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Explaining Trade Flows in Renewable Energy Products: The Role of Technological Development

Author

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  • Mai Miyamoto

    (Graduate School of Economics, Kobe University)

  • Kenji Takeuchi

    (Graduate School of Economics, Kobe University)

Abstract

This study investigates the trade flows of renewable energy products, focusing on the role of technological development. We estimate a gravity model that explains the trade flows among 35 OECD countries from 1996 to 2010 using patent counts as a proxy for technology level. We compare the pattern of the trade flows between two representative renewable energy products: those related to wind and solar electricity generation. The results suggest that technological level is correlated with trade flows and this correlation is weaker in the model for solar products than that for wind products. When we include China in the sample in estimation, the technological level of solar energy is no longer correlated with the exports of solar power products.

Suggested Citation

  • Mai Miyamoto & Kenji Takeuchi, 2018. "Explaining Trade Flows in Renewable Energy Products: The Role of Technological Development," Discussion Papers 1819, Graduate School of Economics, Kobe University.
    • Handle: RePEc:koe:wpaper:1819
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    File URL: http://www.econ.kobe-u.ac.jp/RePEc/koe/wpaper/2018/1819.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Jing, Shuai & Zhihui, Leng & Jinhua, Cheng & Zhiyao, Shi, 2020. "China’s renewable energy trade potential in the "Belt-and-Road" countries: A gravity model analysis," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 161(C), pages 1025-1035.
    2. Trang My Tran, 2022. "International Environmental Agreement and Trade in Environmental Goods: The Case of Kyoto Protocol," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 83(2), pages 341-379, October.
    3. Tran, Trang, 2020. "International Environmental Agreement and Trade in Environmental Goods: The Case of Kyoto Protocol," Conference papers 333198, Purdue University, Center for Global Trade Analysis, Global Trade Analysis Project.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Renewable energy products; Trade; Technological development; Patent; Gravity model;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F14 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Empirical Studies of Trade
    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes
    • Q55 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environmental Economics: Technological Innovation

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