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The document investigates the economic impact of energy efficiency labels on the dishwasher market in Spain, specifically within the Basque Autonomous Community. Using a hedonic approach, the authors find that an A+ energy label increases the final price of a dishwasher by 15.6%, which equates to approximately €80 based on an average price of €514. This finding is compared to a government subsidy programme that provides between €50 and €85 to encourage the purchase of high-efficiency appliances. The study also employs the Quantity Based Demand System (QBDS) and the Linear Almost Ideal Demand System (LA/AIDS) to determine price elasticities, concluding that demand for labelled appliances is significantly more elastic than for non-labelled ones. Specifically, while own price elasticity for non-labelled dishwashers ranges from -0.5 to -2, it varies from -1.2 to -13.2 for labelled appliances. The authors suggest the QBDS model is a robust, less data-demanding alternative for analyzing close substitutes in energy efficiency policy.

The document analyzes the structural transformation of the Chinese economy, noting that the tertiary industry's share of GDP rose from over 20% in 1978 to around 40% by 2007. While trade in services is growing rapidly—exceeding US$190 billion in 2006—China remains a net importer with a deficit primarily driven by transportation, insurance, and royalties. The authors argue that the service sector's development is inextricably linked to urbanization and the creation of productive cities. They identify challenges including weak international competitiveness in high-end producer services and a reliance on foreign direct investment that targets the domestic market rather than offshoring. The paper recommends relaxing migration restrictions to cities and increasing competition from both domestic and foreign sources to drive innovation and productivity.

The document analyzes the 'Made in China' phenomenon, noting a shift from light industry to technology-intensive sectors like electronics, while highlighting that most firms remain in low-end, low-added-value links. It argues that traditional cost advantages are fading due to rising wages and land costs, and that the dominance of foreign-funded enterprises creates an 'enclave economy' with limited spillover to native firms. The authors recommend a 'clean' upgrading strategy inspired by the German coordinated market economy model, emphasizing long-term employment relationships, incremental innovation, and stringent environmental regulations to ensure sustainable growth.

The report examines food insecurity in Indonesia, specifically in the provinces of East Nusa Tenggara, West Nusa Tenggara, and Yogyakarta. It argues that while national food supplies were generally sufficient during the 2007/08 global food crisis, poor infrastructure and low incomes hindered access to affordable food. The author criticizes the 'Swasembada Pangan' (food self-sufficiency) approach for ignoring the dimensions of accessibility and affordability, recommending a shift toward improving transportation infrastructure and creating sustainable employment in the agro-industry.

The report examines the conflict between national food security priorities and regional trade integration in Southeast Asia, particularly following the 2007/08 food price crisis. It argues that member states often prioritize national interests over regional solidarity, as seen when rice exporters like Thailand and Vietnam restricted supplies to neighbors to seek higher global prices. The document analyzes the differences between food self-sufficiency and self-reliance strategies and evaluates the effectiveness of ASEAN's food security mechanisms, such as the ASEAN Emergency Rice Reserve. It concludes with recommendations for aligning national policies with regionalism, improving existing food security frameworks, and implementing social safety nets to mitigate the impacts of trade liberalization.

The Union of Concerned Scientists argues that current U.S. biofuels policy is costly and ineffective, primarily supporting mature food-based industries while cellulosic biofuels remain stalled. The report proposes the 'Billion Gallon Challenge' to provide capital support for the first billion gallons of annual cellulosic capacity and a 'Biofuels Performance Tax Credit' to replace existing credits with incentives based on actual life-cycle emissions reductions.

The report examines the environmental, social, and economic impacts of unconventional oil extraction, focusing on tar sands and oil shale. It highlights that these resources produce significantly higher greenhouse gas emissions than conventional oil and cause severe local ecological damage, such as boreal forest destruction in Canada. The document criticizes the EU's Fuel Quality Directive for potentially underestimating the carbon intensity of these fuels and urges the EU to discourage their import and investment. It also details the involvement of European companies in projects across Venezuela, Madagascar, Congo, Russia, Jordan, and Morocco, warning that such developments in countries with weak governance risk exacerbating the 'resource curse' and undermining Millennium Development Goals.

The report analyzes how the Canadian agricultural sector can contribute to greenhouse gas reductions and the economic implications of emerging climate policies. It highlights the potential for carbon sequestration in soils and the role of bioenergy, while discussing the complexities of implementing a national cap-and-trade system. Key concerns include the integrity of agricultural offsets, the risk of carbon reversal, and the impact of international trade rules and U.S. policy alignment on Canadian competitiveness.

The report analyzes the financial burden on U.S. states that rely on imported coal, identifying those with the highest spending and per capita costs. It highlights a trend of increasing dependence on coal from Wyoming and international sources, particularly in the Southeast and Midwest. The authors argue that these states can redirect funds from coal imports toward energy efficiency and homegrown renewables to create local jobs and reduce carbon emissions.

The report identifies 38 U.S. states as net importers of coal in 2008, with 11 states spending over $1 billion each on these imports. It highlights a growing dependence on coal from Wyoming and international sources, particularly in the Southeast and Midwest. The authors argue that states can mitigate these economic losses and environmental damages by investing in energy efficiency and homegrown renewables.

In 2008, Alabama imported 79% of the coal used for its electricity generation, resulting in a net expenditure of $1.39 billion. The state's electricity mix was dominated by coal (51.1%) and nuclear (26.7%). Alabama spent the most per person ($297) and the most relative to gross state product (0.82%) on net coal imports compared to other US states. To reduce this dependence, the document suggests investing in energy efficiency—noting that Alabama spent only 49 cents per person on such programs in 2007—and utilizing renewable resources which could technically meet 56% of the state's 2008 power demand.

In 2008, Delaware imported all the coal used by its power plants, resulting in over $161 million leaving the state. While coal provided 70 percent of in-state power generation, the state has implemented an energy efficiency resource standard requiring a 2.5 percent annual reduction in electricity use from 2010 to 2015 and a renewable electricity standard targeting 20 percent of power from renewable resources by 2019.

Florida imported all the coal used by its power plants in 2008, resulting in over $1.56 billion leaving the state economy. The document argues that investing in energy efficiency and homegrown renewables, such as biomass, solar, and offshore wind, can reduce this dependence and stimulate local economic growth.

In 2008, Georgia was the highest spender on net coal imports in the United States, sending $2.62 billion out of state. The state's electricity generation relied on coal for 62.7% of its power despite having no internal coal supplies. The document argues that investing in energy efficiency and homegrown renewables, such as biomass from the forestry industry, solar, and wind, could improve energy independence and local economic development.

In 2008, Illinois imported 94 percent of the coal used in its power plants, resulting in a net expenditure of $683 million. The document highlights that Midwest Generation and the Baldwin Energy Complex are major contributors to this import dependency. To mitigate these costs and reduce carbon dioxide emissions, the report advocates for the state's energy efficiency resource standard and its renewable energy goals, noting that Illinois has the technical potential to generate over five times its 2008 electricity needs from renewable sources, primarily wind and bioenergy.

In 2008, Iowa imported all the coal used by its power plants, resulting in $496 million leaving the state, primarily to Wyoming. Coal accounted for 76.1% of Iowa's electricity generation, making the state the second most dependent on net imports as a share of total power use (78%). To reduce this dependence, Iowa is utilizing energy efficiency programs and renewable energy, specifically wind power, where it has over 3,600 megawatts of installed capacity.

In 2008, Kansas imported over 99 percent of the coal used by its power plants, primarily from Wyoming, resulting in a net outflow of $516 million. Coal provided 72.9 percent of the state's electricity mix. The document argues that investing in energy efficiency and leveraging the state's high technical potential for wind and bioenergy could reduce this dependence and boost the local economy.

In 2008, Massachusetts imported all the coal used by its power plants, primarily from Colombia, resulting in $252 million leaving the state economy. The state relies on coal for 24.5% of its in-state electricity generation despite having no domestic coal supplies. To reduce this dependence, Massachusetts has implemented aggressive energy efficiency targets, including a $1.7 billion investment from 2010 to 2012, and is expanding renewable energy through programs like Commonwealth Solar and the first US offshore wind facility in Nantucket Sound.

In 2008, Mississippi relied on coal for 34.6% of its electricity generation, importing over 70% of that coal and spending $457 million out of state. The document argues that the state can reduce this dependence by investing in energy efficiency—noting that 2007 ratepayer-funded efficiency spending was 1,400 times lower per person than spending on imported coal—and by utilizing local renewable resources such as forestry by-products, switchgrass, solar, and geothermal energy.

Missouri is highly dependent on imported coal, spending $1.13 billion in 2008 to import over 99% of the coal used by its power plants. The document highlights that this expenditure represents a significant economic drain, suggesting that energy efficiency standards and renewable energy resources, such as wind and bioenergy, could redirect funds back into the local economy.