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on Environmental Economics |
| By: | Bjart Holtsmark og Dag Einar Sommervoll (Statistics Norway) |
| Abstract: | Using a non cooperative climate policy game applied in the literature, we find that an agreement with international emissions trading leads to increased emissions and reduced efficiency. |
| Keywords: | Climate change; international environmental agreements; emissions trading; non-cooperative game theory. |
| JEL: | C7 Q2 Q4 |
| Date: | 2012–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ssb:dispap:693&r=env |
| By: | Schaller, Lena; Drosler, Matthias; Hoper, Heinrich; Kantelhardt, Jochen |
| Keywords: | CO2 abatement cost, climate change mitigation strategies, microeconomic consequences, organic soil management, Agricultural and Food Policy, Environmental Economics and Policy, Land Economics/Use, |
| Date: | 2012 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iaae12:125219&r=env |
| By: | Gurgel, Angelo Costa |
| Abstract: | The Brazilian government has announced volunteer targets to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions during the 2009 COP meeting in Copenhagen. In this paper we estimate the economic impacts from alternative policies to achieve such targets, including actions to cut emissions from deforestation and agricultural production. We employ a dynamic-recursive general equilibrium model of the world economy. The main results show that deforestation emissions in Brazil can be reduced at very low costs, but the costs of cutting emissions from agricultural and energy use may reach 2.3% loss in GDP by 2020 if sector specific carbon taxes are applied. Those costs may be reduced to 1.5% under a carbon trading scheme. The negative impacts of carbon taxes on agricultural production indirectly reduce deforestation rates. However, directly cutting emissions from deforestation is the most cost-effective option, since it does not hurt agricultural production, which still expands on lower yield and underutilized pasture and secondary forest areas. |
| Keywords: | Climate policies, Brazil, deforestation, general equilibrium, Environmental Economics and Policy, Land Economics/Use, Q54, Q58, Q15, C68, |
| Date: | 2012 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iaae12:125937&r=env |
| By: | Fischer, Carolyn (Resources for the Future); Salant, Stephen (Resources for the Future) |
| Abstract: | Efforts to limit cumulative emissions over the next century may be partially thwarted by the responses of fossil fuel suppliers. Current price-cost margins for major reserves are ample, leaving scope for significant price reductions if climate policies reduce demand for fossil fuels through conservation or substitution to clean alternatives. Most models simulating the consequences of climate policies completely disregard these supply responses. As for theoretical models, under standard assumptions they predict such strong supplier responses that climate policies may have no effect on cumulative emissions and may even leave society worse off, suffering damages from global warming sooner and with less time to adapt (the “green paradox”).We contribute to this literature by developing a richer theoretical model that takes account of the different extraction costs and emissons rates of different fossil reserves. We use this model to compare the qualitative effects of four policy options—accelerating cost reductions in the clean backstop technologies, taxing emissions, improving energy efficiency, and a clean fuel blend mandate. We also discuss the consequences of mandating carbon capture and sequestration. All policies can reduce cumulative emissions, but the backstop policy accelerates emissions while conservation policies (energy efficiency or blend mandates) delay emissions. We then calibrate the model using data on costs, reserves, and emissions factors for five major categories of oil. Using this calibrated model, we estimate the interemporal leakage rate—the percentage error in cumulative emissions reductions that would arise if no account is taken of the supply responses of oil producers. We find that conservation policies can have higher intertemporal leakage rates and backstop policies can have lower leakage than an emissions tax. Leakage rates generally decline as the policies become more stringent. |
| Keywords: | green paradox, climate change, exhaustible resources |
| JEL: | Q3 Q4 Q5 |
| Date: | 2012–04–23 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:rff:dpaper:dp-12-16&r=env |
| By: | John Feddersen |
| Abstract: | The literature on carbon leakage has not yet benefitted from many of the insights of the ‘New Economic Geography’ (NEG). Most studies assume both an absence of agglomeration forces and that factors do not move inter-regionally. This paper develops a 2-region NEG model with factor mobility to study the impact of regionally-differentiated environmental regulation on the location of polluting firms. There are three main results: (i) trade liberalisation can reduce firms’ incentives to relocate in response to a regulatory disadvantage; this arises because trade liberalisation increases the agglomeration forces attracting firms to a given location, and may explain why the pollution haven hypothesis (PHH), which is a common prediction of standard trade models of environmental regulation, has been so difficult to detect empirically; (ii) unilaterally tightening environmental regulation by one region may increase global pollution; and (iii) if industry is dispersed between regions, individual firms respond to higher (lower) relative domestic pollution taxes by polluting more (less). |
| Keywords: | Carbon leakage, Environmental regulation, International environmental agreements, International trade, Pollution haven |
| JEL: | F18 Q56 |
| Date: | 2012 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:oxf:wpaper:613&r=env |
| By: | Mehdi Fadaee (Department of Economics, University of Bologna, Italy); Luca Lambertini (Department of Economics, University of Bologna, Italy; ENCORE, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands; The Rimini Centre for Economic Analysis, Italy) |
| Abstract: | Acquired wisdom has it that the allocation of pollution rights to firms hinders their willingness to undertake uncertain R&D projects for environmental-friendly technologies. We revisit this issue in a model where firms strategically choose whether to participate in a lottery to attain pollution permits, or instead invest in green R&D, to show that, somewhat counterintuitively, a desirable side effect of the pollution permit is in fact that of fostering environmental R&D in an admissible range of the model parameters. |
| Keywords: | environmental externalities, pollution rights, pollution-reducing innovation |
| JEL: | L13 O31 Q55 |
| Date: | 2012–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:rim:rimwps:43_12&r=env |
| By: | Randall S. Jones; Byungseo Yoo |
| Abstract: | Korea, which has had the highest growth rate of greenhouse gas emissions in the OECD area since 1990, adopted an ambitious Green Growth Strategy in 2009. It aims at reducing emissions by 30% by 2020 relative to a “business as usual” scenario, implying a 4% cut from the 2005 level. The Strategy also includes a Five-Year Plan with public spending of 2% of GDP per year to promote green growth. Korea is planning to establish a carbon price through a cap-and-trade emissions trading scheme. Such an approach, combined with a carbon tax in sectors not covered by the scheme, is necessary to reduce emissions in a cost-effective manner and foster innovation in green technology. In addition, each sector should face the same electricity price based on production costs to promote efficient energy use. Given market failures, the government has a role to play in green R&D, particularly for basic research, in fostering green finance and in developing renewable energy resources.<P>Concrétiser le projet d'une « croissance verte et sobre en carbone » en Corée<BR>La Corée, qui affiche le plus fort taux d’accroissement des émissions de gaz à effet de serre de la zone OCDE depuis 1990, a adopté en 2009 une ambitieuse Stratégie de croissance verte. L’objectif est de réduire de 30 % les émissions d’ici à 2020 par rapport au scénario « au fil de l’eau », ce qui équivaut à une baisse de 4 % par rapport à leur niveau de 2005. La Stratégie institue également un Plan quinquennal qui prévoit les dépenses publiques correspondant à 2 % du PIB par an pour promouvoir la croissance verte. La Corée envisage de créer un prix du carbone grâce à la mise en place d’un système de plafonnement et d'échange de permis d'émissions. Une telle approche conjuguée à l’application d’une taxe carbone dans les secteurs non concernés par ce système est nécessaire pour abaisser les émissions de manière efficace et économe et stimuler l’innovation dans les technologies vertes. En outre, chaque secteur devrait se voir appliquer le même prix de l’électricité, fondé sur les coûts de production, afin de promouvoir une utilisation rationnelle de l’énergie. Compte tenu des défaillances du marché, les pouvoirs publics ont un rôle à jouer dans la R-D verte, notamment dans le domaine de la recherche fondamentale, dans la promotion de la finance verte et dans le développement des énergies renouvelables. |
| Keywords: | Korea, renewable energy, R&D, climate change, energy efficiency, energy subsidies, carbon tax, greenhouse gas emissions, environmental taxes, green growth, Korean economy, emissions trading system, green certificates, National Strategy for Green Growth, electricity pricing, Five-Year Plan, Corée, changement climatique, émissions de gaz à effet de serre, énergies renouvelables, efficacité énergétique, croissance verte, économie coréenne, système d'échange de permis d'émission, taxes environmentales, subventions d'énergie, R-D, certificats verts, Stratégie nationale pour la croissance verte, taxe carbone, tarification de l’électricité, Plan quinquennal |
| JEL: | Q28 Q48 Q54 Q56 Q58 |
| Date: | 2012–06–05 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:oec:ecoaaa:964-en&r=env |
| By: | Ghosh, Gaurav (E.ON Energy Research Center, Future Energy Consumer Needs and Behavior (FCN)); Shortle, James (Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology) |
| Abstract: | We compare two tradable permit markets in their ability to meet a safety first environmental target at least cost when some polluters have stochastic, correlated, and non-measurable emissions. In both markets, the point source permit defines the allowable level of the observed (deterministic) point source pollution load. The permit for unobservable and stochastic nonpoint source pollution cannot be defined in this way. One market bases the nonpoint permit on expected nonpoint pollution and uses a trading ratio between the two pollution types to manage stochasticity. This model follows existing point-nonpoint markets for water quality trading. The second model defines the nonpoint permit as a multi-attribute good, where the attributes inform the market about the stochasticity of the underlying pollution load. The multi-attribute permit market is demonstrated to out-perform the trading ratio market. This result is an artifact of polluters directly pricing stochasticity in the former market but not in the latter, where stochasticity is only controllable under highly restrictive conditions. |
| Keywords: | Emissions trading; Environmental policy; Market design; Nonpoint pollution; Water Quality |
| JEL: | D02 D62 D81 Q52 Q53 Q58 |
| Date: | 2012–01 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ris:fcnwpa:2012_001&r=env |
| By: | Hayashi, Takashi; Yamamoto, Mitasu |
| Abstract: | The world is facing serious resource shortage and environmental problems. Eco-efficiency is more attention for sustainable development not only in manufacturing sector but also agricultural sector. This study investigates whether Japanese agriculture improves its eco-efficiency. To conduct the analysis, we, first, develop a System of Environmental and Economic Accounting (SEEA) for agriculture and forestry, and then estimate the eco-efficiencies and Factor values (FVs) of the agricultural sector, using a case study in Japan. Eco/energy-efficiencies and FVs are estimated based on greenhouse gas emission, acidification, eutrophication, air pollution, and energy and water use in every five year from 1985 to 2005. The results shows that although the absolute amounts of environmental impact and resource use have declined, eco/resource-efficiencies have worsened and FVs are less than 1 throughout the estimation period. Further governmental support for farmers is required to achieve improved eco-efficiency. |
| Keywords: | Eco-efficiency, Factor value, System of Environmental and Economic Accounting (SEEA), Agriculture, Japan, Environmental Economics and Policy, |
| Date: | 2012 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iaae12:126199&r=env |
| By: | Pant, Krishna Prasad |
| Abstract: | The study assessed the on-farm rice straw utilization practices of the farmers and estimated the level of actual cash payment necessary to stop the practice of rice straw burning. |
| Keywords: | Field experiment, non-market valuation, Agriculture and environment, rice straw burning, black carbon, supply of ecosystem services., Environmental Economics and Policy, Farm Management, Production Economics, Q15 - Agriculture and Environment, Q52 - Pollution Control Adoption Costs, |
| Date: | 2012–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iaae12:126195&r=env |
| By: | Cunha, Denis Antonio da; Coelho, Alexandre Braganca; Feres, Jose; Braga, Marcelo Jose |
| Abstract: | This paper aims to analyze the effects of climate change on Brazilian agriculture considering irrigation adoption as an adaptation strategy. Investigation on how climatic variability influences irrigation adoption was performed as well as whether this adaptation measure actually reduces producers’ vulnerability to climate change. We used matching methods to analyze the choice of irrigation in the first stage and the land values for two types of farmer (irrigators or dryland) in the second stage. Temperature and precipitation projections for the 2010-2099 time period were used, considering different climate scenarios, according the 4th Assessment Report of IPCC (2007). Simulation results showed that irrigation can be a very effective tool to counteract the harmful effects of climate change. Land values for irrigated production are less vulnerable than those of rainfed production. Farmers’ income tends to grow on lands where irrigation techniques are practiced, while on those where agricultural production is exclusively rainfed, losses can sum to approximately 14% in relation to current period. These conclusions confirm the need to invest in adaptation strategies in order to make Brazil ready to cope with the adverse effects of global climate change. |
| Keywords: | Climate Change, Agriculture, Adaptation, Irrigation, Agribusiness, Agricultural and Food Policy, Environmental Economics and Policy, Farm Management, Land Economics/Use, Research Methods/ Statistical Methods, Q12, Q54, |
| Date: | 2012 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iaae12:126223&r=env |
| By: | Huang, Delin |
| Abstract: | By establishing the database for and constructing the GTAP-E model of Reduction Potential and Control Policy for Chinese Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Emissions, this paper simulates control policies and the reduction potential of Chinese Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Emissions. The result is that with a 5% reduction China's GDP is reduced by 0.059%, social welfare is increased by 1.16 billion U.S. dollars, there is a 22.08% increase in the price of rice and a 2.9% increase in other crop prices. The price of cattle and sheep increases by 163.43%, the price of pigs and poultry by 0.57%, while other livestock prices fall by 0.98%. With a 5% reduction, the competitiveness of agricultural products in the international market will be reduced, and their export significantly reduced, but increased exports in other sectors result in China's net exports increasing by USD 4.55 billion. Tax levied on agricultural emissions will be USD 22.311 billion. |
| Keywords: | Chinese Agro-Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Reduction Potential, Control Policy., Environmental Economics and Policy, Q56, |
| Date: | 2012–12–31 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iaae12:125693&r=env |
| By: | Christoph Böhringer (Department of Economics University of Oldenburg, Germany); Brita Bye (Statistics Norway, Oslo, Norway); Taran Fæhn (Statistics Norway, Oslo, Norway); Knut Einar Rosendahl (Statistics Norway, Oslo, Norway) |
| Abstract: | In the absence of effective world-wide cooperation to curb global warming, import tariffs on embodied carbon have been proposed as a potential supplement to unilateral emissions pricing. We consider alternative designs for such tariffs, and analyze their effects on global welfare within a multi-region, multi-sector computable general equilibrium (CGE) model of global trade and energy. Our analysis suggests that the most cost-efficient policy could be region-specific tariffs on all products, based on direct plus electricity emissions. In the end, however, the potential cost savings through carbon tariffs must be weighed against the administrative costs as well as legal issues and political considerations |
| Keywords: | carbon leakage, embodied carbon, border tariffs |
| JEL: | Q43 Q54 H2 D61 |
| Date: | 2012–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:old:wpaper:345&r=env |
| By: | Klomp, Jeroen; Bulte, Erwin H. |
| Abstract: | We use cross-country data to explore whether temperature and rainfall shocks trigger violent conflict, or not. We include a wide range of country and time samples, and explore whether the impact of weather shocks is conditional on income or political regimes. Our overall conclusion is sobering. Notwithstanding the attention this topic has attracted from the media and policy makers, we find little robust evidence linking weather shocks to the onset of conflict. |
| Keywords: | climate change, temperature, rainfall, violence, Africa, resource scarcity., Environmental Economics and Policy, Food Security and Poverty, Resource /Energy Economics and Policy, |
| Date: | 2012 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iaae12:125861&r=env |
| By: | Amigues, Jean-Pierre; Lafforgue, Gilles; Moreaux, Michel |
| Abstract: | We determine the optimal exploitation time-paths of three types of perfect substitute energy resources: The first one is depletable and carbon-emitting (dirty coal), the second one is also depletable but carbon-free thanks to a carbon capture and storage (CCS) process (clean coal) and the last one is renewable and clean (solar energy). We assume that the atmospheric carbon stock cannot exceed some given ceiling. These optimal paths are considered along with alternative structures of the CCS cost function depending on whether the marginal sequestration cost depends on the flow of clean coal consumption or on its cumulated stock. In the later case, the marginal cost function can be either increasing in the stock thus revealing a scarcity effect on the storage capacity of carbon emissions, or decreasing in order to take into account some learning process. We show among others the following results: Under a stockdependent CCS cost function, the clean coal exploitation must begin at the earliest when the carbon cap is reached while it must begin before under a flow-dependent cost function. Under stock-dependent cost function with a dominant learning effect, the energy price path can evolve non-monotonically over time. When the solar cost is low enough, this last case can give rise to an unusual sequence of energy consumption along which the solar energy consumption is interrupted for some time and replaced by the clean coal exploitation. Last, the scarcity effect implies a carbon tax trajectory which is also unusual in this kind of ceiling models, its increasing part been extended for some time during the period at the ceiling. |
| Keywords: | Carbon capture and storage; Energy substitution; Learning effect; Scarcity effect; Carbon stabilization cap. |
| JEL: | Q32 Q42 Q54 Q55 Q58 |
| Date: | 2012–04 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ide:wpaper:26019&r=env |
| By: | Amigues, Jean-Pierre; Lafforgue, Gilles; Moreaux, Michel |
| Abstract: | We determine the optimal exploitation time-paths of three types of perfect substitute energy resources: The first one is depletable and carbon-emitting (dirty coal), the second one is also depletable but carbon-free thanks to a carbon capture and storage (CCS) process (clean coal) and the last one is renewable and clean (solar energy). We assume that the atmospheric carbon stock cannot exceed some given ceiling. These optimal paths are considered along with alternative structures of the CCS cost function depending on whether the marginal sequestration cost depends on the flow of clean coal consumption or on its cumulated stock. In the later case, the marginal cost function can be either increasing in the stock thus revealing a scarcity effect on the storage capacity of carbon emissions, or decreasing in order to take into account some learning process. We show among others the following results: Under a stockdependent CCS cost function, the clean coal exploitation must begin at the earliest when the carbon cap is reached while it must begin before under a flow-dependent cost function. Under stock-dependent cost function with a dominant learning effect, the energy price path can evolve non-monotonically over time. When the solar cost is low enough, this last case can give rise to an unusual sequence of energy consumption along which the solar energy consumption is interrupted for some time and replaced by the clean coal exploitation. Last, the scarcity effect implies a carbon tax trajectory which is also unusual in this kind of ceiling models, its increasing part been extended for some time during the period at the ceiling. |
| Keywords: | Carbon capture and storage; Energy substitution; Learning effect; Scarcity effect; Carbon stabilization cap. |
| JEL: | Q32 Q42 Q54 Q55 Q58 |
| Date: | 2012–04 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:tse:wpaper:26012&r=env |
| By: | Tisdell, Clem |
| Abstract: | Ecosystems supply a wide variety of valued commodities, including ecological services. Valuing these commodities and determining the implications of their valuation for the optimal management of ecosystems is challenging. This paper considers the optimal spatial use of forest ecosystems given that they can be utilised for conserving wildlife species and for producing logs. It takes into account the alternatives of selective logging and heavy (less selective) logging. It considers whether it is optimal to partition the use of a forest so that a portion of it is used exclusively for wildlife conservation with the remainder being utilised for heavy logging (a dominant use strategy) or to combine wildlife conservation and selective logging in at least part of the forest (a multiple use strategy) with any remainder of the forest being available for heavy logging. The assumed objective is to maximise the profit from logging subject to the population of a focal forest wildlife species being sustained at a particular level, that is at a level at least equal to its minimum viable population. The optimal use strategy cannot be determined a priori but requires alternatives forgone to be assessed. While orangutans are used as an example, the model can be applied to other species. It can also be applied (as is shown) to other ecological services such as the quality of water flowing from forested areas. Although the model may appear at first sight to be quite particular, its application can be extended in several ways mentioned. It demonstrates that the optimal spatial patterns of ecosystem use require individual assessment. |
| Keywords: | ecosystem services, forests, orangutans, reduced impact logging, selective logging, spatial optimisation of ecosystem use, valuation of ecological services, wildlife conservation., Environmental Economics and Policy, |
| Date: | 2012–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:uqseee:126230&r=env |
| By: | Christoph Böhringer (Department of Economics, University of Oldenburg); Jared C. Carbone (University of Calgary, Canada); Thomas F. Rutherford (University of Wisconsin, USA) |
| Abstract: | The cost-effectiveness of unilateral emission abatement can be seriously hampered by emission leakage. We assess three widely-discussed proposals for leakage reduction targeted at energy-intensive and trade-exposed industries: border tax adjustments, output-based allocation and industry exemptions. We find that none of these measures amounts to a “magic bullet” when both efficiency and equity criteria matter. Border tax adjustments reduce leakage and provide global cost savings but exacerbate regional inequality. Exemptions produce very little leakage reduction and run the risk of increasing efficiency cost of climate policy. Output-based allocation does no harm but also does relatively little good by our outcome measures. |
| Keywords: | Unilateral Climate Policy, Leakage, Efficiency, Equity |
| Date: | 2012–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:old:wpaper:346&r=env |
| By: | Park, Geoff; Roberts, Anna M.; Alexander, Jennifer; McNamara, Les; Pannell, David J. |
| Abstract: | Natural resource management organisations in Australia routinely establish resource condition targets in their regional plans/catchment strategies. We reviewed biodiversity, water and community resource condition targets set by Catchment Management Authorities (CMAs) in Victoria and New South Wales (NSW) over planning cycles since 1997 against criteria of being specific, measurable, and time-bound (SMT). The overall quality of targets is poor with less than 30% of targets meeting the three criteria. Disturbingly there are no SMT targets in the most recent NSW CMA catchment strategies. We identify three major reasons for poor target setting: a lack of appropriate standards and guidelines from governments to enable high quality target setting; a lack of realism about the budgetary and technical feasibility of ambitious environmental targets amongst those involved in natural resource management; and a lack of adequate focus on outcomes by both CMAs and governments. Improvements to target setting can be achieved through stronger signals and commitment by governments, including by rewarding performance of regional bodies practicing outcome-focused accountability. |
| Keywords: | environmental targets, project prioritization, environmental policy, Environmental Economics and Policy, Institutional and Behavioral Economics, Resource /Energy Economics and Policy, Teaching/Communication/Extension/Profession, Q38, Q28, Q58, Q56, |
| Date: | 2012–06–21 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:uwauwp:126036&r=env |
| By: | Giuseppe Francesco Gori (Department of Economics, University of Bologna, Italy); Luca Lambertini (Department of Economics, University of Bologna, Italy; The Rimini Centre for Economic Analysis (RCEA), Italy) |
| Abstract: | This paper investigates the impact of free trade on welfare in a two-country world modelled as an international Hotelling duopoly with quadratic transport costs and asymmetric countries, where a negative environmental externality is associated with the consumption of the good produced in the smaller country. Countries' relative sizes as well as the intensity of negative environmental externality affect potential welfare gains in trade liberalisation. In line with Lambertini (1997a) we show that, as long as no trade policy is undertaken by the government of the larger country, trade liberalisation is not feasible since the latter always loses from opening to trade. A subsidy policy in favour of the firm producing the clean good is, on the contrary, shown to give both countries the right incentives to liberalize trade. Allowing for redistributive transfers between countries further extends the parametric range for which trade liberalisation is feasible under the subsidy scheme. The alternative situation, in which the green firm is based in the larger country, is also briefly sketched to find that free trade does give rise to a global welfare increment with no need of accompanying trade policies. |
| Keywords: | International trade, geographical nation size, spatial competition, environmental externality |
| JEL: | F12 L13 H23 |
| Date: | 2012–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:rim:rimwps:40_12&r=env |
| By: | Ortiz-Bobea, Ariel |
| Keywords: | Production Economics, Research Methods/ Statistical Methods, |
| Date: | 2012 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aaea12:125287&r=env |
| By: | Christoph Böhringer (Department of Economics, University of Oldenburg); Andreas Lange (University of Hamburg, Department of Economics, Germany); Thomas F. Rutherford (ETH Zürich, CEPE, Switzerland) |
| Abstract: | Carbon leakage provides an efficiency argument for unilateral climate policy to differentiate emission prices in favor of emission-intensive and trade-exposed sectors. At the same time, differential emission pricing can be (mis-)used as a beggar-thy-neighbor policy to exploit terms of trade. Using an optimal tax framework, we propose a method to decompose the leakage motive and the terms-of-trade motive for emission price differentiation. We employ our method for a quantitative impact assessment of unilateral climate policy based on empirical data. We find that the leakage motive yields only small efficiency gains compared to uniform emission pricing. Likewise, the terms-of-trade motive has rather limited potential for strategic burden shifting. We conclude that the simple first-best rule of uniform emission pricing remains a practical guideline for unilateral climate policy design. |
| Keywords: | optimal taxation, emission leakage, terms of trade |
| JEL: | H21 Q43 R13 D58 |
| Date: | 2012–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:old:wpaper:347&r=env |
| By: | Kreickemeier, Udo; Richter, Philipp M. |
| Abstract: | This paper derives a new effect of trade liberalisation on the quality of the environment. We show that in the presence of heterogeneous firms the aggregate volume of emissions is influenced not only by the long-established scale effect, but also by a reallocation effect resulting from an increase in the relative size of more productive firms. We show how the relative importance of these effects, and hence the overall effect of trade liberalisation on the environment, is affected by the emission-intensity at the firm level: Aggregate emissions decrease when trade is liberalised if and only if firm-specific emission intensity decreases strongly with increasing firm productivity. -- |
| Keywords: | Trade and Environment,Monopolistic Competition,Heterogeneous Firms,Environmental Effects |
| JEL: | F12 F18 Q56 |
| Date: | 2012 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:tuewef:36&r=env |
| By: | Pannell, David J.; Roberts, Anna M.; Park, Geoff; Alexander, Jennifer |
| Abstract: | A multidisciplinary team of researchers made efforts to influence the design and implementation of environmental policy in Australia. A focus of these efforts was the development of the Investment Framework for Environmental Resources (INFFER). In addition, the team undertook a diversity of communication activities, training, user support, and participation in committees and enquiries. Transaction costs were relevant to these efforts in a variety of ways. Environmental managers who adopted some elements of INFFER incurred higher transaction costs than they did using traditional, simpler methods for planning and prioritising. The benefits that could be generated by bearing specific transaction costs were carefully considered, and a balance was struck between the system having simplicity (and low transaction costs) and delivering valuable environmental outcomes in the long term. Transaction costs were factored into the planning and prioritisation processed developed for INFFER. For example, public and private transaction costs are accounted for in the calculation of the Benefit: Cost Ratio for each project, and in the analysis of which type of policy mechanisms would be most suitable. The researchers’ experiences highlight the importance of transaction costs and the diverse roles that they play in the processes of developing, implementing and influencing environmental policy programs. |
| Keywords: | transaction costs, policy mechanism choice, benefit: costs analysis, prioritisation, planning, Environmental Economics and Policy, Institutional and Behavioral Economics, Resource /Energy Economics and Policy, Teaching/Communication/Extension/Profession, Q50, Q57, Q58, D23, |
| Date: | 2012–06–18 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:uwauwp:125851&r=env |
| By: | Marisa Agostini (Department of Management, Università Ca' Foscari Venezia); Ericka Costa (Department of Computer and Management Sciences, Università di Trento) |
| Abstract: | This paper analyzes the impact of a new specific regulation on the disclosure of environmental and employee matters in both consolidated-annual reports and social-environmental reports. It represents the first comprehensive attempt, as far as we are aware, at evaluating the impact of the 2.2.2007 Italian legislative decree n.32, following the 51/2003/CE directive, in both the consolidated-annual and social-environmental reports. All the Italian corporate groups which have drawn up stand-alone social-environmental reports both in 2005 and in 2010 have been selected: for each one of them also the consolidated-annual reports have been analyzed according to the dictate of the examined regulation. The results show the differences in corporate disclosure between the reports issued in 2005 (i.e. IAS first year of adoption and before the examined regulation) and those issued in 2010 (i.e. after the implementation of D.Lgs. 32/2007 which imposed to apply the Directive 51/2003/CE): there is a twofold increase, both in the number of groups which have a section dedicated to environmental and employee matters in the report on operations and in the value relevance assigned to non-financial indicators. |
| Keywords: | Environmental and Employee Matters; Non-financial indicators; Social-Environmental Reports; Consolidated-annual reports; Content Analysis. |
| JEL: | M41 M48 Q56 Q58 |
| Date: | 2012–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:vnm:wpdman:19&r=env |
| By: | Tisdell, Clement A. |
| Abstract: | Each year during the turtle watching season, Mon Repos turtle rookery in Queensland attracts many ecotourists interested in seeing sea turtles nesting or hatching. As part of their visit, visitors are able to learn about the biology of and threats to marine turtles. A sample of visitors were surveyed in order to determine whether their experiences at Mon Repos changed their conservation attitudes and their intended behaviours for protecting sea turtles. Using these results, the role of environmental education in changing their attitudes and intended behaviours is analysed and is found to be an important influence. Nevertheless, it is argued that other factors (such as emotional effects) are also important (sometimes the most important ones) in altering conservation behaviours and attitudes. This is less well recognised in the economics and ecotourism literature than it should be. The results from the survey summarised here are based on statements from respondents obtained soon after their ecotouristic experience at Mon Repos. There is therefore, likely to be a gap between the intended behaviours stated by respondents and their realised behaviours. Various types of hypothetical bias may be present, and a drop-off or decay effect is also likely to occur which also involves a bias. This effect creates difficulties for the application of contingent valuation methodology as well as from other forms of stated preferences elicitation of economic values. Simple mathematical models can be used to predict how individuals are likely to change their conservation behaviours as their information about the characteristics of environmental goods (in this case wildlife species) is altered. However, allowing for the conservation consequences of emotional experiences seems to be more challenging. In concluding, it is also pointed out that the conservation consequences of ecotourism do not depend solely on its generation of favourable behaviours among ecotourists. Furthermore, for reasons identified, ecotourism has serious limitations as a means for conserving wild biodiversity and needs to be supplemented by other means. |
| Keywords: | Biodiversity conservation, contingent valuation, drop-off effect, ecotourism, environmental education, hypothetical bias, stated preference methods, turtles, wildlife conservation., Environmental Economics and Policy, |
| Date: | 2012–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:uqseee:125209&r=env |
| By: | Jolejole-Foreman, Maria Christina; Baylis, Kathy; Lipper, Leslie |
| Keywords: | land degradation, instrumental variables, spatial patterns of land degradation, Environmental Economics and Policy, International Development, Land Economics/Use, Production Economics, |
| Date: | 2012 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iaae12:126251&r=env |
| By: | Paul Collier; Anthony J. Venables |
| Abstract: | Africa is well endowed with potential for hydro and solar power, but its other endowments – shortages of capital, skills, and governance capacity – make most of the green options relatively expensive, while its abundance of hydro-carbons makes fossil fuels relatively cheap. Current power shortages make expansion of power capacity a priority. Africa’s endowments, and the consequent scarcities and relative prices, are not immutable and can be changed to bring opportunity costs in Africa closer to those in the rest of the world. The international community can support by increasing Africa’s supply of the scarce factors of capital, skills, and governance. |
| Keywords: | Africa, climate change, energy, renewable, leapfrog, latecomer |
| JEL: | Q54 Q5 Q40 O55 |
| Date: | 2012 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:csa:wpaper:2012-06&r=env |
| By: | Mosheim, Roberto; Ribaudo, Marc |
| Abstract: | The overuse of nitrogen fertilizer primarily by large scale agriculture has polluted streams and lakes, and, in turn, coastal waters around the world. One consequence is the contamination of drinking water sources relied on by millions of consumers. Nitrogen is toxic to human health. Clean Water Act regulations require that drinking water supplied by public utilities contain less than 10 ppm of nitrogen. Water utilities in regions with high nitrogen concentrations must install expensive treatment systems to meet the nitrogen limit. This necessity creates an externality from agricultural production. This poster seeks to estimate the cost to utilities of abating nitrogen coming from agriculture. |
| Keywords: | Environmental Economics and Policy, |
| Date: | 2012 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aaea12:125276&r=env |
| By: | Kabata, Tshepelayi |
| Keywords: | Production Economics, Productivity Analysis, |
| Date: | 2012–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aaea12:125936&r=env |
| By: | Ercolano, Salvatore; Gaeta, Giuseppe Lucio; Romano, Oriana |
| Abstract: | This paper empirically investigates the determinants of willingness to pay (WTP) for the environment, employing micro data from the European Value Survey (EVS) over 2008-2010 in 27 European countries. Using ordered logit, logit and partially constrained generalized ordered logit models, we explore a wide set of individual and country level determinants. Our particular focus is on whether WTP is influenced by the Environmental Fiscal Reforms (EFR), carried out only in some countries of our sample. Our results show that WTP for the environment is lower in countries where an Environmental Fiscal Reform has been introduced. Moreover, analyses conducted on the role of information highlight that being presumably aware of the environmental fiscal reform does not affect positively the marginal willingness to pay for the environment. |
| Keywords: | Willingness to pay; environment; environmental fiscal reform |
| JEL: | Q50 R20 Z13 H23 |
| Date: | 2012–06–26 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:39680&r=env |
| By: | V. Kerry Smith; Carlos Valcarcel Wolloh |
| Abstract: | On the fortieth anniversary of the Clean Water Act this paper reports the first quantitative assessment of the aggregate trends in water quality in the U.S. using a single standard over the years 1975 to 2011. The analysis suggests that fresh water lakes for the nation as a whole are about at the same quality levels as they were in 1975. In short, viewed in the aggregate, nothing has changed. An assessment of the factors influencing the aggregates also suggests that water quality appears to be affected by the business cycle. This result calls into question the simple descriptions of the change in environmental quality with economic growth that are associated with the Environmental Kuznets Curve. |
| JEL: | Q50 Q53 |
| Date: | 2012–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:nbr:nberwo:18192&r=env |
| By: | Kimberly Burnett (UHERO, University of Hawaii at Manoa); Christopher Wada (UHERO, University of Hawaii at Manoa) |
| Abstract: | This report provides the first comparison of standard economic indicators for three sectors that are key to future sustainability in Hawai‘i - renewable energy, agriculture and natural resource management. Economic information has long been collected for many sectors in Hawai‘i, including agriculture and energy, but no systematic surveys have been conducted on the NRM sector to date. With support from The Nature Conservancy and Hau‘oli Mau Loa Foundation, the University of Hawai‘i Economic Research Organization was tasked with characterizing this important part of Hawai‘i’s economy, in terms of number and types of jobs, salaries, and annual expenditures. |
| Keywords: | Hawaii, Green Growth, Agriculture, Energy, Natural Resource Management |
| Date: | 2012–05 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hae:wpaper:2012-2&r=env |
| By: | Ana P. Palacios; J. Miguel Marín; Emiliano Quinto; Michael P. Wiper |
| Abstract: | Bacterial growth models are commonly used for the prediction of microbial safety and the shelf life of perishable foods. Growth is affected by several environmental factors such as temperature, acidity level and salt concentration. In this study, we develop two models to describe bacterial growth for multiple populations under both equal and different environmental conditions. Firstly, a semi-parametric model based on the Gompertz equation is proposed. Assuming that the parameters of the Gompertz equation may vary in relation to the running conditions under which the experiment is performed, we use feed forward neural networks to model the influence of these environmental factors on the growth parameters. Secondly, we propose a more general model which does not assume any underlying parametric form for the growth function. Thus, we consider a neural network as a primary growth model which includes the influencing environmental factors as inputs to the network. One of the main disadvantages of neural networks models is that they are often very difficult to tune which complicates fitting procedures. Here, we show that a simple, Bayesian approach to fitting these models can be implemented via the software package WinBugs. Our approach is illustrated using real experimental Listeria Monocytogenes growth data. |
| Keywords: | Bacterial population modeling, Growth functions, Neural networks, Bayesian inference |
| Date: | 2012–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cte:wsrepe:ws121610&r=env |
| By: | Tisdell, Clem |
| Abstract: | Different economic methods are being used to estimate the economic benefits generated by nature (wildlife) tourism. The most prominent of these are economic valuation analysis and economic impact analysis. These methods often provide divergent and conflicting estimates of the economic benefits obtained from wildlife tourism, as is demonstrated in this article by the use of a microeconomic model. Tourism Research Australia has estimated the economic benefits to Australia of nature tourism based on levels of first round expenditure generated by nature tourists in Australia. This is a form of economic impact analysis. These estimates are summarised and it is argued that they exaggerate the level of economic benefits generated by nature tourism. The economic impact of nature tourism can be important at the local or regional level. A way is suggested of measuring these impacts accurately. The conservation consequences of the economic benefits from wildlife tourism are discussed taking into account both their direct and indirect economic impacts. Whether or not increased economic benefits from wildlife tourism contribute to nature conservation depends on several specified circumstances. In conclusion, it is emphasised that organisations and enterprises in the wildlife tourism industry are diverse. Sources of their diversity are identified and the types of economic challenges facing those within the wildlife tourism industry are outlined. |
| Keywords: | Australia, conservation, economic evaluation, economic impact analysis, economic valuation, tourism industry, wildlife tourism, Environmental Economics and Policy, |
| Date: | 2012–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:uqseee:126229&r=env |
| By: | Piya, Luni; Maharjan, Keshav Lall; Joshi, Niraj Prakash |
| Abstract: | Rural communities, who are dominantly dependent upon natural resources, have always been adjusting their livelihood against the vagaries of climate. With the global climate change, these communities have been placed in greater vulnerability as the weather and extreme events have become more unpredictable. In order to formulate suitable policy measures to address their livelihood, assessment of local level vulnerability is very important. This paper analyzes the micro-level vulnerability of rural Chepang community in Nepal utilizing the data collected from 221 Chepang households from four villages located in four different districts. The analysis is based on indices constructed from carefully selected indicators for exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity. The indicators are weighted using Principal Component Analysis. Inter-village analysis of the vulnerability index indicate that the existing exposure in a locality is often modified at the household level depending upon the inherent adaptive capacity of the households to give the picture of overall vulnerability. Using only the biophysical indicators of vulnerability (exposure and sensitivity) can thus lead to an erroneous policy implication. Furthermore, inter-household analysis of vulnerability indicate that poor households with low adaptive capacity are vulnerable anywhere, irrespective of where they are located. Policy measures and development efforts should be focused towards improving the adaptive capacity of the rural households, while keeping the post-disaster emergency relief measures in place for localities with higher exposure to climate extremes. The poorest households should be the primary target of any interventions. |
| Keywords: | Exposure, sensitivity, adaptive capacity, livelihood assets, Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Community/Rural/Urban Development, |
| Date: | 2012 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iaae12:126191&r=env |
| By: | Kessides, Ioannis N. |
| Abstract: | Skeptics point out, with some justification, that the nuclear industry's prospects were dimmed by escalating costs long before Fukushima. If history is any guide, one direct consequence of the calamity in Japan will be more stringent safety requirements and regulatory delays that will inevitably increase the costs of nuclear power and further undermine its economic viability. For nuclear power to play a major role in meeting the future global energy needs and mitigating the threat of climate change, the hazards of another Fukushima and the construction delays and costs escalation that have plagued the industry will have to be substantially reduced. One promising direction for nuclear development might be to downsize reactors from the gigawatt scale to less-complex smaller units that are more affordable. Small modular reactors (SMRs) are scalable nuclear power plant designs that promise to reduce investment risks through incremental capacity expansion; become more standardized and reduce costs through accelerated learning effects; and address concerns about catastrophic events, since they contain substantially smaller radioactive inventory. Given their lower capital requirements and small size, which makes them suitable for small electric grids, SMRs can more effectively address the energy needs of small developing countries. |
| Keywords: | Energy Production and Transportation,Water and Industry,Engineering,Climate Change Mitigation and Green House Gases,Environment and Energy Efficiency |
| Date: | 2012–06–01 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:6112&r=env |
| By: | Tisdell, Clement A. |
| Abstract: | Biodiversity is usually regarded as an asset or resource, the stock of which is partly natural and partly determined by humans. Humans both subtract from and add to this stock and consequently, the change in the stock is heterogeneous. This heterogeneity is not taken account of by some authors who focus only on the loss aspect. Frequently, the conservation of this stock is seen as important for the achievement of sustainable development; sustainable development being defined (but not always acceptably) as a situation on which the welfare of each future generation is no less than that of its preceding generation. Definitions of biodiversity are quite wide but here its focus is restricted to genetic diversity. Humans alter the stock of genetic diversity by eliminating some species or varieties of these and also add to this stock by selective breeding and genetic engineering. Both direct and indirect human impacts on diversity occur. The types of possible changes in the genetic stock are classified in a simple manner. It is pointed out that not all the genetic stock has positive consequences for human welfare because some of the genetic material has negative consequences (e.g. pests) for humankind or for some groups of human beings. This can make its evaluation of the genetic stock difficult. Implications of additions to the genetic stock by human manipulation of it (e.g. by the development of GMOs and selective breeding) are given particular attention. This raises the question of how many future generations should be taken into account in making choices about biodiversity and the manner in which their welfare should be allowed for. For example, should discounting be applied? Also how much precaution is needed to allow for uncertainty, for example, is a safety first rule advisable? These issues are discussed. |
| Keywords: | biodiversity conservation, economic mechanisms and biodiversity changes, genetic engineering, genetic stock alterations, sustainable development, valuation of genetic stock., Crop Production/Industries, Environmental Economics and Policy, |
| Date: | 2012–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:uqseee:125211&r=env |
| By: | Jaleta, Moti; Kassie, Menale; Shiferaw, Bekele |
| Abstract: | Crop residue use for soil mulch and animal feed are the two major competing purposes and the basic source of fundamental challenge in conservation agriculture (CA) where residue retention on farm plots is one of the three CA principles. Using survey data from Kenya and applying bivariate ordered Probit and bivariate Tobit models, this paper analyzes the tradeoffs in maize residue use as soil mulch and livestock feed in mixed farming systems. Results show that both the proportion and quantity of maize residue used for soil mulch and livestock feed are strongly affected by agroecology and livestock holding. Farmer knowledge about alternative use of crop residues and farmer perception of soil erosion risk (proxied through plot steepness) positively affect the amount of residue farmers retain on maize plots. Results imply that crop residue use as soil mulch in conservation agriculture is challenged in mixed crop-livestock systems and particularly by smallholder farmers owning cross-bred and exotic dairy animals. In general, reducing the demand for crop residues as livestock feed through the introduction of alternative feed sources, better extension services on the use of crop residue as soil mulch and designing agroecology specific strategies and interventions could facilitate the adoption and expansion of CA-based practices in mixed crop-livestock systems. |
| Keywords: | Maize residue, Mixed farming system, Conservation agriculture, Bivariate model, Kenya, Agricultural and Food Policy, Crop Production/Industries, Environmental Economics and Policy, Livestock Production/Industries, Production Economics, |
| Date: | 2012 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iaae12:126282&r=env |
| By: | Ohe, Yasuo; Adriano, Ciani |
| Keywords: | diversification of agritourism, local cultural heritage, facility-based activity, internalization of externalities, cultural capital, ordered logit model, hedonic pricing, Agricultural and Food Policy, Community/Rural/Urban Development, Environmental Economics and Policy, Farm Management, |
| Date: | 2012–08–22 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iaae12:126187&r=env |
| By: | Börner, Jan; Shively, Gerald; Wunder, Sven; Wyman, Miriam |
| Abstract: | Unanticipated events can cause considerable economic hardship for poor rural households. Some types of negative shocks, for example weather-related agricultural losses and vector-borne diseases, are expected to occur more frequently as a result of climate change. This paper measures the role of household- and location-specific characteristics in conditioning behavioral responses to idiosyncratic and covariate shocks. We use data from more than 8000 households in 25 developing countries, compiled in the global database of the Poverty Environment Network (PEN). We employ a hierarchical multinomial logit model to identify the importance of characteristics observed at different levels of aggregation on a set of responses to economic shocks. Results indicate that in response to idiosyncratic shocks, households tend to deplete financial and durable assets, whereas covariate shocks predominantly result in reduced consumption. Households in sites characterized by high asset wealth tend to respond to shocks more proactively than in sites with average or below average asset wealth; savings emerge as an important determinant of shock response behavior at the household level. We also find that a higher concentration of land ownership at the village level reduces the prevalence of natural resource-based coping strategies. Overall, rural households are less reliant on natural resource extraction for coping than expected from the case-study literature. Our findings have implications for rural development and climate change adaptation strategies. |
| Keywords: | Climate change, economic development, forest use, poverty, vulnerability, safety nets, Farm Management, Risk and Uncertainty, I3, O1, Q2, |
| Date: | 2012 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iaae12:126143&r=env |
| By: | Dirk Rübbelke; Stefan Vögele |
| Abstract: | In the course of European efforts to mitigate global warming, the application of carbon dioxide capture and storage (CCS) technologies is discussed as a potential option. Some political opposition was raised – inter alia – by uncertainties about the effective cost of such technologies. Because of the cost structure of CCS power plants with high ‘flat’ investment cost and – in case of high carbon allowance prices – comparable low variable cost, the application of CCS will induce a merit-order effect causing a decline in electricity prices on the spot market. On the one hand, the reduction of electricity supply cost raises suppliers’ rents, while the decline of electricity prices augments consumers’ surpluses. These positive welfare effects tend to mitigate political opposition against CCS. On the other hand, the merit-order effect reduces electricity suppliers’ revenues as the electricity prices decline. This mitigates their scope for additional investments in CCS capacity. In this study, we focus on the influence of CCS in Germany on electricity supplier and consumer surpluses and associated impacts on the scope for investments in additional CCS capacity. By means of the applied model of electricity markets, influences on European electricity exchange and welfare levels are investigated |
| Keywords: | Carbon dioxide capture and storage (CCS), merit-order effect, redistribution of wealth |
| Date: | 2012–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:bcc:wpaper:2012-05&r=env |
| By: | Ashley, S.F.; Fenner, R.A.; Nuttall, W.J.; Parks |
| Abstract: | The potential for countries which currently have a nominal nuclear energy infrastructure to adopt thorium-uranium-fuelled nuclear energy systems, using a once-through “open” nuclear fuel cycle, has been presented by the International Atomic Energy Agency. This paper highlights Generation III and III+ nuclear energy technologies that could potentially adopt an open thorium-uranium fuel cycle and qualitatively highlights the main differences between the open thorium-uranium and open uranium fuel cycles. Furthermore, 28 indicators (and corresponding metrics) have been identified that could elucidate the advantages and disadvantages of nuclear energy systems which utilise thorium-uranium fuels in an open cycle. Such systems will be compared to an AREVA EPR operating with a once-through uranium fuel cycle. The indicators determined in this work have been drawn by grouping 270 indicators from eight previous studies of indicators associated with holistic and specific appraisals of the various life-cycle stages associated with the nuclear fuel cycle. The 28 indicators cover technoeconomic, environmental, waste, social, and proliferation-resistance themes and can be determined quantitatively, either by explicit determination or from an appropriate sensitivity analysis. |
| Keywords: | Nuclear, Thorium, Sustainable Development, Indicators |
| JEL: | O13 Q01 Q42 Q55 Q56 |
| Date: | 2012–06–28 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cam:camdae:1233&r=env |
| By: | Shrestha, Suman Lal; Maharjan, Keshav Lall |
| Keywords: | Community/Rural/Urban Development, |
| Date: | 2012 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iaae12:126156&r=env |
| By: | Keisaku Higashida (School of Economics, Kwansei Gakuin University) |
| Abstract: | This paper examines the monitoring of illegal trade, and restrictions on the legal trade, of secondhand goods. We assume that the home (foreign) country exports (imports) secondhand goods both legally and illegally. We demonstrate that when the trade restriction is nonbinding, and part of the legally imported goods serve not as secondhand but as materials, an increase in the probability of monitoring may increase expected foreign environmental damage. In contrast, when the trade restriction is binding, if part of the legal imports is resold for material use, a stricter trade restriction decreases expected foreign environmental damage. We also demonstrate that when governments noncooperatively select monitoring probabilities, the probability of foreign monitoring is necessarily higher than in the second-best situation. In this case, a commitment by the home government to its monitoring probability improves welfare in both countries, and this commitment arises in the extended game in which both governments choose the timing of the move in the first stage and the monitoring probabilities in the second stage. Moreover, when the foreign government chooses the level of the import quota on legal imports, it is possible that the foreign trade restriction is stricter than the second-best level. In such a case, any commitment by either government cannot simultaneously improve the welfare of both countries. |
| Keywords: | hazardous wastes, monitoring, secondhand goods, trade restriction |
| JEL: | F13 F18 Q53 |
| Date: | 2012–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:kgu:wpaper:90&r=env |
| By: | Jara-Rojas, Roberto; Bravo-Ureta, Boris; Moreira, Victor; Diaz, José |
| Abstract: | This study estimates a stochastic production frontier to measure technical efficiency (TE) using farm-level survey data for a random sample of small-scale farmers in Central Chile. Socioeconomic and productive information was collected in season 2005/06 through a survey of 319 farmers in the Province of Linares. An important issue in the paper is the effect of adoption of soil and water conservation practices on productivity. The results reveal a positive relationship between the adoption of soil and water conservation and farm-level TE. The results also indicate that improvements in TE, when associated with conservation practices, not only lead to higher output and thus improvements in net returns, but also contribute to environmental sustainability. Moreover, the analysis reveals a positive relationship between TE and human capital variables such as education and agricultural extension. |
| Keywords: | soil and water conservation, stochastic frontiers, technical efficiency, sustainability., Production Economics, Productivity Analysis, D24, Q2, Q12, Q16, |
| Date: | 2012 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iaae12:126227&r=env |
| By: | Lu, Liang; Elbakidze, Levan |
| Abstract: | In this study, we formulate a stochastic dynamic framework for pest control over the growing season taking into account forecasts of weather conditions and pest infestation expectations. Using stochastic envelope theorem and stochastic comparative dynamics, we analytically show how the stochastic correlation between the prediction errors should affect optimal pesticide usage path. As a case study, we apply the analytical results of the paper for pesticide use in the Palouse region of Washington where pea aphid is the primary threat for lentil production. By stochastic dynamic programming, our simulation shows the optimal dimethoate usage path, which illustrates our findings in the analytical part. |
| Keywords: | Stochastic Optimal Control, Climate Change, Pest Management, Crop Production/Industries, Farm Management, Q10, Q54, |
| Date: | 2012 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aaea12:125226&r=env |
| By: | Manazza, Jorge F.; Iglesias, Daniel H. |
| Abstract: | The high agricultural process of the Argentine humid pampas forces the intensification and relocation of cattle and dairy systems into subhumid and semiarid region to keep their competitiveness. In consequence, there is an increasing water demand scenario in these fragile areas in relation with this productive transformation process. Water footprints of UHT milk and cheese agrifood chain in La Pampa and San Luis provinces have been assessed using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology, including virtual water indicators. Milk chain of La Pampa presents high self-sufficiency water ratio and high primary production proportion in virtual water exports. Water footprint of San Luis milk chain is highly externalized with a low self-sufficiency water ratio. |
| Keywords: | Life Cycle Assessment, Milk Agrifood Chain, Virtual Water, Agribusiness, Agricultural and Food Policy, Environmental Economics and Policy, Industrial Organization, Land Economics/Use, Livestock Production/Industries, Resource /Energy Economics and Policy, |
| Date: | 2012 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iaae12:126174&r=env |
| By: | John Bryant (Vocat International) |
| Abstract: | Chapter from a book entitled Thermoeconomics, A Thermodynamic Approach to Economics (Third Edition), which deals with the relationships between the disciplines of thermodynamics and economics. Chapter 1 covers historical research on the disciplines, the structural comparisons between of the ideal gas equation and the quantity theory. Chapter 2 concerns a general stock model that can be adapted to represent those of money, labour and economic output. Chapter 3 deals with economic representations of the first and second laws of thermodynamics, work done, internal value and entropic value, reversibility, entropy, particular economic processes and utility. Chapter 4 concerns a thermodynamic representation of production processes, reaction kinetics entropy and maximisation and the cycle. Chapter 5 constructs a thermodynamic money system, using historical data of the UK and USA economies to provide empirical analysis. Particular aspects covered include elastic relationships, entropy, and interest rates. Chapter 6 describes aspect of labour and unemployment. Chapter 7 describes the principles of investment and economic entropy, including DCF, annuities and bonds. Chapter 8 sets out analyses of world energy and climate change to illustrate empirically some of the principles covered by the book.Chapter 9 is a discussion of thermoeconomics and sustainability. |
| Keywords: | Thermodynamics, economics, Le Chatelier, entropy, utility, money, equilibrium, value, energy, interest, elasticity, employment, climate change |
| JEL: | A1 C02 C68 D5 E O |
| Date: | 2012–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:voc:wpaper:tech82012&r=env |
| By: | Michel Damian (LEPII - Laboratoire d'Economie de la Production et de l'Intégration Internationale - CNRS : FRE2664 - Université Pierre Mendès-France - Grenoble II) |
| Abstract: | L'article soutient que l'économie du changement climatique est à repenser. La manière dont on a posé le problème et recherché des solutions (coopération internationale " par le haut ", permis CO2, taxe, prix du carbone) est présentée et discutée. Il est montré que la transition énergétique et industrielle qui se dessine témoigne d'un changement de paradigme par rapport à l'économie néoclassique de l'environnement qui a sous-tendu la politique climatique depuis la conférence de Rio en 1992. Sur le plan normatif, l'article défend l'idée que la seule taxation du CO2 envisageable est une taxe non pas Pigouvienne mais à la Marshall, c'est-à-dire une taxe dédiée, de financement, dont le montant ne pourrait être au départ que modeste. |
| Keywords: | ECONOMIE DU CHANGEMENT CLIMATIQUE ; TRANSITION ENERGETIQUE ; POLITIQUE CLIMATIQUE |
| Date: | 2012–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:journl:halshs-00709929&r=env |
| By: | John Bryant (Vocat International) |
| Abstract: | Chapter from a book entitled Thermoeconomics, A Thermodynamic Approach to Economics (Third Edition), which deals with the relationships between the disciplines of thermodynamics and economics. Chapter 1 covers historical research on the disciplines, the structural comparisons between of the ideal gas equation and the quantity theory. Chapter 2 concerns a general stock model that can be adapted to represent those of money, labour and economic output. Chapter 3 deals with economic representations of the first and second laws of thermodynamics, work done, internal value and entropic value, reversibility, entropy, particular economic processes and utility. Chapter 4 concerns a thermodynamic representation of production processes, reaction kinetics entropy and maximisation and the cycle. Chapter 5 constructs a thermodynamic money system, using historical data of the UK and USA economies to provide empirical analysis. Particular aspects covered include elastic relationships, entropy, and interest rates. Chapter 6 describes aspect of labour and unemployment. Chapter 7 describes the principles of investment and economic entropy, including DCF, annuities and bonds. Chapter 8 sets out analyses of world energy and climate change to illustrate empirically some of the principles covered by the book.Chapter 9 is a discussion of thermoeconomics and sustainability. |
| Keywords: | Thermodynamics, economics, Le Chatelier, entropy, utility, money, equilibrium, value, energy, interest, elasticity, employment, climate change |
| JEL: | A1 C02 C68 D5 E O |
| Date: | 2012–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:voc:wpaper:tech12012&r=env |
| By: | John Bryant (Vocat International) |
| Abstract: | Chapter from a book entitled Thermoeconomics, A Thermodynamic Approach to Economics (Third Edition), which deals with the relationships between the disciplines of thermodynamics and economics. Chapter 1 covers historical research on the disciplines, the structural comparisons between of the ideal gas equation and the quantity theory. Chapter 2 concerns a general stock model that can be adapted to represent those of money, labour and economic output. Chapter 3 deals with economic representations of the first and second laws of thermodynamics, work done, internal value and entropic value, reversibility, entropy, particular economic processes and utility. Chapter 4 concerns a thermodynamic representation of production processes, reaction kinetics entropy and maximisation and the cycle. Chapter 5 constructs a thermodynamic money system, using historical data of the UK and USA economies to provide empirical analysis. Particular aspects covered include elastic relationships, entropy, and interest rates. Chapter 6 describes aspect of labour and unemployment. Chapter 7 describes the principles of investment and economic entropy, including DCF, annuities and bonds. Chapter 8 sets out analyses of world energy and climate change to illustrate empirically some of the principles covered by the book.Chapter 9 is a discussion of thermoeconomics and sustainability. |
| Keywords: | Thermodynamics, economics, Le Chatelier, entropy, utility, money, equilibrium, value, energy, interest, elasticity, employment, climate change |
| JEL: | A1 C02 C68 D5 E O |
| Date: | 2012–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:voc:wpaper:tech92012&r=env |
| By: | John Bryant (Vocat International) |
| Abstract: | Chapter from a book entitled Thermoeconomics, A Thermodynamic Approach to Economics (Third Edition), which deals with the relationships between the disciplines of thermodynamics and economics. Chapter 1 covers historical research on the disciplines, the structural comparisons between of the ideal gas equation and the quantity theory. Chapter 2 concerns a general stock model that can be adapted to represent those of money, labour and economic output. Chapter 3 deals with economic representations of the first and second laws of thermodynamics, work done, internal value and entropic value, reversibility, entropy, particular economic processes and utility. Chapter 4 concerns a thermodynamic representation of production processes, reaction kinetics entropy and maximisation and the cycle. Chapter 5 constructs a thermodynamic money system, using historical data of the UK and USA economies to provide empirical analysis. Particular aspects covered include elastic relationships, entropy, and interest rates. Chapter 6 describes aspect of labour and unemployment. Chapter 7 describes the principles of investment and economic entropy, including DCF, annuities and bonds. Chapter 8 sets out analyses of world energy and climate change to illustrate empirically some of the principles covered by the book.Chapter 9 is a discussion of thermoeconomics and sustainability. |
| Keywords: | Thermodynamics, economics, Le Chatelier, entropy, utility, money, equilibrium, value, energy, interest, elasticity, employment, climate change |
| JEL: | A1 C02 C68 D5 E O |
| Date: | 2012–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:voc:wpaper:tech42012&r=env |
| By: | John Bryant (Vocat International) |
| Abstract: | Chapter from a book entitled Thermoeconomics, A Thermodynamic Approach to Economics (Third Edition), which deals with the relationships between the disciplines of thermodynamics and economics. Chapter 1 covers historical research on the disciplines, the structural comparisons between of the ideal gas equation and the quantity theory. Chapter 2 concerns a general stock model that can be adapted to represent those of money, labour and economic output. Chapter 3 deals with economic representations of the first and second laws of thermodynamics, work done, internal value and entropic value, reversibility, entropy, particular economic processes and utility. Chapter 4 concerns a thermodynamic representation of production processes, reaction kinetics entropy and maximisation and the cycle. Chapter 5 constructs a thermodynamic money system, using historical data of the UK and USA economies to provide empirical analysis. Particular aspects covered include elastic relationships, entropy, and interest rates. Chapter 6 describes aspect of labour and unemployment. Chapter 7 describes the principles of investment and economic entropy, including DCF, annuities and bonds. Chapter 8 sets out analyses of world energy and climate change to illustrate empirically some of the principles covered by the book.Chapter 9 is a discussion of thermoeconomics and sustainability. |
| Keywords: | Thermodynamics, economics, Le Chatelier, entropy, utility, money, equilibrium, value, energy, interest, elasticity, employment, climate change |
| JEL: | A1 C02 C68 D5 E O |
| Date: | 2012–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:voc:wpaper:tech32012&r=env |
| By: | Franklin, Bradley; Knapp, Keith C.; Schwabe, Kurt A. |
| Abstract: | Perennial crop production is inherently dynamic due to several salient physical characteristics including an establishment period of several years with low or no yields, long lives in commercial production (40 years or more), and path-dependence of yields on input use and other exogenous factors, such as weather. While perennial crop production is properly regarded as a dynamic investment, the literature on regional agricultural production is typically static or uses simplified two-stage dynamics, and rarely if ever are the dynamic biophysical elements of perennial crops represented. This paper seeks to address some of the shortcomings of the literature by developing a dynamic regional model of irrigated agriculture with representative perennial and annual crops. The model explicitly accounts for the age composition of perennial stocks including crop establishment period and age-dependent yields and input use. The age composition of perennial stocks provides a parallel to forestry economics and allows us to derive a Faustmann rule for perennial crops. The model is applied to wine grape production in the Riverland region of the Murray-Darling Basin (MDB) in Australia. Over two-thirds of irrigated land in the region is typically planted in perennial crops. During the recent severe drought experienced in the MDB, water allocations to farmers in the Riverland were cut drastically leading to a variety of adaptations by perennial crop producers including changes in irrigation at the intensive and extensive margins. The Australian government has responded to the drought by creating a plan to buy water rights which would then be allocated to an environmental water holder with the express purpose of ensuring the long-term sustainability of river-dependent ecosystems and the economic activity which depends upon them. The fact that the plan calls for the purchase of up to 35% of existing water rights in the Riverland underscores the need for a more robust model of perennial production in order to inform policymakers of the potential effects on the agricultural sector. Given the vast majority of agricultural enterprises in Australia are family-owned, we analyze joint consumption and investment decisions of a utility-maximizing representative agricultural household. Borrowing is allowed but the household faces an interest rate schedule that is increasing in the amount of debt held. We explore the dynamic properties of the model including the existence and uniqueness of a steady state and the conditions required for convergence to the steady state or other periodic solutions. The effects of liquidity constraints and annual crop cultivation on the dynamics of the model are explored as well. Because the state-space required for an age-explicit regional model is too large for conventional dynamic programming methods (i.e., the curse of dimensionality), a running horizon algorithm is used to approximate an infinite horizon dynamic programming solution. We investigate the effects of the age structure of initial perennial plantings. Preliminary findings from the deterministic model suggest that maximizing the net present value of profits from agricultural production with an initial age distribution of grapevine stocks different from those at the steady state levels leads to cycles in area planted by vintage and hence quantity supplied of wine grapes. However, given a CRRA utility function, over very long time horizons the cycles in area planted are shown to be dampened oscillations which eventually converge to a steady state with an equal age distribution analogous to a normal forest in the theoretical forestry literature. Since time to convergence increases with age heterogeneity of the initial land distribution and perennial stocks are path-dependent on irrigation history, stochastic water supplies may imply that convergence will rarely occur in practice. Nevertheless, a steady state perennial age distribution may be useful for the analysis of changes in water policy. The impacts from changes in economic and biophysical characteristics are estimated under both deterministic and stochastic frameworks, the latter of which is based on historical water allocations within the region. Finally, the long-run water demand for perennial crops is identified by systematically running simulations over varying water allocation levels and capturing the farmer’s marginal willingness to pay for more water. |
| Keywords: | perennial, dynamic, irrigation, agricultural production, water demand, Australia, Agricultural and Food Policy, Crop Production/Industries, Environmental Economics and Policy, Farm Management, Land Economics/Use, Production Economics, |
| Date: | 2012 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aaea12:125212&r=env |
| By: | John Bryant (Vocat International) |
| Abstract: | Chapter from a book entitled Thermoeconomics, A Thermodynamic Approach to Economics (Third Edition), which deals with the relationships between the disciplines of thermodynamics and economics. Chapter 1 covers historical research on the disciplines, the structural comparisons between of the ideal gas equation and the quantity theory. Chapter 2 concerns a general stock model that can be adapted to represent those of money, labour and economic output. Chapter 3 deals with economic representations of the first and second laws of thermodynamics, work done, internal value and entropic value, reversibility, entropy, particular economic processes and utility. Chapter 4 concerns a thermodynamic representation of production processes, reaction kinetics entropy and maximisation and the cycle. Chapter 5 constructs a thermodynamic money system, using historical data of the UK and USA economies to provide empirical analysis. Particular aspects covered include elastic relationships, entropy, and interest rates. Chapter 6 describes aspect of labour and unemployment. Chapter 7 describes the principles of investment and economic entropy, including DCF, annuities and bonds. Chapter 8 sets out analyses of world energy and climate change to illustrate empirically some of the principles covered by the book.Chapter 9 is a discussion of thermoeconomics and sustainability. |
| Keywords: | Thermodynamics, economics, Le Chatelier, entropy, utility, money, equilibrium, value, energy, interest, elasticity, employment, climate change |
| JEL: | A1 C02 C68 D5 E O |
| Date: | 2012–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:voc:wpaper:tech52012&r=env |
| By: | John Bryant (Vocat International) |
| Abstract: | Chapter from a book entitled Thermoeconomics, A Thermodynamic Approach to Economics (Third Edition), which deals with the relationships between the disciplines of thermodynamics and economics. Chapter 1 covers historical research on the disciplines, the structural comparisons between of the ideal gas equation and the quantity theory. Chapter 2 concerns a general stock model that can be adapted to represent those of money, labour and economic output. Chapter 3 deals with economic representations of the first and second laws of thermodynamics, work done, internal value and entropic value, reversibility, entropy, particular economic processes and utility. Chapter 4 concerns a thermodynamic representation of production processes, reaction kinetics entropy and maximisation and the cycle. Chapter 5 constructs a thermodynamic money system, using historical data of the UK and USA economies to provide empirical analysis. Particular aspects covered include elastic relationships, entropy, and interest rates. Chapter 6 describes aspect of labour and unemployment. Chapter 7 describes the principles of investment and economic entropy, including DCF, annuities and bonds. Chapter 8 sets out analyses of world energy and climate change to illustrate empirically some of the principles covered by the book.Chapter 9 is a discussion of thermoeconomics and sustainability. |
| Keywords: | Thermodynamics, economics, Le Chatelier, entropy, utility, money, equilibrium, value, energy, interest, elasticity, employment, climate change |
| JEL: | A1 C02 C68 D5 E O |
| Date: | 2012–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:voc:wpaper:tech22012&r=env |
| By: | John Bryant (Vocat International) |
| Abstract: | Chapter from a book entitled Thermoeconomics, A Thermodynamic Approach to Economics (Third Edition), which deals with the relationships between the disciplines of thermodynamics and economics. Chapter 1 covers historical research on the disciplines, the structural comparisons between of the ideal gas equation and the quantity theory. Chapter 2 concerns a general stock model that can be adapted to represent those of money, labour and economic output. Chapter 3 deals with economic representations of the first and second laws of thermodynamics, work done, internal value and entropic value, reversibility, entropy, particular economic processes and utility. Chapter 4 concerns a thermodynamic representation of production processes, reaction kinetics entropy and maximisation and the cycle. Chapter 5 constructs a thermodynamic money system, using historical data of the UK and USA economies to provide empirical analysis. Particular aspects covered include elastic relationships, entropy, and interest rates. Chapter 6 describes aspect of labour and unemployment. Chapter 7 describes the principles of investment and economic entropy, including DCF, annuities and bonds. Chapter 8 sets out analyses of world energy and climate change to illustrate empirically some of the principles covered by the book.Chapter 9 is a discussion of thermoeconomics and sustainability. |
| Keywords: | Thermodynamics, economics, Le Chatelier, entropy, utility, money, equilibrium, value, energy, interest, elasticity, employment, climate change |
| JEL: | A1 C02 C68 D5 E O |
| Date: | 2012–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:voc:wpaper:tech72012&r=env |
| By: | John Bryant (Vocat International) |
| Abstract: | Chapter from a book entitled Thermoeconomics, A Thermodynamic Approach to Economics (Third Edition), which deals with the relationships between the disciplines of thermodynamics and economics. Chapter 1 covers historical research on the disciplines, the structural comparisons between of the ideal gas equation and the quantity theory. Chapter 2 concerns a general stock model that can be adapted to represent those of money, labour and economic output. Chapter 3 deals with economic representations of the first and second laws of thermodynamics, work done, internal value and entropic value, reversibility, entropy, particular economic processes and utility. Chapter 4 concerns a thermodynamic representation of production processes, reaction kinetics entropy and maximisation and the cycle. Chapter 5 constructs a thermodynamic money system, using historical data of the UK and USA economies to provide empirical analysis. Particular aspects covered include elastic relationships, entropy, and interest rates. Chapter 6 describes aspect of labour and unemployment. Chapter 7 describes the principles of investment and economic entropy, including DCF, annuities and bonds. Chapter 8 sets out analyses of world energy and climate change to illustrate empirically some of the principles covered by the book.Chapter 9 is a discussion of thermoeconomics and sustainability. |
| Keywords: | Thermodynamics, economics, Le Chatelier, entropy, utility, money, equilibrium, value, energy, interest, elasticity, employment, climate change |
| JEL: | A1 C02 C68 D5 E O |
| Date: | 2012–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:voc:wpaper:tech62012&r=env |
| By: | Saravia-Matus, Silvia L.; Gomez y Paloma, Sergio |
| Abstract: | In a world of environmental limits, sustainable and productive agriculture is crucial to foster socioeconomic development and food security, primarily in low income economies. The purpose of this paper is to examine the challenges and potential opportunities for Latin American countries which are characterised by tropical agriculture and (semi)subsistence farming. Policy support based on institutional coordination, investment in tropic-specific agricultural technology and the promotion of joint private- public initiatives are evaluated and identified as key factors to increase agricultural development. |
| Keywords: | tropical agriculture, latin america, extension services, innovation strategies, Agribusiness, Agricultural and Food Policy, Crop Production/Industries, Farm Management, Q16 - R&D, Agricultural Technology, Biofuels, Agricultural Extension Services Q17 - Agriculture in International Trade Q18 - Agricultural Policy, Food Policy, |
| Date: | 2012–08–20 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iaae12:125439&r=env |
| By: | Kallas, Zein; Baba, Yasmina; Rabell, Maria Cristina |
| Abstract: | This paper explores farmer-specific cultural, social and economic objectives within the extensive rice system in the Kolda region (south of Senegal). We classify and characterize farmers according to the relative importance of their multifunctional goals. The empirical analysis uses farm-level data collected through a face-to-face questionnaire to a sample of rice farmers. The Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) is used to measure farmers’ primary and secondary objectives importance in planning their activities, and Cluster Analysis (CA) to classify and characterize farmers according to their priorities. Results suggest that within the “economic” role, the most important goals are “maximization of total farm income” followed by “improving rice quality”. Farmers are willing to “minimize fertilizers use”, both to reduce cost and to preserve environment. They recognize their potential role in “minimizing illegal immigration”. Results can be useful in guiding policy makers by considering farmers’ priorities at local level |
| Keywords: | Farmers’objectives, Analytical Hierarchy Process(AHP), Agricultural multifunctionality, Rice, Senegal, Agricultural and Food Policy, Community/Rural/Urban Development, Farm Management, Q18, Q19, |
| Date: | 2012 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iaae12:125980&r=env |
| By: | Pauline Lacour (CREG - Centre de recherche en économie de Grenoble - Université Pierre Mendès-France - Grenoble II : EA4625); Jean-Christophe Simon (EDDEN - Economie du développement durable et de l'énergie - CNRS : FRE3389 - Université Pierre Mendès-France - Grenoble II) |
| Abstract: | Les stratégies de développement contemporaines se déploient dans un univers particulièrement incertain - en particulier du fait de la contrainte climatique. Cette contrainte est de plus en plus prise en compte par les pays du Sud comme en témoignent la mobilisation dans le cadre de la convention sur le climat (CNUCC) mais aussi la mise en oeuvre des dispositions du Protocole de Kyoto, et tout particulièrement le Mécanisme de Développement Propre (MDP). A travers l'analyse du MDP, notre contribution examinera l'efficacité du mécanisme pour deux dimensions majeures de la politique climatique des pays en développement : la réduction des émissions sectorielles de gaz à effet de serre, et le transfert des technologies pour fonder une économie "décarbonée". La contribution est basée sur des travaux visant à apprécier la portée des projets MDP dans les stratégies de développement durable des pays en développement. Elle s'appuie sur des rapports récents analysant le fonctionnement du MDP depuis 2005 ainsi que sur les statistiques officielles de l'UNFCCC. Notre travail vise à caractériser la relation entre la diversité des projets MDP et l'intensité des transferts mobilisés entre pays développés financeurs et pays en développement récepteurs. Nous retiendrons une approche à deux niveaux : macro pour un groupe de pays ayant hébergé un nombre significatif de projets et micro à travers une étude détaillée portant sur les projets installés en Chine. |
| Keywords: | développement durable ; protocole de Kyoto ; pays en développement ; politique de développement ; politique climatique ; transfert de technologie ; mécanisme pour un développement propre ; Chine |
| Date: | 2012–06–11 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:journl:halshs-00713067&r=env |
| By: | Ferreira Filho, Joaquim Bento de Souza |
| Abstract: | This paper deals with the social implications of ethanol expansion in Brazil. The evolution of the labor market in sugar cane production in the country is analyzed together with its regional patterns of expansion, to illustrate how the changes in the recent expansion are modifying the traditional pattern of labor demand in the activity. At the same time, the distributional effects of sugar cane expansion, as well as it´s impacts on food security and land use change was approached with the aid of general equilibrium simulation models. The analysis shows that both the average earnings and the average years of schooling in sugar cane production are actually higher than in general agriculture in Brazil, and that this is linked to the fast increase in production in Southeast and Center-west. Sugar cane production in those regions is more capital intensive and has much higher productivity than in other traditional regions in Northeast Brazil. The study concludes that the expansion in sugar cane production in the actual patterns is poverty friendly, and has small impacts on food prices and deforestation. The increase in the regional economic imbalances inside the country seems to be the problem to deserve attention. |
| Keywords: | sugar cane expansion, social impacts, labor market, food security, deforestation., Agricultural and Food Policy, Demand and Price Analysis, Environmental Economics and Policy, Food Security and Poverty, Q15, |
| Date: | 2012 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iaae12:126158&r=env |
| By: | Tisdell, Clement A. |
| Abstract: | The most widely accepted view of sustainable economic development is that it is economic development ensuring that each succeeding generation is no less well off than its predecessor. This mainstream approach, however, has several limitations. It can, for example, result in a development path being chosen in which at least some generations could be better off with none being worse off, that is a Paretian inefficient development path. The above mentioned criterion for sustainable development has been justified on the basis of Rawls’ principle of justice, even though the Paretian inefficient case mentioned is inconsistent with this principle. Nonetheless, even if Rawls’ principle is correctly applied to economic development choices, it is doubtful whether it would result in the most desirable social outcome. An alternative criterion is suggested. Apart from this, Rawls’ principle is anthropocentric and influenced by implicit cosmic assumptions. There are also several other philosophical and practical issues that need to be resolved in planning for sustainable development. These include how many future generations should be taken into account in undertaking planning for sustainable development? Should the welfare of each count equally or should less weight be put on the welfare of more distant generations than less distant ones? Is the latter necessary because of greater uncertainty about more distant events or because current generations only feel empathy for their children and grandchildren? Issues involving these matters have, for example, been raised by Herman Daly and by David Pearce. A related matter is what role should discount rates play in planning for sustainable development. For example, is the use of a low or zero social discount rate appropriate in sustainable development planning? Even the application of zero discount rates to human welfare may fail to result in the choice of an optimal development path. Dealing with the presence of uncertainty about future events (which tends to increase for predictions further into the future) remains a major challenge for sustainable development planning. How should this uncertainty be allowed for? Furthermore, it is necessary to consider the implications of bounded rationality for the processes involved in sustainable development planning, and this aspect is also discussed. |
| Keywords: | coefficient of concern for future generation, discounting, intergenerational equity, Rawls’ principle of justice, sustainable development, time horizons, Environmental Economics and Policy, Food Security and Poverty, |
| Date: | 2012–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:uqseee:125210&r=env |
| By: | Lindner, Robert K. |
| Abstract: | Since 1987, ACIAR has invested in collaborative research projects between Australian and Indonesian scientists, with the aim of improving plantation forestry in both countries. This presentation is derived from report on a cost–benefit study to assess economic impacts from this investment. For more detail, see Lindner (2011). Based on conservative assumptions about uptake of outputs of the “Australian trees projects” by Indonesian pulpwood plantations, the present value of benefits could eventually be as high as A$11,148 million from an investment by ACIAR and partners of less than A$20 million. |
| Keywords: | Economic Impact, Plantation Forestry, Research, Indonesian, International Development, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies, |
| Date: | 2012 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iaae12:126197&r=env |
| By: | Steffen JENNER; Lotte OVAERE; Stephan SCHINDELE |
| Abstract: | In the last two decades, many U.S. states introduced support policies to promote electricity generation from renewable energy sources. Renewable portfolio standards are their most popular policy choices to date. This paper tackles the question why some state legislators were front-running the trend of RPS implementation while others adopted policies just recently, and again others have not incentivized investment so far. In short, what drives states to support renewable energy? We base our empirical analysis on theoretical reasoning. First, we present an application of the common agency model developed by Dixit et al. (1997) to better understand the impact of special industrial interests on policy decision-making. Second, we compile data on financial contributions of conventional energy interests (CEI) and renewable energy interests (REI) to state-level policymakers between 1998 and 2006. Third, in a series of panel, hazard and tobit regressions, we test the impact of these financial contributions on (i) the probability of a state to adopt a RPS policy and (ii) on the stringency of the RPS. We also control for state effects, time trends, and a set of socio-economic and political covariates. Combining our empirical framework with the theoretical model produces key insights into U.S. state level energy policy making. First, CEI have donated over-proportionally to state-level legislators affiliated with the Republican party while contributions from REI went largely to Democrats. Second, we reveal statistically significant links between the likelihood of RPS adoption and private interest contributions. Financial contributions from CEI have a negative impact on the likelihood of RPS adoption while REI contributions have a positive impact. Third, the estimates show a similar – albeit less significant – pattern on RPS stringency. |
| Date: | 2012–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ete:ceswps:ces12.09&r=env |
| By: | Olssen, Alex (Motu Economic and Public Policy Research); Zhang, Wei (Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry); Evison, David (New Zealand School of Forestry, University of Canterbury); Kerr, Suzi C. (Motu Economic and Public Policy Research) |
| Abstract: | In this paper, we construct a dataset of annual expected forest profits in New Zealand from 1990–2008 at a fine spatial resolution. We do not include land values in any of our profit calculations. We estimate four measures of expected forest profits based around net present value (NPV), land expectation value (LEV), equal annual equivalent (EAE), and internal rate of return (IRR). Our estimates of expected profits are based on the assumption that land owners form their expectations adaptively; that is, they use recent data on prices and costs to form expectations. We illustrate our data by showing regional variation in each of our measures, changes over time in NPV on land in forest in 2008, and variation in NPV over space in 2008. The final dataset, working datasets, and the code used in this work are publicly available to the research community and can be accessed from the authors’ website: http://www.motu.org.nz/building-capacity /dataset/u10073_forest_profit_expectatio ns_dataset. |
| Keywords: | Forestry; expected profits; expected investment returns; New Zealand; dataset |
| JEL: | Q5 Q15 Q23 Q24 |
| Date: | 2012–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:mtu:wpaper:12_07&r=env |
| By: | Carson, Richard T; Murray, Jason H. |
| Abstract: | Fisheries are subject to multiple forms of uncertainty. One of these, parameter uncertainty, has been largely ignored in the fisheries economics literature even though it is known elsewhere (e.g., macroeconomics) to play an important role in models with a similar structure. We model management of a renewable resource with unknown growth parameters and simulate estimation of the key parameters of the growth equation. Even with predictability high by typical standards and the true data generating process serving as the model, management of the fishery is problematic. A simple heuristic alternative making less intensive use of the data performs better. |
| Keywords: | Economics, Other, Fishery management, simulation, estimation |
| Date: | 2012–04–01 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cdl:ucsdec:qt8bw0b76s&r=env |
| By: | Patrick Criqui (LEPII - Laboratoire d'Économie de la Production et de l'Intégration Internationale - CNRS : FRE3389 - Université Pierre Mendès-France - Grenoble II); Alban Kitous (IPTS - European Joint Research Center - Commission européenne) |
| Abstract: | L'avenir du climat planétaire à long terme se jouera au cours des prochaines décennies. Alors que le développement économique s'est fondé depuis deux siècles sur le développement massif des énergies fossiles, la question majeure pour l'énergie au XXIe siècle est certainement celle de la transition vers des systèmes énergétiques bas carbone. Cela supposera des transformations profondes, voire des ruptures, dans les variables structurelles qui caractérisent le développement énergétique de chaque région du monde, en particulier l'intensité énergétique du PIB et l'intensité en carbone du mix énergétique. L'accumulation des gaz à effet de serre dans l'atmosphère et donc le climat pour les générations futures dépendra directement de la capacité de la communauté internationale à se mobiliser pour mettre en œuvre rapidement les bifurcations nécessaires. |
| Keywords: | TRANSITION ENERGETIQUE ; CHANGEMENT CLIMATIQUE ; MIX ENERGETIQUE |
| Date: | 2012–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:journl:halshs-00709938&r=env |
| By: | Arndt, Channing; Benfica, Rui M.S.; Thurlow, James |
| Abstract: | We use a gendered dynamic CGE model to assess the implications of biofuels expansion in a low-income, land-abundant setting. Mozambique is chosen as a representative case. We compare scenarios with different gender employment intensities in producing jatropha feedstock for biodiesel. Under all scenarios, biofuels investments accelerate GDP growth and reduce poverty. However, a stronger trade-off between biofuels and food availability emerges when female labor is used intensively, as women are drawn away from food production. A skills-shortage amongst female workers also limits poverty reduction. Policy simulations indicate that only modest improvements in women’s education and food crop yields are needed to address food security concerns and ensure broader-based benefits from biofuels investments. |
| Keywords: | Biofuels, gender, growth, poverty, land abundance, Africa, Food Security and Poverty, Resource /Energy Economics and Policy, |
| Date: | 2012 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iaae12:125395&r=env |
| By: | Serra, Teresa |
| Abstract: | In this article, a review of the price transmission literature addressing volatility interactions between biofuel and food and fossil fuel markets is presented. The data used, the modeling techniques and the main findings of this literature are discussed. Future extensions of this flourishing research area are proposed and late developments introduced. |
| Keywords: | time series, biofuels, volatility, literature review, Agricultural and Food Policy, Demand and Price Analysis, Resource /Energy Economics and Policy, q11, c32, q42, |
| Date: | 2012 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iaae12:126057&r=env |
| By: | Catherine Figuière (CREG - Centre de recherche en économie de Grenoble - Université Pierre Mendès-France - Grenoble II : EA4625); Renaud Metereau (CREG - Centre de recherche en économie de Grenoble - Université Pierre Mendès-France - Grenoble II : EA4625) |
| Abstract: | L'objectif de cet article est de poser les premiers jalons d'une endogénéisation anticipée de la contrainte environnementale dans les stratégies de développement des zones rurales pauvres, dans la perspective de garantir la "souveraineté alimentaire" des pays concernés. La démarche retenue vise à combiner principalement le principe de circularité de l'Écologie Industrielle avec les démarches de type Syal. Les bases d'une organisation systémique localisée et durable de la production, centrée sur le secteur de l'agroalimentaire. |
| Keywords: | développement durable ; développement rural ; écologie ; système de production ; production agricole ; économie territoriale ; système agroalimentaire localisé ; écologie industrielle |
| Date: | 2012–06–11 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:journl:halshs-00709817&r=env |