Abstract. The literature has documented a large degree of heterogeneity across firms in terms of productivity. In this article, I focus on market potential as a source of differences in productivity across Spanish manufacturing firms. Market potential is conditioned by the existing transport infrastructure. Transport infrastructure investment improves accessibility to input and output markets and thus increases market potential.

Abstract. To fully understand the local linkages of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) plants, we argue it would be useful to analyze the outsourcing patterns of such plants in comparison to domestic plants. Consequently, we examined 1031 industrial plants, both domestic and foreign, located in Spain. The FDI plants show patterns similar to those of domestic plants with regard to the level of outsourcing, the incidence of outsourced production on the companies’ total sales and the economic content of outsourcing relationships.

Abstract.  Just-in-Time manufacturing systems, subcontracting and geographic proximity, Regional Studies. The paper studies the spatial extent of subcontracting linkages for a sample of medium-sized and large Spanish manufacturing firms operating in the automotive and electronics industries. In particular, it analyses how Just-in-Time (JIT) organization of production is related to the spatial pattern of these sourcing relationships when contractors' structural and organizational characteristics, as well as contract characteristics, are taken into account.

Abstract. The bioeconomy is becoming increasingly prominent in policy and scholarly literature, but critical examination of the concept is lacking. We argue that the bioeconomy should be understood as a political project, not simply or primarily as a technoscientific or economic one. We use a conceptual framework derived from the work of Karl Polanyi to elucidate the politically performative nature of the bioeconomy through an analysis of an influential Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) initiative, The Bioeconomy to 2030.

Abstract. Cisgenesis is a genetic modification of a recipient organism with genetic material from a crossable organism. Trying to free cisgenics from the regulatory guidelines of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), some scientists have suggested to classify the genetically modified products by the origin of transferred genes. Aiming at exploring how scientists frame cisgenics in relation to current legal frameworks, we have sent an extensive survey to the totality of researchers working on cisgenics.

Abstract. The aim of this paper is to provide a critical review of the literature on the econometric analyses of firm-level determinants to eco-innovation. The review reveals some gaps in knowledge. First, an integrated theoretical framework which merges the insights from different approaches is missing. Second, the influence of some variables is still unsettled (demand-pull and cost-savings), whereas others have hardly been included in previous analyses (internal and international factors).

Abstract. The deep economic crisis and the sharp rise in electricity prices have reduced electricity demand by Spanish households. This paper aims to analyse the responsiveness of household electricity demand and the welfare effects related to both factors in the 2006–2012 period by applying a demand model estimated with the quantile regression method.

Abstract. One of the main criteria to assess the success of instruments to support electricity from renewable energy sources (RES-E) is cost-effectiveness. However, a consensus on the definition of cost-effectiveness does not yet exist in the literature.

Abstract. There has been an intense debate on the quantification of the employment effects of renewable electricity deployment in the European Union. However, most studies carried out in the past have focused on specific countries and those with a European-wide scope have not provided disaggregated results per country. Furthermore, differences between importing and exporting countries have not been considered. This paper aims to cover those gaps.

Abstract. This paper analyses the determinants of household electricity demand with a panel data, partial adjustment model of the Spanish regions between 1998 and 2009. We find that electricity demand is positively and significantly related to several variables (electricity demand in the previous year, income, temperature range, penetration of electric water heating in households and the number of heating and cooling degree days).