Broadband connects consumers, businesses and governments and are now therefore a vital instrument in ensuring the competitiveness of OECD countries. This report examines broadband developments and ...policies, and highlights challenges such as connecting users to fibre-based networks or coverage of rural areas. It also outlines emerging issues that may need policy attention as we move to next-generation networks. The findings are also relevant to emerging and developing economies designing broadband strategies.
The persistence assessment of organic chemicals is based on neutral reference substances. Therefore, our study aimed at investigating the influence of a chemical charge on the degradation of organic ...compounds in a water-sediment system (OECD 308) and surface water (OECD 309). We used radiolabelled 4-n-dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid sodium salt (14C-DS-, anionic), 4-n-dodecylbenzyltrimethylammonium chloride (14C-DA+, cationic) and 4-n-dodecylphenol (14C-DP, non-ionic) which are structurally similar except their charges. After 120 days of incubation in a water-sediment system, 68% (14C-DS-), 6% (14C-DA+) and 63% (14C-DP) of the applied radioactivity (AR) were mineralized. The formation of non-extractable residues (NER) after 120 days was highest for 14C-DA+ (33% AR), followed by 14C-DS- (19% AR) and 14C-DP (14% AR). Dissipation half-lives (DT50) at 12 °C decreased as follows: 14C-DA+ (346 days) ≫ 14C-DS- (47 days) > 14C-DP (30 days). After 60 days of incubation in surface water with suspended sediment, mineralization of 14C-DS-, 14C-DA+ and 14C-DP accounted for 63%, 7% and 58% AR, respectively. Highest NER formation was observed for 14C-DP (21% AR), followed by 14C-DA+ (14% AR) and 14C-DS- (9% AR). DT50 (12 °C) decreased as follows: 14C-DA+ (45 days) > 14C-DP (3 days) > 14C-DS- (2 days). We showed that a positive charge reduces the degradability of organic chemicals in both test systems. From a scientific point of view, simulation studies following OECD 309 should always be complimented by tests with high sorption capacity, e.g. OECD 308 and OECD 307 tests in order to assess the degradation of a compound, especially in case of cationic organic compounds.
Display omitted
•Fate of chemicals with similar structures but different charges investigated.•Anionic and non-ionic chemicals were strongly mineralized.•Cationic chemical formed high amounts of NER.•Cationic chemical has by far the slowest degradation rate.•Chemical charge influences a chemical's fate in water-sediment systems.
This paper investigates whether OECD countries compete with each other over corporation taxes, and whether such competition can explain the fall in statutory tax rates in the 1980s and 1990s. We ...develop a model in which multinational firms choose their capital stock in response to an effective marginal tax rate (EMTR), and simultaneously choose the location of their profit in response to differences in statutory tax rates. Governments engage in two-dimensional tax competition: they simultaneously compete over EMTRs for capital and over statutory rates for profit. We estimate the parameters of their reaction functions using data from 21 countries between 1982 and 1999. We find evidence that countries compete over both measures, and moreover, that the estimated slopes of reaction functions are consistent with our theoretical predictions. We find that – consistent with our model, but not some other forms of competition – evidence of strategic interaction is present only between open economies (i.e. those without capital controls in place). The Nash equilibrium average statutory rates implied by the empirical model fall substantially over the period, in line with falls in actual statutory rates. The reductions in equilibrium tax rates can be explained almost entirely by more intense competition generated by the relaxation of capital controls.
As climate change has become an increasingly pressing threat, the active advent of green innovation and reducing environmental pollution have also become the driving forces for cleaner economic ...growth, and a healthier environment. In this regard, numerous research studies have identified all the different aspects that affect environmental pollution. However though, research studies have overlooked green finance initiatives and innovations' impact on trade-adjusted CO2 emissions. Therefore, this study emphasizes upon the significance of green finance, and green innovation in achieving sustainable development. This research study fills the gap by studying the effect of green finance on trade-adjusted CO2 emissions, particularly in the presence of green innovation, environmental policy stringency, international trade, and economic growth for OECD countries. In this context, the cointegration analysis demonstrates that green finance, green innovation, environmental policy stringency, GDP, exports, imports, and carbon emissions have a long-run association with one another. The results of the method of movement quantile regression (MMQR) analysis show that green finance significantly reduces carbon emissions in OECD countries. Similarly, the results for green innovation also show a significantly negative relationship with trade-adjusted CO2 emission. The findings reveal that green finance and the innovations' magnitude of impact on carbon emission is higher, specifically at the higher quantiles. Moreover, economic growth and imports tend to have a positive impact on carbon emissions, whereas exports and environmental policy stringency decrease carbon emissions and boost environmental quality. Policymakers and regulators should therefore focus on green finance and green innovation, in order to mitigate trade-adjusted CO2 emissions and attain the sustainable environmental goals set by OECD countries.
•This study examines trade-adjusted CO2 emissions with green finance and innovation.•The study applied advanced econometrics approaches for analysis.•Green financing and innovation significantly reduce CCO2 emissions.•Green financing and innovation affect CCO2 emissions more at higher quantiles.•Growth degrades the environment, while environmental policy stringency improves it.
This paper studies the relationship between public investment and private investment in a sample of 21 Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries between 2000 and 2019. ...Using panel data nonlinear threshold regression models, the empirical results show that there exist threshold levels for the share of public investment in private investment, the real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rate and the real interest rate that affect the relationship between public and private investment. All estimates support a crowding‐in effect of public investment on private investment. In terms of policy prescriptions, by increasing public investment, OECD governments can expect positive spillovers to private investment.
This study examines the effect of corruption on green innovation. We employed a panel corrected standard error (PCSE) and robust checking system generalized moment of method (S-GMM) model on a panel ...sample of 61 OECD and non-OECD countries between 2010 and 2018. Our results show that corruption is significant and positively related to green innovation in 61 countries. Similarly, we find that corruption has an increasing impact on green innovation in non-OECD countries. However, in OECD countries, corruption reduces the likelihood of attaining green innovation. Our results are robust to alternative estimation. Therefore, our results extend the green innovation literature and informed policymakers of the need to pay attention to the effect of corruption.
Display omitted
•Impact of energy transitions on ecological footprint, and economic growth.•Energy transitions adversely related to ecological footprint and economic growth.•Energy transitions and ...renewable energy consumption improve environmental quality.•Natural resources improve environmental quality and a curse for economic growth.•Urbanization and non-renewable energy deteriorate environmental quality.
Environmental sustainability isthe responsibility to conserve natural resources and protect global ecosystems from supporting health and wellbeing, now and in the future. Thus, the connection between energy transitions, the environment and sustainable development is worth highlighting. We investigate the impact of energy transitions, energy consumption, natural resources, and urbanization on the ecological footprint and economic growth of the selected Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries from 1990 to 2015. Through this study, we have developed a comprehensive empirical analysis, applied advanced econometric methodologies. Wasteland's panel cointegration suggests long-run relationships within the variables. Our long-run results indicate energy transitions, renewable energy consumption, and natural resources are negatively associated, while non-renewable energy consumption and urbanization are positively related to the ecological footprint and economic growth. Overall, the result implies that energy transitions, renewable energy consumption, and natural resources improve environmental quality and curse economic growth. However, urbanization and non-renewable energy consumption deteriorate environmental quality and stimulate economic growth in the selected OECD countries. Policymakers are encouraged to highlight the energy sector's sustainable structural changes, address carbon–neutral influential non-market barriers, promote green trade and technology activities, offer sustainable natural resources and urbanization to guarantee a sustainable future. Study limitations and directions for future research discussed.
This paper employs a panel quantile regression method to study the impacts of economic growth, renewable energy, and development of patents on carbon emissions. Panel quantile regression is more ...useful method compared to the ordinary least squared (OLS) method because both individual heterogeneity and distributional heterogeneity are considered in a panel quantile regression, which provides comprehensive information of the relationship between carbon emissions per capita and different variables. To be specific, for economic growth, its impact on carbon emissions per capita is significant and positive, but its impact decreases for fast-increase emission countries. The results do not support the Environmental Kuznet Curve hypothesis. As for renewable energy, its impacts on carbon emission show an inverted U-shaped trend at different quantile levels. As for the development of patents, its effect is non-significant and positive at different quantile levels. Based on the results, we propose some policy recommendations to control carbon emissions per capita.
The perceived potential of clean energy to support employment in the post-crisis recovery context has led several OECD and emerging economies to design green industrial policies aimed at protecting ...domestic manufacturers, notably through local-content requirements (LCRs). These typically require solar or wind developers to source a specific share of jobs, components or costs locally. Such requirements have been designed or implemented in the solar- and wind-energy sectors in at least 21 countries, including 16 OECD countries and emerging economies, mostly since 2009. Empirical evidence gathered in this report shows however that LCRs have actually hindered international investment across the solar PV and wind-energy value chains, by increasing the cost of inputs for downstream activities. This report also takes stock of other measures that can restrict international investment in solar PV and wind energy, such as trade remedies and technical barriers. This report provides policy makers with evidence-based analysis to guide their decisions in designing clean-energy support policies.
Mit dem aktuellen Haushaltsentwurf 2024 von Bundesfinanzminister Christian Lindner und den geplanten Kürzungen im Bereich Familie ist eine heftige Debatte darum entbrannt, welche familienpolitischen ...Maßnahmen sinnvoll sind, wie sie wirken und welche Alternativen es überhaupt gibt. Die gute Nachricht ist, dass der Familienpolitik nun endlich wieder erhöhte Aufmerksamkeit geschenkt wird. Doch es stellt sich die Frage, wie eine zukunftsfähige Familienpolitik sinnvollerweise ausgestaltet werden soll. Dabei sollte Familienpolitik nicht isoliert betrachtet werden, sondern im Zusammenspiel mit der Bildungs-, Wirtschafts- und Arbeitsmarktpolitik.
The range of family policies in OECD countries has been influenced by various factors, including demographic shifts, efforts to integrate more women into the workforce, promoting shared responsibility in unpaid work, pursuing broader gender equality goals, and combating child and family poverty. What policy measures have OECD countries implemented and what are the results? How do recent developments in Germany compare to this?
PDF
