Productivity

This paper analyzes the impact of changes in energy prices on the competitiveness of manufacturing firms in Chile. We find that, (i) increases in energy prices generally do not hurt firm competitiveness; (ii) the impact of energy prices depends on the fuel type—while electricity price increases are negatively correlated with firm outcomes, fossil fuel price increases have a positive association with investment and firm productivity; (iii) these effects are heterogeneous and vary by firm attributes such as size, ownership and location; (iv) the positive correlation between fossil fuel price increases and capital upgrading is particularly pronounced when energy prices are at relatively low levels.

Energy subsidy reforms can raise important challenges for firms. A large academic literature has evolved to study these effects. This paper provides a summary of that literature and recommendations for future evaluations of policy impacts

We employ growth accounting and data from the 2019 release of the EUKLEMS database to systematically quantify the primary contributors to value-added and labor productivity growth within the Information and Communication Technology Manufacturing (ICTM) industry across 13 industrialized economies between 2000 and 2015. Our analysis reveals that total factor productivity, labor quality, investments in software, and research and development emerge as the primary drivers of growth.

This study provides novel evidence on this insight by examining the effect of a change in fossil fuel subsidies on the manufacturing industry of an oil-rich Middle Eastern economy. Using a novel firm-level micro data set on Omani manufacturing enterprises, our work shows that increases in fossil fuel energy factor prices lead to improvements in productivity as well as efficiency and notable business upgrading. Our work indicates that subsidy reforms may not only be used to achieve environmental goals but may also drive upgrading and modernization processes of firms that can, ultimately, also improve economic performance.

This paper examines the dynamics of deindustrialization in developed countries during the 1970–2015 period. The paper shows that deindustrialization is a persistent pattern that experienced a significant structural change in the post-1990 period, in which the acceleration of globalization with the rise of North-South trade appeared to have a significant effect.

Analysing the effect of energy price increases on firm-level productivity in Oman.

Switching Chilean firms to more sustainable production is critical to realising the country’s ambition of carbon neutrality by 2050.

This chapter revisits the debates on structural change in the tradition of Chenery and his associates. It examines the findings of Chenery in the light of more recent data. By and large it finds that the conclusions of Chenery stand the test of time.

The analysis presented in this chapter highlights the dynamic and heterogeneous nature of structural change within manufacturing and delineates a path of inclusive manufacturing development for pro-poor growth. In doing so it illustrates the continuous importance of manufacturing development and the key role of industrial policy design.

New empirical evidence on the impact of industrialization on social and environmental sustainability goals. This introductory chapter endeavoured to investigate the multi-faceted interlinkages between industrialization—itself a highly complex process—and both socio-economic and environment-related SDGs, which are equally complex.