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on Environmental Economics |
| By: | Marc, GERMAIN |
| Abstract: | L’article vise à déterminer les impacts d’une politique de réduction des émissions polluantes dans le cadre d’un modèle d’une petite économie ouverte, comprenant deux régions et deux secteurs, avec croissance endogène. L’un des deux secteurs est relativement polluant et l’une des deux régions est plus spécialisée dans la production de ce secteur. L’impact de la politique environnementale sur les secteurs dépend crucialement de leurs taux de croissance respectifs, qui dépendent à leur tour de leurs dotations initiales de capital respectives. Des résultats à priori contre-intuitifs sont possibles. Si le taux de croissance du secteur intensif en émissions polluantes est suffisamment faible et inversément pour l’autre secteur, alors le secteur relativement plus polluant est moins affecté par la politique environnementale que l’autre secteur. De même, la région la plus spécialisée dans la production du bien polluant est moins affectée que l’autre région par la politique de réduction des émissions, si elle se caractérise par des taux de croissance sectoriels suffisamment faibles en regard de ceux de l’autre région. |
| Date: | 2005–04–15 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ctl:louvec:2005010&r=env |
| By: | Marc, GERMAIN; Alphonse, MAGNUS; Vincent, VAN STEENBERGHE |
| Abstract: | Under the Kyoto Protocol, industrialized countries committed to emission reductions may fullfil part of their obligations by implementing emission reduction projects in developing countries. In doing so, they make use of the so-called Clean Development Mechansim (CDM). Two important issues surround the implementation of the CDM. First, if the cheapest abatment measures are implemented for CDM projects, developing countries may be left with only more expensive measures when they have to meet their own commitments in the future (the so-called low-hanging fruits issue). Second, a choice must be made on the type of baseline against which emission reductions are measured : an absolute baseline or a relative (to output) one (the baseline issue). The purpose of this paper is to study the interactions between these two issues from the point of view of the developing country. Two major results are obtained. First, when possible future commitments for developing countries and irreversibility of abatement measures are taken into account, we show that the industry where CDM projects are implemented enjoys large profits under an absolute baseline than under a relative one. Second, concerning the low-hanging fruits problem, the financial compensation required by the developing country for implementing ‘too many’ CDM projects is larger under the relative baseline. |
| Date: | 2004–12–22 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ctl:louvec:2005022&r=env |
| By: | Blam Inna |
| Abstract: | This paper employs the Russia Longitudinal Monitoring Survey (RLMS) to examine changes in Russian households' averting behavior against air and drinking water pollution and their willingness to pay additional money to the federal or local government for cleaner environment over the period 1994–1998. The empirical analysis demonstrates that the households income and the local environmental pollution do influence the respondent's decision on both averting behavior and his or her willingness to pay for cleaner air and drinking water. Also, the individual's life expectancy, living conditions, and knowledge about the negative impact of polluted environment (higher or serious illness thought to be caused by pollution in the respondent's family) are found to be significant determinants of the probability of the willingness to pay for environmental goods. |
| Keywords: | Russia, willingness to pay for better higher environmental quality, averting behavior |
| JEL: | D12 Q53 |
| Date: | 2005–05–26 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:eer:wpalle:05-08e&r=env |
| By: | Francisco Alvarez; Gustavo A. Marrero; Luis A. Puch |
| Abstract: | This paper analyzes the role of macroeconomic performance in shaping the evolution of air pollutants in a panel of European countries from 1990 to 2000. The analysis is addressed in connection with EU environmental regulation. We start by documenting the patterns of cross-country differences among different pollutants. We then interpret these differences within a neoclassical growth model with pollution. Three main pieces of evidence are presented. First, we analyze the existence of convergence of pollution levels within European economies. Second, we rank countries according to its performance in terms of emissions and growth. Third, we evaluate the evolution of emissions in terms of the targets signed for 2010. |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fda:fdaddt:2005-10&r=env |
| By: | Trudy Ann Cameron (Department of Economics, University of Oregon); Ian McConnaha (Student, Department of Economics, University of Oregon) |
| Abstract: | In hedonic property value models, economists typically assume that changing perceptions of environmental risk should be captured by changes in housing prices. However, for long-lived environmental problems, we find that many other features of neighborhoods seem to change as well, because households relocate in response to changes in perceived environmental quality. We consider spatial patterns in census variables over three decades in the vicinity of four Superfund sites. We find many examples of moving and staying behavior, inferred from changes in the relative concentrations of a wide range of socio-demographic groups in census tracts near the site versus farther away. |
| Keywords: | hedonic property values, environmental disamenities |
| JEL: | Q53 R31 R11 |
| Date: | 2005–01–01 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ore:uoecwp:2005-7&r=env |
| By: | Trommetter, M. |
| Abstract: | This paper examines three main questions: Is it possible to create a market for genetic resources? Is it a perfectly or an imperfectly competitive market? What impact could this market have on the management of Biodiversity in the context of sustainable development? The author analyses the conditions for "access" and "use" of knowledge of genetic resources and the genetic resources themselves. Then he considers the consequences on the management of genetic resources and social welfare trends in the context of sustainable development. He presents product and technology transfers in terms of access and user rights. He shows that the lack of information on the quality of biological resources and on their value on both the demand and supply sides lead to an imperfect market model. He examines how benefit-sharing can be achieved via public research institutions in developed countries and the conditions of their access to private patent licences. The main conclusion of this paper is that a valorisation of developing countries' genetic resources is a means, among others, of accomplishing a sustainable management of biodiversity by an equitable access and benefit-sharing from the use of biodiversity: direct use of natural and biological resources; valorisation of genetic resources; development of new economic sectors, Etc. Furthermore, it enables taking part in the economic and social development of these countries (increasing the social welfare in a context of sustainable development) by widening the access to genetic resources. |
| Keywords: | BIODIVERSITY; BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY; GENETIC RESOURCES; INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHT; PATENT |
| JEL: | Q57 Q20 |
| Date: | 2004 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:rea:gaelwp:200418&r=env |
| By: | Mollard, A.; Rambonilaza, M.; Vollet, D. |
| Abstract: | Site-specific characteristics are attributes of tourism services for consumers and a factor influencing their costs and quality for producers. These services are a fine illustration of territorial rents. Using estimates from hedonic price equations, we test the role of environmental/territorial variables as services differentiation tools in the context of a non-competitive market, and recover the value of territorial rent generated by tourism managers' strategies. Two territories of reference are chosen, one currently benefiting from the renewed interest of the public, and a usual tourist destination. The results of a comparative analysis suggest that tourists' preferences for new destinations, combined with firms' strategies generate some catching up effect by emerging territories. |
| Keywords: | ENVIRONMENTAL VALUATION; HEDONIC METHOD; SERVICE DIFFERENTIATION; TOURISM |
| JEL: | Q21 Q26 R14 |
| Date: | 2004 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:rea:gaelwp:200427&r=env |
| By: | Lacroix, A.; Bel, F.; Mollard, A.; Sauboua, E. |
| Abstract: | Owing to increasing environmental concerns the current trend is to bend technical production systems in order to adapt them to the specific characteristics of the milieu and diversify them. Inherent to such dynamics is the issue of how to design the accompanying environmental policies. Theoretically, spatially targeted environmental policies are considered optimal, since economic agents tune their efforts according to the sensitivity of the milieu where they operate. But, according to empirical analyses, this advantage is undermined by the high cost of implementation, monitoring and enforcement. This paper outlines the conditions required for site-specific policies to be effective at least cost. Our starting point is the nitrate pollution of water from agriculture, which varies according to climate, soil type and agricultural production system. Farm management practices enabling to reduce pollution depend on this variability. An interdisciplinary study of the efficiency of differentiating the way this pollution is regulated was carried out on two sites in France. It focussed on assessing the importance of spatial variability in physical parameters and in private and social costs. |
| Keywords: | NONPOINT POLLUTION; SITE SPECIFIC TECHNOLOGY; SITE SPECIFIC ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY; ABATEMENT COST; TRANSACTION COST |
| JEL: | C15 H71 Q16 Q25 |
| Date: | 2004 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:rea:gaelwp:2004df&r=env |
| By: | Amelia Pérez Zabaleta (UNED) |
| Abstract: | This paper examines sater subsidies and their influence in consumption and demand on water. Actually, water prizes don't allow the full cost recovery as it's established in the Water Frame Directive of the European Union. In this sense, prizes policy doesn't give adequate information and incentives to consumers. There are different types of subsidies: Direct, indirect and cross subsidies between users ans indeed between countries. A new way of cross subsidies is due to chages of virtual water between countries because of the water that is incorporated in products. We describeb some examples of subsidies in Spain and all over the worl. Water subsidies are perverse when they don't pursuit an objective and the distort the market. Nevertheless, it's necessary to go to positive subsidies in order to achieve a water and an environmental sustainable policy. |
| Keywords: | water economics subsidies water policy |
| JEL: | P Q Z |
| Date: | 2005–05–25 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wpa:wuwpot:0505015&r=env |
| By: | Amelia Pérez Zabaleta (UNED); Enrique San Martín González (UNED) |
| Abstract: | La gestión del agua requiere una información específica que permita afrontar correctamente su particularidad. La contabilidad ambiental es uno de los sistemas que proporciona esta información. La contabiliad verde o ambiental pretende suministrarnos el conocimiento necesario sobre las relaciones entre el hombre y la naturaleza que nos permita gestionar de forma más eficiente los recursos naturales, tanto en términos cuantitativos y cualitativos como monetarios, tanto en términos económicos como ambientales. En eta comunicación vamos a analizar las principales experiencias internacionales en contabilización de recursos hídricos, analizando en mayor profundidad las de la Unión Europea y, mas concretamente, el caso español. Para ello, nos centraremos en los dos trabajos más completos sobre contabilidad del agua que se han realizado en España, Las Cuentas del Agua españolas elaboradas por Naredo y Gascó en 1995 y las Cuentas Satélite del Agua del INE para el periodo 1997- 1999. |
| Keywords: | agua economía contabilidad ambiental cuentas del agua |
| JEL: | P Q Z |
| Date: | 2005–05–25 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wpa:wuwpot:0505016&r=env |
| By: | Eric Iksoon Im (Department of Economics, University of Hawaii at Hilo); Ujjayant Chakravorty (Department of Economics, University of Central Florida, Orlando); James Roumasset (Department of Economics, University of Hawaii at Manoa) |
| Abstract: | This paper examines the sequence of optimal extraction of nonrenewable resources in the presence of multiple demands. We provide conditions under which extraction of a nonrenewable resource may be discontinuous over the course of its depletion. |
| Keywords: | backstop technology, dynamic optimization, energy resources, Herfindahl principle, multiple demands |
| JEL: | Q3 Q4 |
| Date: | 2005 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hai:wpaper:200509&r=env |
| By: | José Manuel Madeira Belbute (Department of Economics, University of Évora); Miguel Rocha de Sousa (Department of Economics, University of Évora) |
| Abstract: | In this paper we study an endogenous growth model with habit-formation and address two questions that are, to the best of our knowledge, new for the sustainable endogenous growth literature: first, does the process of habit-formation in‡uence the stock of environmental capital? Second, does habit-formation a¤ects the long-term rate of economic growth? Using a simple and standard structure of the endogenous growth models, we first show that there may be multiple equilibria, not all stable. Second, the presence of habits in relation to the consumption goods lowers the long term equilibrium level of natural capital and the growth rate of the economy. Third, we highlight the possibility of "win-win" situations. Finally, we show that the presence of habits reduces the effectiveness of any environmental policy that is meant to improve environmental quality. In particular, the stronger the inertia effect, the lesser will be the equilibrium levels of natural capital and the greater will be the net flow of pollutant emissions. At the same time, the economy will grow at a lower rate. |
| JEL: | C61 D11 D90 Q21 |
| Date: | 2005 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:evo:wpecon:8_2005&r=env |
| By: | Harounan Kazianga (Columbia University); Christopher Udry (Yale University) |
| Abstract: | This paper explores the extent of consumption smoothing between 1981 and 1985 in rural Burkina Faso. In particular, we examine the extent to which livestock, grain storage and interhousehold transfers are used to smooth consumption against income risk. The survey coincided with a period of severe drought, so that the results provide direct evidence on the effectiveness of these various insurance mechanisms when they are the most needed. We find evidence of little consumption smoothing. In particular, there is almost no risk sharing, and households rely almost exclusively on self-insurance in the form of adjustments to grain stocks to smooth out consumption. The outcome, however, is far from complete smoothing. Hence the main risk-coping strategies, which are hypothesized in the literature (risk sharing and buffer stock), were not effective during the survey period. |
| Keywords: | Livestock, consumption smoothing, permanent income hypothesis, precautionary saving, risk sharing |
| JEL: | D91 O16 |
| Date: | 2004–11 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:egc:wpaper:898&r=env |