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The authors use a method of matched-plant comparisons between food processing firms in Germany, Italy, Northern Ireland, and the Republic of Ireland to investigate the relationship between environmental regulation and company competitiveness across the European Union. Comparative competitiveness was indicated by measures of value-added per employee, physical productivity, export share, and employment growth. The cost of water supply (public or well), effluent treatment (in-plant treatment and/or sewerage system), and disposal of sludge and packaging were also compared. Total environmental costs in Germany, Italy, and Ireland were small: usually less than 1% of turnover. Compared with the Irish firms, German companies had relatively high environmental costs as well as productivity levels. There was, however, a lack of a clear relationship between company competitiveness and the size of regulation costs: in Ireland and Italy environmental costs were similar but German firms had much higher productivity; compared with German counterparts, Italian firms had lower environmental costs but higher productivity.

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BIRNIE J. E. and HITCHENS D. M. W. N. (1998) Productivity and income per capita convergence in a peripheral European economy: the Irish experience, Reg. Studies 32, 223-234. GDP per capita in Ireland increased from 60% to 90% of the UK average during 1986-95. This extremely rapid convergence begs the question whether increases in comparative productivity were of a similar magnitude. Industry of origin comparisons were used to benchmark Ireland/UK labour productivity in 1935, 1968 and 1985. Dramatic improvement in manufacturing comparative productivity was the immediate explanation of much of the convergence in GDP per capital levels. Unadjusted manufacturing productivity in the mid 1990s was as high as that in the US. This was prima facie evidence of transfer pricing. The likely scale of distortion created by transfer pricing is discussed and hence the extent of exaggeration of GDP.An agenda for further research was suggested. BIRNIE J. E. et HITCHENS D. M. W. N. (1998) La convergence de la productivite et du revenu par tete dans une region europeenne peripherique: le cas d'etude de l'Irlande, Reg. Studies 32, 223-234. Le PIB par tete en Irlande a augmente de 60% jusqu'a 90% de la moyenne au Royaume-Uni entre 1986 et 1995. Cette convergence vertigineuse remet en question la comparabilite des taux de productivite. On s'est servi des comparaisons des industries d'origine afin de tester la productivite de la main-d'oeuvre en Irlande par rapport a celle au Royaume-Uni en 1935, 1968 et 1985. Il s'est avere qu'une amelioration marquee de la productivite industrielle comparative a expliquedans une large mesure la convergence des niveaux du PIB par tete. Au milieu des annees 1990, la productivite industrielle nonajustee etait aussi elevee qu'elle ne l'etait aux E-U, ce qui indiquait a premiere vue des preuves des prix de transfert. L'importance de la distorsion eventuelle a cause des prix de transfert se voit discuter et, par la suite, le gonflement du PIB se voient discuter. Des sujets a rechercher sont proposes. BIRNIE J. E. und HITCHENS D. M. W.N. (1998) Konvergenz von Produktivitat und Pro-Kopf-Einkommen in einer Randgebietswirtschaft Europas: das Beispiel Irlands, Reg. Studies 32, 223-234. Im Zeitraum 1986-95 stieg in Irland das Bruttoinlandsprodukt von 60% auf 90% des Durchschnitts im Vereinigten Konigreich. Diese ausserordentlich schnelle Annaherung weicht der Frage aus, ob Anstiege vergleichbarer Produktivitat ahnlicher Grossenordnung waren. Vergleiche der Herkunftsindustrien wurden dazu benutzt, die Hohe der Arbeitsleistung Irlands und des Vereinigten Konigreichs in den Jahren 1935, 1968 und 1985 festzustellen. Die Konvergenz der Hohen des Bruttoinlandsprodukts wurde zunachst grosstenteils durch die dramatische Verbesserung der vergleichbaren Herstellungsleistung erklart. Unbereinigte Herstellungsleistung in der Mitte der neunziger Jahre war ebenso hoch wie in den USA. Sie war Anscheinsbeweis der Festlegung der Verrechnungspreise. Es wird der Umfang der durch Festlegung der Verrechnungspreise geschaffenen Verzer...