ANALYSING THE STRUCTURE OF THE ECONOMY USING PHYSICAL INPUT-OUTPUT TABLES

• Published in: Economic systems research 2014-10, Vol.26 (4), p.463-485
• Main Author: Altimiras-Martin, Aleix
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: By products; Carbon emissions; Comparative analysis; Economic structure; Economic systems; Emissions; Environmental accounts; Input output analysis; Material flow analysis; Physical input-output table; Structural analysis; Studies; Waste; Wastes
• ISSN: 0953-5314; 1469-5758
• DOI: 10.1080/09535314.2014.950637

Analyses using physical input-output tables (PIOTs) are key to understanding the physical metabolism of economies, since they relate production to the generation of emissions and use of resources. Two methods have been developed to calculate the primary resources and emissions associated with a given final demand. However, one of these alters the PIOT, revealing different technical coefficients and Leontief inverse matrices. Which method should be used for structural analysis? In this paper, I compare both methods, explain the structural differences between them and illustrate the latter through a backward linkage analysis. I find that only one method is suited to the analysis of the physical structure of the economy, since it comprehends both the production of goods and associated emissions. The method is identified as a new model capable of tracing by-products as final outputs. Finally, I generalise both methods to analyse PIOTs including several emission types.