Reliability of using Periodic IO Data to Identify High Return Investments in Efficiency and Environmental Sustainability: An Examination of US Manufactured Tech Products

Published

June 4, 2019

Author(s)

Douglas Thomas

Abstract

This paper identifies industries within the supply chain for 50 high-tech assembly-centric commodities that have pervasive costs and environmental impacts. Previous examinations have shown that research in high economic cost areas tend to have a higher return on investment than research on low cost areas. Public entities and trade associations could achieve a high return on investment by targeting such areas. The results of this analysis show that a minimum of 90.1 % of industries in the supply chain, above the 80th percentile for environmental impact, appear in 2007 and 2012 for each of the 50 commodities. For value added it is 86.4 %. Moreover, high- impact high-cost items are pervasive over time. Eleven industries in the supply chain are above the 80th percentile in both value added and environmental impact for all 50 commodities. These items affect numerous industries and people. Four industries in the supply chain are pervasive over time and across commodities: "Electric power generation...," "Oil and gas extraction," "truck transportation," and "Iron and steel mills..." These 4 represent industries in the supply chain that are high environmental impact (above the 95th percentile), high cost (above the 95th percentile in value added), and span across numerous commodities while stretching over at least a 5-year period. Research that reduces the consumption of these items or improves the efficiency of producing them will, likely, result in a high return on investment.

Proceedings Title

27th International Input-Output Conference

Conference Dates

June 30-July 5, 2019

Conference Location

Glasgow

Pub Type

Conferences

Keywords

input-output analysis, sustainability, manufacturing, commodities, production, cost, environmental impact

Citation

Thomas, D. (2019), Reliability of using Periodic IO Data to Identify High Return Investments in Efficiency and Environmental Sustainability: An Examination of US Manufactured Tech Products, 27th International Input-Output Conference, Glasgow, -1 (Accessed April 29, 2024)