Cross-border investment expenditure spillovers in European gas infrastructure

We investigate the implications of an integrated vis-à-vis a national perspective regarding investment in natural gas infrastructure. In particular, we analyze cross-border spillovers related to the investment expenditure of five Western European countries. We develop a practical approach to estimate such cross-border investment expenditure spillovers using a multi-regional input-output model. We find that international spillovers are generally larger for employment compensation compared to capital compensation and that the spillovers are unevenly distributed among the countries and the types of labor. Both high-skilled and medium-skilled labor is impacted most in the country where the investments take place, whereas low-skilled labor is mostly generated outside the EU. We argue that an integrated European gas infrastructure investment policy is to be recommended. - Highlights: • We study cross-border cost spillovers from investment expenditure in Austria, Belgium, Germany, France and the Netherlands. • We use a multi-regional input-output model. • International spillovers are generally larger for employment compensation compared to capital compensation. • Medium skilled-labor benefits most, high-skilled labor is impacted most in the investor country. • An integrated European gas infrastructure investment policy seems highly appropriate.