Working Paper: NBER ID: w13760
Authors: Nick Johnstone; Ivan Hascic; David Popp
Abstract: This paper examines the effect of environmental policies on technological innovation in the specific case of renewable energy. The analysis is conducted using patent data on a panel of 25 countries over the period 1978-2003. It is found that public policy plays a significant role in determining patent applications. Different types of policy instruments are effective for different renewable energy sources.
Keywords: renewable energy; technological innovation; patent counts; environmental policies
JEL Codes: O34; O38; Q55; Q58
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| Tax measures (H29) | Innovation in wind technology (Q55) |
| Obligations (D86) | Innovation in wind technology (Q55) |
| Tradable certificates (G12) | Innovation in wind technology (Q55) |
| Investment incentives (G31) | Innovation in solar and waste-to-energy technologies (Q55) |
| Renewable-specific R&D spending (O32) | Patent activity in wind and ocean technologies (O30) |
| Quantity-based policies (C54) | Innovation in less mature technologies (O35) |
| Price-based measures (E30) | Innovation in more established technologies (O39) |
| Public policy (D78) | Patent applications (O34) |