Environmental Innovation and Employment: Drivers and Synergies

Angela Triguero Cano (), María C. Cuerva and Carlos Álvarez-Aledo
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María C. Cuerva: Facultad de Ciencias Económicas y Empresariales, Plaza de la Universidad 1, University of Castilla-La Mancha, 02071 Albacete, Spain
Carlos Álvarez-Aledo: Facultad de Ciencias Económicas y Empresariales, Plaza de la Universidad 1, University of Castilla-La Mancha, 02071 Albacete, Spain

Sustainability, 2017, vol. 9, issue 11, 1-22

Abstract: Numerous empirical studies focus on the drivers of environmental innovation or their potential employment effects. Nevertheless, we have scarce knowledge about whether factors that influence eco-innovation and employment generation are related. The main purpose is to analyze the synergies between eco-innovation and employment using a sample of more than 6000 innovative Spanish manufacturing and service firms. Using different econometric procedures, the main findings show that size, R&D and export influence eco-innovation and employment in the same direction, while age, belonging to a group, public subsidies and internal and external knowledge sources exert a different effect. Thus, older firms create less employment but have a high probability of being environmental innovators compared with younger firms. Furthermore, the size of the company moderates the positive role of eco-innovation on employment growth, while young firms not belonging to a group (eco-entrepreneurs) contribute more to employment growth than old firms belonging to a parent firm. Implications for scholars, managers and policy makers in terms of sustainable and economic growth are made.

Keywords: eco-innovation; employment; Spain; firms (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (20)

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