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Green innovations and patenting renewable energy technologies

Author

Listed:
  • Esfandiar Maasoumi

    (Emory University)

  • Almas Heshmati

    (Jönköping University)

  • Inhee Lee

    (Sogang University)

Abstract

We examine the impact of regulation and policies on green patent generation and evolution of renewable energy technologies in the OECD countries. Public and private investment, investment in education, research and development, and environmental regulation are considered. There is considerable variation in innovation systems and investments in renewable energy, and in outcomes. We assess the impact of environmental stringency and environmental taxes and regulations on renewable energy patents. The considerable heterogeneity requires emphasis on country effects and a separation of general from specific green innovation outcomes. We account for country-specific innovation factors. A balanced panel of 27 OECD countries is examined between 1990 and 2018. A renewable patent model is estimated by different panel data models and estimation methods. We find considerable sensitivity to model assumptions and inference techniques. The study is suggestive, however, of some renewable energy approaches for achievement of OECD environmental goals.

Suggested Citation

  • Esfandiar Maasoumi & Almas Heshmati & Inhee Lee, 2021. "Green innovations and patenting renewable energy technologies," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 60(1), pages 513-538, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:empeco:v:60:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1007_s00181-020-01986-1
    DOI: 10.1007/s00181-020-01986-1
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    6. Li, Qi & Sarafidis, Vasilis & Westerlund, Joakim, 2020. "Essays in Honor of Professor Badi H Baltagi: Editorial," MPRA Paper 104751, University Library of Munich, Germany.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Green innovations; Patents; Environmental policy; Panel data; Count data; OECD; Factor models; GMM;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C23 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Models with Panel Data; Spatio-temporal Models
    • C52 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric Modeling - - - Model Evaluation, Validation, and Selection
    • F64 - International Economics - - Economic Impacts of Globalization - - - Environment
    • H23 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Externalities; Redistributive Effects; Environmental Taxes and Subsidies
    • O13 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Agriculture; Natural Resources; Environment; Other Primary Products
    • O32 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Management of Technological Innovation and R&D
    • Q20 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Renewable Resources and Conservation - - - General
    • Q55 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environmental Economics: Technological Innovation

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