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on Environmental Economics |
| By: | Samira Chaklatti (GAEL - Laboratoire d'Economie Appliquée de Grenoble - [INRA] - [Université Pierre Mendès-France - Grenoble II]); Damien Rousselière (LEPII - Laboratoire d'Economie de la Production et de l'Intégration Internationale - [CNRS : FRE2664] - [Université Pierre Mendès-France - Grenoble II]) |
| Abstract: | L'apparition des plantes Génétiquement Modifiées, en Europe, a donné lieu à des débats importants. Issue de ce débat, la réglementation actuelle concernant les OGM apparaît comme le résultat d'une dynamique contradictoire entre les différents intérêts d'acteurs (mouvement associatif, lobby industriel, expert et scientifique, représentants politiques) organisés en groupes de pression, s'appuyant chacun sur différents registres de justification des bienfaits ou des inconvénients supposés des biotechnologies agricoles. Les données de l'Eurobaromètre 58.0 permettent de préciser l'importance de la confiance dans les associations pour le positionnement dans le débat public de la part des "citoyens ordinaires" (Joly, Marris 2003). En conclusion, sont discutés les principaux faits stylisés ainsi caractérisés. |
| Keywords: | association ; confiance ; organisme génétiquement modifié ; biotechnologie ; protection de l'environnement |
| Date: | 2006–09–25 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:papers:halshs-00095906_v1&r=env |
| By: | Christophe Rynikiewicz (LEPII - Laboratoire d'Economie de la Production et de l'Intégration Internationale - [CNRS : FRE2664] - [Université Pierre Mendès-France - Grenoble II]); Anne Chetaille (GRET Pôle Politiques Publiques et Régulations Internationales - [GRET]) |
| Abstract: | A growing attention is given to identify workable approaches, bringing together both goals of climate change mitigation and adaptation and poverty alleviation. Challenges are numerous. Developing countries vulnerability to climate change is high. While access to energy is considered as a key priority for developing countries needs, the climate change constraint would appeal for development paths to be less intensive in greenhouse gases.<br />In this paper, we question the science and technology contribution to resilience in current international policy debate on poverty reduction and sustainable development. Secondly, key principles are defined to ensure an effective contribution of technology to addressing the challenges of leapfrogging. In particular, the ability to associate the stakeholders, define basic needs is fundamental in any technological transitions. Thirdly, we present the IMPACT Network's methodology and case studies that provide an original framework to design intermediate public policies, integrating multiple priorities in local and national strategies. This approach may help creating the enabling environments for technology development. |
| Keywords: | Climate vulnerability ; inequalities alleviation ; appropriate technologies ; intermediate public policies ; poverty ; adaptation |
| Date: | 2006–09–19 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:papers:halshs-00096512_v1&r=env |
| By: | Torstein Bye, Annegrete Bruvoll and Jan Larsson (Statistics Norway) |
| Abstract: | Productivity measures ignoring environmental effects may give misleading information on total productivity growth. Further, business cycles in the form of capacity utilization may also significantly influence productivity measures. In this paper, we develop an overall Malmquist productivity index and decompose changing efficiency rates into a contribution from environmental factors, capacity utilization and other traditional factors. The capacity utilization element is a contribution to the literature in that it takes into account the capacity for producing negative externalities. We decompose the frontier movements into a contribution from traditional factors and environmental factors and apply the model to a micro data set for two Norwegian industries: the pulp and paper industry and the inorganic chemistry industry. We find frontier improvements over the period included in the analysis, while the distance to the frontier has increased. Capacity utilization increased over the period and contributed to an average approach to the frontier, while environmental indicators contributed negatively. Analysis of the two industries indicates that differences between the traditional and revised efficiency measures changes are ambiguous, except from the capacity utilization element. This indicates that the environment loses when business cycles improve. |
| Keywords: | Emissions; Productivity change; Pulp and paper; Inorganic chemistry; Malmquist index; Frontier technology; Capacity utilization |
| JEL: | L73 O12 O14 O33 O41 Q48 R38 |
| Date: | 2006–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ssb:dispap:473&r=env |
| By: | Rasha Ahmed (University of Connecticut); Kathleen Segerson (University of Connecticut) |
| Abstract: | Recently, some industries have collectively agreed not to produce models that do not meet an energy efficiency (and hence an environmental) standard. This paper presents a simple model that can be used to examine a voluntary collective agreement to limit or completely eliminate the low efficiency model of a given product (e.g., a low efficiency washing machine). We show that, when there is competition between firms, a collective agreement to limit or even eliminate production of the polluting model can actually increase profits for all firms in the industry. This suggests that a collective agreement of this type might actually be beneficial to firms, while at the same time improving environmental quality. However, the implicit enforcement that comes from the public nature of the commitment is necessary to ensure this outcome. This suggests that, by promoting such agreements, policymakers may be able to achieve substantial environmental gains with relatively little inducement. The impact on social welfare will then depend on whether these gains are sufficiently large to offset consumer losses from reductions in product variety and the associated price increases. |
| Keywords: | Voluntary agreements, collective agreements, energy/fuel efficiency |
| JEL: | Q48 Q58 |
| Date: | 2006–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:uct:uconnp:2006-18&r=env |