The BEYOND Project was represented at the 14th Oligo Workshop, held at the University of Pisa from 10 to 12 June 2026.
The Oligo Workshop is an international academic event that brings together scholars working on oligopoly theory, industrial organization, competition, and related areas of microeconomic theory. The 2026 edition provided an important opportunity to discuss recent research on market structures, policy instruments, sustainability, and the role of economic incentives in supporting the green transition.
During the conference, Prof. Luca Spataro, University of Pisa and BEYOND Coordinator, together with Prof. Thomas I. Renström, presented the paper “Breaking the Efficiency–Environment Trade-off: Fiscal Policy, Market Power, and Consumer Environmental Awareness.”
The paper examines how market structure, fiscal policy, and consumer environmental awareness interact in shaping the relationship between economic performance and environmental sustainability. The study highlights that greater competition does not necessarily lead to better environmental outcomes and that the effectiveness of environmental policies depends critically on the available abatement technologies. In this context, abatement subsidies may represent an effective instrument for jointly promoting environmental quality and economic growth.
Prof. Nicola Meccheri, University of Pisa and BEYOND, also contributed to the workshop together with Prof. Marcella Scrimitore, Mediterranean University of Reggio Calabria, and Prof. Domenico Buccella, Kozminski University, by presenting the paper “Port Emissions and Abatement Investments in an International Oligopoly. A Tale of Three Policies.”
The study investigates port air emissions in an international trade context and compares the relative performance of three policy measures: emission taxes, subsidies for abatement technology investments, and emission standards. The findings point to a relevant trade-off between environmental sustainability and welfare objectives. While emission standards minimize environmental damage, they do not dominate other policy instruments in terms of consumer surplus or overall domestic welfare. Depending on the degree of port privatization, either environmental taxes or abatement subsidies may maximize domestic welfare, although environmental taxes emerge as the endogenous policy choice by governments.
The participation of BEYOND researchers in the Oligo Workshop 2026 contributed to the international debate on sustainable development, environmental policy, market incentives, and ESG-related challenges. These contributions reflect the project’s commitment to advancing research on the economic mechanisms that can support more sustainable and responsible growth.
The BEYOND Project is proud to contribute to cutting-edge academic research on sustainability, environmental economics, and the green transition.
