*1.3. Research Framework*

To focus on the characteristics and e ffects of ICT capital stock, this study clarifies how each aspect of ICT capital concentration a ffects the productive performance in the energy sector. As explained above, ICT contributes to the performance of the energy sector through various pathways [10,11]. Thus, the contribution of ICT should be investigated not only from a one-dimensional perspective but also from a multidimensional perspective using multiple indicators. To investigate this relationship, this study applies four productive performance evaluation indicators: LP, capital productivity (CP), material productivity (MP), and TFP.

Figure 2 shows the research framework for this study. The methodological approach involves two steps. First, this study evaluates the performance of the energy sector using four indicators. A performance evaluation indicator can be applied as a proxy for market competitiveness in the industrial sector, and the four indicators allow us to perform a multidimensional evaluation of productive performance in the energy sector.

Second, this study tries to explain the di fferences in the productive performance indicators among countries based on three multidimensional factors: (1) the ICT capital share, (2) the renewable energy share, and (3) the electricity price and research and development (R&D) capital share. The ICT capital share focuses on the concentration of IT capital, CT capital, and software capital within the gross capital

stock. Next, this study investigates the effect of a distributed electricity system on the performance of the energy sector, focusing in particular on solar photovoltaic and wind power generation.

**Figure 2.** The research framework for this study.

Additionally, this study applies electricity price and R&D capital share as the control variables in the determinant analysis. According to the OECD [23], investment in intellectual property products, such as R&D, not only contributes to expanding the technological frontier but also enhances the ability of firms to adopt existing technologies, playing an important role in productivity performance. For this reason, the R&D share is selected as the control variable in the 2nd step of the analysis.

This paper contributes by seeking to explain productivity changes using econometric techniques, with a specific focus on the effect of ICT capital stock composition. This study investigates the effect of different types of ICT capital formations on measures of performance of the energy sector. More specifically, this study investigates the role of ICT capital in the energy sector, differentiating this type of capital according to factors such as renewable energy managemen<sup>t</sup> systems.
