Economic Complex Networks: A holarchy of evolving sector

This thesis aims to contribute to the understanding of the structure, composition, properties, functions and dynamics of economic systems. The research output results from joining advances in the scientific disciplines of systems theory, complex networks, Input-Output analysis and economic activity classification systems. The relevance of this...

Macro-economic imbalances in the Eurozone: An input-output analysis of the core-periphery divergence

With stagnating growth rates among a majority of its members, soaring unemployment figures and an increased risk of deflation, the economic conditions of the European economy do not strongly reflect a stronger and more united Europe as was intended by the monetary unification in 2001. On the contrary, the recent painstaking negotiations between...

Spillover effects of Germany's final demand on Southern Europe

We use data from the World Input-Output Database to fit a closed multiregional input-output model in order to estimate the size of spillover effects of Germany's final demand on GDP, employment and the trade balance in Southern European countries. We find that spillover effects are rather small. Germany alone will hardly make a significant...

Integration of dynamics into input-output analysis: Integration of dynamic features representing demand change and production technology change into the input-output analysis framework

The transition to a circular economy requires drastic changes to the economy. A tool for macro-economic analysis of structural changes in the economy, input-output analysis, lacks dynamic features. This thesis set out to integrate dynamic features representing demand change and technological change. A conceptual model is designed that integrates...

Socioeconomic effects of aviation biofuel production in Brazil: A scenarios-based Input-Output analysis

Derived from renewable feedstocks, aviation biofuel is generally perceived as inherently sustainable. However, its production involves a wide range of sectors and interacts with different actors in society. It is therefore important to understand and evaluate not only the environmental impacts of that process, but also its socioeconomic...

The expectations of and covariances between carbon footprints

Carbon footprints and other environmentally extended input–output indicators are obtained as aggregations of emissions embodied in supply chains (EESCs), which express the emissions occurring in a specific production activity to satisfy a given volume of final demand. Here we derive theoretical approximations of the expectations of and...

Comparison between a bottom-up and a top-down approach for the compilation of environmental extensions for the Multi-Region Input-Output database EUREGIO

In this thesis two different approaches for the construction of environmental extensions compatible with the MRIO database EUREGIO are compared alongside with the latest liter- ature on consumption-based accounts. To date, few studies have focused on the provision of sub-national accounts at the NUTS2 level of detail and never production-based...

Water-saving scenarios based on input-output analysis and virtual water concept: A case in Iran

The strong desire for achieving self-sufficiency in developing and mostly water-scarce regions has endangered socioeconomic and environmental sustainability. South Khorasan is particularly exposed to such insecurities, largely due to its limited water resource endowments and its comparatively intensive agriculture. In this paper, we apply the...

Concentrated Solar Power generation: Triple bottom line assessment in Europe and China 2020-2050

Concentrated Solar Power is one of the renewable energy technologies with the potential for satisfying the future energy demand in a sustainable way, mitigating climate change and reducing the current dependence on fossil fuels. Regarding the deployment of this technology, China and Europe are two regions playing a forefront role in the present...

Investigating the Employment Impacts of Renewable Energy in South Africa

This dissertation aims to contribute towards the research on just transitions by providing insight into the extent of the employment impacts caused by a potential energy transition in South Africa. South Africa is in the process of transforming its electricity mix. The majority of electricity is currently sourced from coal-fired power plants....

An investigation into the carbon and material footprint of the Dutch consumption of pharmaceuticals

This thesis explores the relatively large contribution of the product category ‘chemicals n.e.c.’ (chemicals not elsewhere classified) to the Dutch healthcare sector’s carbon and material footprint observed in previous studies. For this, an input-output study using SNAC-EXIOBASE data was performed. SNAC-EXIOBASE uses national statistics for the...

Trade-offs of National Circular Economy Agendas: Comparing the wins and losses across economy, society, and environment for the Circular Economy Programme of the Netherlands

In recent years, there has been an emergence of the concept of “circular economy (CE)”, which promises to close the loop in terms of resource extraction consumption in the prevailing economic paradigm. This promises environmental and socioeconomic benefits, but the risk exists where the benefits of the circular transition might be unevenly...