International cooperation on clean energy technologies is often viewed as a complementary solution to key global problems as climate change and energy policy. This form of cooperation is generally considered as less challenging than cooperation on global environmental externalities, hence more likely to materialize. In this paper the interaction between these two forms of cooperation is investigated, but unlike in the precedent literature, the role of absortive capacity (the ability of one country to absorb spillovers from other countries) and its dependence on R&D spending are at the core of the analysis.

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This seminar has been jointly organized by FEEM and IEFE, Bocconi University.