Studies in environmental production and transport economics

• Autores: Giancarlo Fiorito
• Directores de la Tesis: J.C.J.M. van den Bergh (dir. tes.), Mario Giampietro (dir. tes.)
• Lectura: En la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona ( España ) en 2018
• Idioma: español
• Tribunal Calificador de la Tesis: Tommaso Luzzati (presid.), María Rosa Rovira Val (secret.), Michela Nardo (voc.)
• Programa de doctorado: Programa de Doctorado en Ciencia y Tecnología Ambientales por la Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona
• Materias:
  • Ciencia política
    • Ciencias políticas
      • Política de transportes
• Enlaces
  • Tesis en acceso abierto en:  TESEO  TDX 
• Resumen

  • This PhD thesis uses statistics and econometric modelling to explore in empirical terms three energy and environmental economics issues.

    In the first study I approach the energy-economy connection in a broad perspective employing energy, population and income data for 133 countries over four decades, to provide a graphical examination of energy intensity. Combining static and dynamic analyses, I assess the usefulness of this popular indicator, so as to unveil long term patterns characterizing energy and GDP data.

    The second study enters into production. With a focus on inputs, I investigate capital/energy substitutability by estimating the production function of the manufacturing sector for seven OECD countries. Using a four-input translog specification, input substitution is quantified by the cross-price elasticity of substitution. This traditional economics treatment provides figures about the technological limits in which economic systems have to operate during times of energy scarcity, environmental constraints and resource price volatility.

    The last chapter concerns an urgent issue for both human health and the environment: the ever-increasing road vehicle emissions. After estimating consumer demand for both traditional and cleaner fuels, like LPG and methane, I simulate the effects of the introducing a carbon tax in Italy on both fuel/vehicle choice and emissions.

    All the studies use original and verifiable data and calculation procedures, to contribute to relevant and new insights.