Characterizing the policy mix and its impact on eco-innovation in energy-efficient technologies

This paper provides an empirical investigation of the role played by selected characteristics of the policy mix in inducing innovation in energy efficiency technologies. An original dataset covering 23 OECD countries over the period 1990-2010 combines the full set of policies in the energy efficiency domain for the residential sector with data on patents applied over the same period in this specific technological sector. The evidence of a positive policy inducement effect on innovation dynamics is enriched by the following main results: i) policy mix comprehensiveness is influential since countries adopting different instruments show a relatively higher positive inducement effect; ii) inconsistency problems between the different tools forming the policy mix may negatively influence innovation activities when the variety of policy instruments becomes excessive; iii) the different instruments forming the policy mix need to be well balanced in their relative strength in order to reduce potential negative lock-in effects; iv) the greater the external balance of the national policy strategy with the policy setting of other similar countries, the higher the inducement effect on the technological dynamics of the investigated country. Several suggestions for implementing effective policy strategies can be made in this case study that can be potentially extended to other technology domains.