Study of the effects on employment of public aid to renewable energy sources
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.52195/pm.v7i1.280Abstract
Economic crisis has raised the topic of whether governments should control the economy in order to promote prosperity and create jobs. This idea has specially sprung in relation to the promotion of entire productive sectors which are considered strategic or high-value by planners, one of which is renewable energies. This article analyzes the Spanish experience on subsidizing wind, mini-hydroelectric and photovoltaic energies in order to foster growth and create so-called «green jobs». Results suggest that more jobs are destroyed than those that initially were intended to be created.
Key words: Renewable energies, subsidies, job destruction, economic planning, spending stimulus.
JEL Classification: E24; E32; H25; H44; O13; Q42; Q43; Q48.
Resumen: La crisis económica ha planteado la cuestión de si los gobiernos deberían controlar la economía para promover la prosperidad y crear empleo. Esta idea ha surgido especialmente en relación a la promoción de sectores productivos enteros que se consideran estratégicos o de alto valor por los planificadores, como el sector de las energías renovables. Este artículo analiza la experiencia española en relación con la subvención de las energías eólica, hidroeléctrica y fotovoltaica para impulsar el crecimiento y crear los llamados «empleos verdes». Los resultados sugieren que se destruyen más empleos de los que inicialmente se pretendía crear.
Palabras clave: Energías renovables, subvenciones, destrucción de empleos, planificación económica, estímulos de gasto.
Clasificación JEL: E24; E32; H25; H44; O13; Q42; Q43; Q48.
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