Background

In January 2008, the ECORYS Research Programme started with the project Impact Assessments and Industrial Competitiveness. This project was divided into three stages. The first stage started with an in-depth literature review on impact assessments and industrial competitiveness. In the second stage each of the researchers worked on his/her own pillar subject. The final stage consists of results dissemination and the organisation of a Final Conference to present the results.

The research project consists of six pillars with each a different impact assessment methodology. The six pillars are related to Computable General Equilibrium modelling, the Harmonic Mass Index, gravity modelling, regression analysis and Delphi method, and econometric analysis as impact assessment methodologies.

At the moment the research project is nearing completion. That is why a Final Conference will be organised on the 1st of October 2009. Not only the results of the project will be presented, also professors Joe Francois, Charles van Marrewijk, and Jeffrey Bergstrand, who were involved in the project, will give short presentations about related topics and their latest research findings.

Programme

The programme for the ECORYS Research Programme Final Conference on Impact Assessments and Industrial Competitiveness on the 1st of October starts at 12:15 and is as follows:

Part I:

• Impact Assessments and Industrial Competitiveness – Dr. Koen Berden (ECORYS Research Programme research leader & moderator);
• Technology and the trade collapse – Prof. Dr. Charles van Marrewijk;
• Bilateral trade agreements and erosion of preferences – Prof. Dr. Joe Francois;
• Study on Non Tariff Measures between the EU and the US – Dr. Koen Berden;
• 3 x 2 x 2 – Prof. Dr. Jeffrey Bergstrand.
  

Part II:

• Impact of the Post-2012 Expansion of the EU Emission Trading Scheme – Jeroen van der Laan. For more information, click here;
• Taxing the Aviation Sector: A special notion on the natural oil tax – Leon van Berkel. For more information, click here;
• The 100% Container Scanning Legislation: an analysis of waiting lines and economic costs – Miguel Tovar Fernandez. For more information, click here;
• The impact of subsidized children’s day care on gender equality and economic growth – Margreet Verwaal. For more information, click here;
• Competitiveness of EU Financial Sector and the Harmonic Mass Index – Anna Schouten. For more information, click here; 
• FDI and Democracy: A Gravity Analysis – Eva van Etten. For more information, click here.
  

Part III:

• Panel Discussion;
• Best research award;
• Closure
  

The day will end with the possibility to join us for dinner (19:00). The location of this conference is at the ECORYS Head office at the Watermanweg 44, Rotterdam.

Do you want to hear about the interesting research findings of the project Impact Assessment and Industrial Competitiveness, or want to discuss on the latest research interests on trade, FDI and competitiveness that ECORYS and its associate experts are working on? Feel warmly invited to come to the Final Conference on Thursday the 1st of October 2009. Please download one of the application forms and send it to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it   before the 20th of September 2009:
- web applicatioon form
- paper version

For further information and questions about the ECORYS Research Programme click here, or send an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

On behalf of the project team,
Koen Berden