News

Copenhagen Economics has hired Mattias Almqvist as a Research Assistant. He will be joining our Stockholm office.

Mattias studies economics at Stockholm School of Economics and has previously worked for us as a Research Assistant.  

Copenhagen Economics has conducted a study on import VAT on printed magazines in Danish for four Danish publishing houses represented by MAQS Law Firm.

Today, magazines printed outside the EU and sent to Danish readers are exempt of VAT. A new bill aims at changing this, imposing VAT only on magazines written in the Danish language. Magazines in languages other than Danish sent from outside the EU and supplementary magazines in Danish newspapers will still be exempt from VAT.

Based on data for 29 Danish-magazines from the four publishing houses, the main conclusions are 

• There are very close substitution possibilities for the Danish-language maga-zines, either in the form of a similar or identical magazine in another lan-guage, or supplementary magazines distributed with the Danish newspapers
• The introduction of VAT is likely to result in a high price increase on Danish-magazines, as the business is under pressure with falling circulation and turnover
• VAT will likely reduce circulation with 43-64 percent for the 29 Danish-magazines in our sample due to a high increase in prices and the close substi-tution possibilities
• Government’s projected tax revenue from the bill is likely to be too high due to the close substitution possibilities, and the fact that these possibilities are exempt from VAT
• The bill is not likely to create any printing jobs in Denmark, as Denmark is not the cheapest alternative to the current non-EU countries. With a falling circu-lation the employment effects are likely negative for the Danish-magazines.

Download the study

For further information, please contact Partner Sigurd Næss-Schmidt

Copenhagen Economics has conducted a study on the economic impact of the Danish public library for The Danish Think Tank Libraries of the Future.

The Danish public libraries provide multiple services to the Danish public today, which overall seems to be well received by the public.

However, the contributions are often measured in terms of library use (e.g. how many books were borrowed) and user satisfaction surveys, which are far from adequate when we want to discuss the role libraries play in modern society. In this study, we dig deeper and provide the first assessment of the economic value of the public libraries in Denmark.

The main conclusions are 

• The public library contribute with DKK 2bn to Danish GDP each year in the long run by stimulating educational attainment.
• Danes are willing to pay DKK 4bn for the public library, but only pay DKK 2.5bn through taxes.
• Libraries are valued for their social and cultural contribution to society, and not simply because people can use the materials themselves. A large part of the value comes from people who are not regular library users ie. the existence of a positive externality.

Download the full report from The Danish Think Tank Libraries of the Future’s website

For further information, please contact Partner Christian Jervelund

Together with Dansk Erhverv and Nielsen Nørager law firm, Copenhagen Economics organise a seminar on competition law.

The latest tightening of the competition law means that violations can now lead to higher penalties and term of imprisonment.

Copenhagen Economics will be at the seminar to provide practical economic and legal insight into the competition rules, in order to help you get a better overview of how these rules may affect your company. 

The seminar takes place 4 February in Copenhagen and 25 February in Aarhus.

Read more about the seminar and sign up in Aarhus or Copenhagen

For further information, please contact Managing Economist Simen Karlsen

Copenhagen Economics has conducted a study on the social housing sector’s impact on climate change goals and accessible housing.

The Danish Social Housing Sector plays an important role in Danish society by providing access to affordable and good quality housing to all groups in society. Moreover, the Social Housing Sector proves to be a driver of energy efficient buildings and accessible homes for the elderly and the disabled.

 The main conclusions of the report are that the renovation efforts in the social housing sector

• significantly reduce energy use in buildings, which contributes to Danish government objectives of reducing energy consumption in buildings
• significantly improve the accessibility of the Danish social housing sector thereby addressing the growing need of accessible housing for the increasing share of elderly and disabled
• contribute to innovative developments within energy efficient and accessible housing products and solutions in Danish companies.

Download the full report from the Danish Social Housing Sector’s website

For further information, please contact Martin Bo Hansen