Social and Economic Contribution
of the Bioeconomic Sector in Ecuador: A
Methodological Approach
3
Daniel Ortega-Pacheco, Pedro Luis Castro-Verdezoto,
María-José Mendoza-Jiménez, Eduardo Almeida Benalcázar,
and María-Pilar Castro
Abstract
The national and international scientific community considers Ecuador’s biodiversity to be a comparative—even competitive—advantage of a new development paradigm, which could pave the way for a future that is less dependent on
non-renewable resources. Accordingly, the concept of bioeconomy has raised
attention from different sectors, but its understanding and policy development to
exploit its potential are still very limited. In the present work, we propose a
methodological approach to assess the economic and social contribution of the
bioeconomic sector in Ecuador. First, the theoretical and empirical foundations
are delineated, based on conceptual aspects and similar previous case studies.
Second, three available models (input–output model, general equilibrium model,
and social accounting matrix) are evaluated in terms of comparability, applicability, external validity, and scalability. Based on a comparison of the models, the
D. Ortega-Pacheco
Faculty of Life Sciences, Center for the Development of Public Policy, Escuela Superior Politécnica
del Litoral (ESPOL), Guayaquil, Ecuador
P. L. Castro-Verdezoto
Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Energy Planning Departament, State University of Campinas,
Campinas, Brazil
M.-J. Mendoza-Jiménez (*)
Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, ESPOL, Guayaquil, Ecuador
e-mail: mjmendoz@espol.edu.ec
E. Almeida Benalcázar
Faculty of Chemical Engineering, State University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
Faculty of Applied Sciences, Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands
M.-P. Castro
Research Center for the Economic Development of Energy and the Environment (CIDEEM),
Guayaquil, Ecuador
# Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2021
V. Venkatramanan et al. (eds.), Sustainable Bioeconomy,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-7321-7_3
35
of the Bioeconomic Sector in Ecuador: A
Methodological Approach
3
Daniel Ortega-Pacheco, Pedro Luis Castro-Verdezoto,
María-José Mendoza-Jiménez, Eduardo Almeida Benalcázar,
and María-Pilar Castro
Abstract
The national and international scientific community considers Ecuador’s biodiversity to be a comparative—even competitive—advantage of a new development paradigm, which could pave the way for a future that is less dependent on
non-renewable resources. Accordingly, the concept of bioeconomy has raised
attention from different sectors, but its understanding and policy development to
exploit its potential are still very limited. In the present work, we propose a
methodological approach to assess the economic and social contribution of the
bioeconomic sector in Ecuador. First, the theoretical and empirical foundations
are delineated, based on conceptual aspects and similar previous case studies.
Second, three available models (input–output model, general equilibrium model,
and social accounting matrix) are evaluated in terms of comparability, applicability, external validity, and scalability. Based on a comparison of the models, the
D. Ortega-Pacheco
Faculty of Life Sciences, Center for the Development of Public Policy, Escuela Superior Politécnica
del Litoral (ESPOL), Guayaquil, Ecuador
P. L. Castro-Verdezoto
Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Energy Planning Departament, State University of Campinas,
Campinas, Brazil
M.-J. Mendoza-Jiménez (*)
Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, ESPOL, Guayaquil, Ecuador
e-mail: mjmendoz@espol.edu.ec
E. Almeida Benalcázar
Faculty of Chemical Engineering, State University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
Faculty of Applied Sciences, Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands
M.-P. Castro
Research Center for the Economic Development of Energy and the Environment (CIDEEM),
Guayaquil, Ecuador
# Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2021
V. Venkatramanan et al. (eds.), Sustainable Bioeconomy,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-7321-7_3
35