environmental innovations might therefore facilitate the recovery and transition to a more sustainable economy.

Suggested Citation

  • Florian Flachenecker & Martin Kornejew & Mario Lorenzo Janiri, 2021. "The effects of publicly supported environmental innovations on firm growth in the European Union," SEEDS Working Papers 0721, SEEDS, Sustainability Environmental Economics and Dynamics Studies, revised Jun 2021.
    • Handle: RePEc:srt:wpaper:0721
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    eco-innovation; environmental innovation; competitiveness; firm growth; European Union;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C26 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Instrumental Variables (IV) Estimation
    • O31 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Innovation and Invention: Processes and Incentives
    • O44 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - Environment and Growth
    • Q32 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Nonrenewable Resources and Conservation - - - Exhaustible Resources and Economic Development
    • Q56 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environment and Development; Environment and Trade; Sustainability; Environmental Accounts and Accounting; Environmental Equity; Population Growth

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