This paper provides evidence on the extent of Global Value Chain (GVC) participation by Africa as a region and for individual African countries. We find that Africa as a whole is heavily involved in GVCs, being more engaged in GVCs than many developing country regions as well as developed countries such as the USA. This overall finding hides the fact that much of Africa's participation in GVCs is in upstream production, with African firms providing primary inputs to firms in countries further down the value chain. The possibility of upgrading within GVCs in Africa is likely to be limited therefore, something which the current analysis suggests. Despite this, we observe a great deal of heterogeneity in terms of GVC participation and upgrading across African countries, with a number of African countries participating in GVCs to a relatively large extent. (authors' abstract)

This paper seeks to investigate the current state of market integration among European electricity day-ahead spot prices. We provide reasoning that market integration brings about benefits, such as lower average prices and increased welfare from allocative efficiency. Yet, price convergence leads to higher prices in the low-price market and to lower prices in the high-price market, which creates winners and losers and thus makes the political implementation of market integration cumbersome. In our empirical analysis, we utilize a large sample of hourly spot prices of 25 European markets for the period 01.01.2010-30.06.2015 and combine it with other relevant data such as interconnector capacities and the existence of market coupling. Firstly, empirical results from cointegration analysis indicate that market integration increased from 2010 to 2012 but then declined until 2015, most likely due to increased feed-in from intermittent renewables. Secondly, we empirically assess the speed of adjustment from price shocks and reach the conclusion that the resulting efficiency of integration is rather modest. In general, our findings suggest that integration among European electricity markets has a large potential for improvements from additional capacity investments and further promotion of market coupling. (authors' abstract) / Series: Department of Economics Working Paper Series

Austria, Finland and Sweden - all small highly developed industrial and rich countries - entered the EU in 1995. Their macroeconomic performance since then was quite different. Real GDP in Finland und Sweden increased faster than in EU average, while those of Austria fell back. Austria lost its second rank in GDP per capita (at PPS) and is now the fourth richest EU country; Sweden fell back from the seventh to the eight rank, while Finland improved its position from rank 11 to nine. In a referendum in September 2003 Sweden refused to take over the Euro, whereas the other two countries are members of the Euro area. Ex post model simulations indicate that Finland appears to have profited most from EU membership (0.7 percentage point greater annual GDP growth since 1995), followed by Austria (+0.4 percent) and Sweden (+0.3 percent). / Series: EI Working Papers / Europainstitut

We examine the relationship between German wind and solar electricity and French spot price volatility. Using hourly data, we find that French imports from Germany driven by German wind and solar electricity sometimes decrease, sometimes increase the volatility of French spot prices. These two opposing effects depend on the shape of the French supply function and on the French demand. We, therefore, estimate different coefficients for imports depending on different demand levels. We acknowledge the endogeneity problem in identifying these effects and employ instrumental variable techniques to circumvent this problem. Our results show the urgent need for further coordination of national energy policies in order to reduce the potential for negative spill over effects of nationally driven energy policies in neighbouring countries as European electricity markets are becoming more integrated. / Series: Department of Economics Working Paper Series

Since 1989 Austria's investment activities in Central and Eastern Europe has intensified. Investments are concentrated in adjacent countries. Geographical proximity and close historical and cultural ties have enabled even small and medium-sized Austrian enterprises to achieve a 'first mover advantage'. Investments have been performed to a large extent in industries that are typically not connected with outsourcing activities (trade, finance and insurance, construction). Market-driven factors and strategic considerations are the ultimate objective of these investments. Only a few sectors, in particular a so-called 'core' industrial sector (metal products, mechanical products, electrical and electronic equipment), indicate that low labour costs are of importance. Trade and sales data of the affiliates support the dominance of the local market. Whilst on average 66% of the affiliates output was sold locally this share was only 39% for the "core" industrial sector. This sector indicates particular patterns of relocation. Nevertheless, until now this part of Austria's FDI has only been of minor importance. (author's abstract) / Series: Department of Economics Working Paper Series

O presente trabalho tem o objetivo de avaliar o impacto que a adesão da Venezuela ao Mercosul terá sobre o bloco em termos de criação/desvio de comércio e de bem-estar. Mais especificamente, pretende-se quantificar os impactos estáticos dos choques tarifários que este processo pode gerar sobre setores da economia brasileira. Busca-se testar a hipótese de que o resultado líquido (em termos de criação de comércio e de bem-estar) dessa ampliação do bloco será positivo. Para atingir tal objetivo, o trabalho utilizará o modelo de Equilíbrio Geral Computável Global Trade Analysis Project (GTAP, V.8). A hipótese é confirmada, havendo resultados particularmente positivos para as indústrias automobilística, de bens de capital e têxtil brasileiras. / This study aims to evaluate the impact that the accession of Venezuela to Mercosur will have on the block in terms of trade creation/diversion and of welfare. More specifically, it intends to quantify the static impacts of tariff shocks that this process can generate on sectors of the Brazilian economy. The article seeks to test the hypothesis that the net result (in terms of trade creation and welfare) of this regional agreement will be positive. To achieve this goal, the work uses the Computable General Equilibrium Model of the Global Trade Analysis Project (GTAP, V.8). The hypothesis is confirmed, with particularly positive results for the Brazilian automobile, capital goods and textile industries. / Este estudio tiene como objetivo evaluar el impacto que la adhesión de Venezuela al Mercosur tendrá en el bloque en términos de creación/desviación de comercio y de bienestar. Más concretamente, se pretende cuantificar los impactos estáticos de los shocks arancelarios que este proceso puede generar sobre los sectores de la economía brasileña. Tratamos de probar la hipótesis de que el resultado neto (en términos de creación de comercio y bienestar) de este acuerdo regional será positivo. Para lograr este objetivo, el trabajo utiliza el modelo de Equilibrio General Computable del Global Trade Analysis Project (GTAP, V.8). La hipótesis se confirma, con resultados especialmente positivos para las industrias automotriz, de bienes de capital e textil brasileñas.

O presente trabalho tem o objetivo de avaliar o impacto que a adesão da Venezuela ao Mercosul terá sobre o bloco em termos de criação/desvio de comércio e de bem-estar. Mais especificamente, pretende-se quantificar os impactos estáticos dos choques tarifários que este processo pode gerar sobre setores da economia brasileira. Busca-se testar a hipótese de que o resultado líquido (em termos de criação de comércio e de bem-estar) dessa ampliação do bloco será positivo. Para atingir tal objetivo, o trabalho utilizará o modelo de Equilíbrio Geral Computável Global Trade Analysis Project (GTAP, V.8). A hipótese é confirmada, havendo resultados particularmente positivos para as indústrias automobilística, de bens de capital e têxtil brasileiras. / This study aims to evaluate the impact that the accession of Venezuela to Mercosur will have on the block in terms of trade creation/diversion and of welfare. More specifically, it intends to quantify the static impacts of tariff shocks that this process can generate on sectors of the Brazilian economy. The article seeks to test the hypothesis that the net result (in terms of trade creation and welfare) of this regional agreement will be positive. To achieve this goal, the work uses the Computable General Equilibrium Model of the Global Trade Analysis Project (GTAP, V.8). The hypothesis is confirmed, with particularly positive results for the Brazilian automobile, capital goods and textile industries. / Este estudio tiene como objetivo evaluar el impacto que la adhesión de Venezuela al Mercosur tendrá en el bloque en términos de creación/desviación de comercio y de bienestar. Más concretamente, se pretende cuantificar los impactos estáticos de los shocks arancelarios que este proceso puede generar sobre los sectores de la economía brasileña. Tratamos de probar la hipótesis de que el resultado neto (en términos de creación de comercio y bienestar) de este acuerdo regional será positivo. Para lograr este objetivo, el trabajo utiliza el modelo de Equilibrio General Computable del Global Trade Analysis Project (GTAP, V.8). La hipótesis se confirma, con resultados especialmente positivos para las industrias automotriz, de bienes de capital e textil brasileñas.

O presente trabalho tem o objetivo de avaliar o impacto que a adesão da Venezuela ao Mercosul terá sobre o bloco em termos de criação/desvio de comércio e de bem-estar. Mais especificamente, pretende-se quantificar os impactos estáticos dos choques tarifários que este processo pode gerar sobre setores da economia brasileira. Busca-se testar a hipótese de que o resultado líquido (em termos de criação de comércio e de bem-estar) dessa ampliação do bloco será positivo. Para atingir tal objetivo, o trabalho utilizará o modelo de Equilíbrio Geral Computável Global Trade Analysis Project (GTAP, V.8). A hipótese é confirmada, havendo resultados particularmente positivos para as indústrias automobilística, de bens de capital e têxtil brasileiras. / This study aims to evaluate the impact that the accession of Venezuela to Mercosur will have on the block in terms of trade creation/diversion and of welfare. More specifically, it intends to quantify the static impacts of tariff shocks that this process can generate on sectors of the Brazilian economy. The article seeks to test the hypothesis that the net result (in terms of trade creation and welfare) of this regional agreement will be positive. To achieve this goal, the work uses the Computable General Equilibrium Model of the Global Trade Analysis Project (GTAP, V.8). The hypothesis is confirmed, with particularly positive results for the Brazilian automobile, capital goods and textile industries. / Este estudio tiene como objetivo evaluar el impacto que la adhesión de Venezuela al Mercosur tendrá en el bloque en términos de creación/desviación de comercio y de bienestar. Más concretamente, se pretende cuantificar los impactos estáticos de los shocks arancelarios que este proceso puede generar sobre los sectores de la economía brasileña. Tratamos de probar la hipótesis de que el resultado neto (en términos de creación de comercio y bienestar) de este acuerdo regional será positivo. Para lograr este objetivo, el trabajo utiliza el modelo de Equilibrio General Computable del Global Trade Analysis Project (GTAP, V.8). La hipótesis se confirma, con resultados especialmente positivos para las industrias automotriz, de bienes de capital e textil brasileñas.