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on Environmental Economics |
| By: | L. Lambertini; A. Mantovani; E. Scorcu |
| Date: | 2007–11 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:bol:bodewp:615&r=env |
| By: | Schroter, Dagmar; Patt , Anthony G. |
| Abstract: | Policies to promote adaptation climate risks often rely on the willing cooperation of the intended beneficiaries. If these beneficiaries disagree with policy makers and programme managers about the need for adaptation, or the effectiveness of the measures they are being asked to undertake, then implementation of the policies will fail. A case study of a resettlement programme in Mozambique shows this to be the case. Farmers and policy-maker disagreed about the seriousness of climate risks, and the potential negative consequences of proposed adaptive measures. A project to provide more information about climate change to farmers did not change their beliefs. The results highlight the need for active dialog across stakeholder groups, as a necessary condition for formulating policies that can then be successfully implemented. |
| Keywords: | Hazard Risk Management,Environmental Economics & Policies,Climate Change,Population Policies,Rural Poverty Reduction |
| Date: | 2007–11–01 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:4417&r=env |
| By: | Paul Lanoie; Stefan Ambec; Iain Scott |
| Abstract: | <P>According to widely held beliefs, environmental protection is associated with an increase in costs for businesses imposed by the government. Over the last decade, this view has been challenged by a number of analysts. They have identified many possibilities, from a conceptual or theoretical point of view, whereby firms could offset the costs of sustaining the environment with higher profits.<br>First, a better environmental performance can lead to an increase in revenues through the following channels: i) a better access to certain markets; ii) the possibility to differentiate products, and iii) the possibility to sell pollution-control technology. Second, a better environmental performance can lead to cost reductions in the following categories: iv) regulatory costs; v) cost of material, energy and services; vi) cost of capital, and vii) cost of labour.<br>The purpose of this report is to provide empirical evidence supporting the existence of these opportunities and to assess their magnitude. For each of the seven possibilities identified above, we provide a discussion of the mechanisms involved and a systematic view of the empirical evidence available. The objective of this paper is not to show that a reduction of pollution is always accompanied by a better financial performance, it is rather to argue that the expenses incurred to reduce pollution can sometimes be partly or completely compensated by gains made elsewhere. Through a systematic examination of all the possibilities, we want to identify the circumstances most likely to lead to a “winwin” situation, i.e., better environmental and financial performance. |
| Date: | 2007–11–01 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cir:cirbur:2007rb-03&r=env |
| By: | Menon, Sudha Venu |
| Abstract: | Groundwater constitutes about 89% of the total fresh water resources in the planet. But in recent years, due to over exploitation of ground water and erratic nature of monsoon, there has been depletion of ground water across the world. Depletion of ground water has reached to the extent that it is virtually impossible to get the water table back. Even though there is a possibility of recharge of water from the other areas, the process is very slow and may take one year to replenish one meter. In view of this management of ground water has become one of the most significant issues in recent times. Added to it, there are also environmental problems such as aqua for mining, salt water intrusion, stream base flow reduction etc. For several reasons the efficient management of ground water resources through market mechanism has become difficult. Against this context the present article attempts to analyze the need for sustainable ground water management in India. The article also briefly discusses the concept of sustainable ground water management, factors affecting ground water availability, different approaches towards developing and using available ground water with out adversely affecting the hydro-geological balance. Further, the paper highlights strategies for sustainable groundwater management, including development of aquifers, rainwater harvesting and artificial recharge methods. The article offers some relevant policy recommendations for sustainable groundwater management in India. |
| Keywords: | Ground water; India; Water |
| JEL: | Q25 |
| Date: | 2007–10–15 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:6078&r=env |
| By: | Nina S. Jones (University of Washington); Eric Zivot; University of Washington |
| Abstract: | Using an array of unit root and structural break tests we find that the trend behavior of two air pollutants, Nitrogen Oxides (NOX) and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), is substantially different. VOCs emissions are found to be trend-stationary with a break at the time the Clean Air Act of 1970 was passed whereas NOX emissions are found to be difference-stationary. The presence and location of a trend break in the NOX emissions depends on the test used, whether the break date is known or unknown in advance, the null hypothesis specification, and on data transformations. |
| Date: | 2007–11 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:udb:wpaper:uwec-2007-33&r=env |
| By: | Paul Lanoie; Stefan Ambec; Iain Scott |
| Abstract: | <P>Selon des croyances largement répandues, la protection de l’environnement est associée à une hausse des coûts imposés aux entreprises par le gouvernement. Au cours de la dernière décennie, ce point de vue a été contesté par un grand nombre d’analystes. Ces derniers ont cerné de nombreuses possibilités, d’un point de vue conceptuel ou théorique, de compenser les coûts par des bénéfices plus élevés les efforts des entreprises en vue d’assurer la durabilité de l’environnement.<br>Tout d’abord, une meilleure performance environnementale peut mener à une augmentation des revenus et ce, par les canaux suivants : i) un meilleur accès à certains marchés, ii) la possibilité de différencier les produits et iii) la possibilité de vendre les technologies liées au contrôle de la pollution. En second lieu, une meilleure performance environnementale peut se traduire par des réductions de coûts dans les catégories suivantes : iv) coûts liés à la réglementation, v) coûts liés au matériel, à l’énergie et aux services, vi) coût des capitaux et vii) coût de la maind’oeuvre.<BR>Le présent rapport a pour objectif de fournir l’évidence empirique de l’existence de ces opportunités et d’évaluer leur ampleur. Pour chacune des sept possibilités précitées, nous étudions les mécanismes inhérents et proposons un survol systématique de l’évidence empirique existante. Ce rapport ne cherche pas à démontrer qu’une réduction de la pollution est toujours accompagnée d’une meilleure performance financière ; il défend plutôt l’argument selon lequel les dépenses encourues dans le but de réduire la pollution peuvent parfois être partiellement ou entièrement compensées par des gains provenant d’autres sources. Par un examen systématique de toutes les possibilités, nous désirons établir les circonstances les plus susceptibles de mener à une situation « gagnant-gagnant », soit une meilleure performance sur les plans environnemental et financier. |
| Date: | 2007–11–01 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cir:cirbur:2007rb-02&r=env |
| By: | Patrick Criqui (LEPII - Laboratoire d'Économie de la Production et de l'Intégration Internationale - CNRS : UMR5252 - Université Pierre Mendès-France - Grenoble II); Alain Grandjean (Société Capitalisme Durable - Société Capitalisme Durable) |
| Abstract: | La division par quatre des émissions de gaz à effet de serre à l’horizon 2050 est inscrite dans la loi programme des orientations de la politique énergétique du 13 juillet 2005 (loi POPE). C’est un point de repère incontournable pour les politiques énergie-climat en France. Or des extraits du rapport Syrota pour le Centre d’Analyse Stratégique viennent remettre en cause ce point de repère, et ce au nom du réalisme : seule une réduction par deux serait possible dans les quarante prochaines années. |
| Keywords: | POLITIQUE CLIMATIQUE |
| Date: | 2007–10–19 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:papers:halshs-00188848_v1&r=env |
| By: | Constantina Kottaridi; Fragkiskos Filippaios |
| Abstract: | Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and its agents, i.e. Multinational Corporations (MNCs), are understood to play a major role in the economic development of nations through their impact on trade and their ability to generate jobs and to produce new knowledge through technological and managerial advances (UNCTC, 2003). This article maps economic activities of MNCs in United Kingdom and presents an empirical formulation of investors’ decision-making. A McFadden’s conditional logit model was incorporated to test for the model’s predictions, based on location decisions of 6348 plants in UK’s counties for 2004. Estimation results suggest that firms’ choices can be modelled in terms of economic factors prevailing locally. |
| Keywords: | UK Regions, subsidiaries, environmental determinism, location choice |
| Date: | 2007 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:uop:wpaper:010&r=env |
| By: | Sirieix, L.; Santiago de Abreu, L.; Aico Watanabe, M.; Kledal, P.R. |
| Abstract: | Despite numerous studies reporting on sustainable consumption or organic consumer profiles, there is a gap in thorough understanding of organic consumers in different places, since most of studies only investigate organic consumption in most developed countries. The goal of this paper is thus to compare French and Brazilian organic consumers, so as to know if people think and behave differently or similarly in different places. Individual interviews were conducted in each country, with consumers in organic producers market in Brazil, and consumers who buy organic products from farmers markets or local organic food network in France. Products were selected to cover examples of different choice situations such as imported organic products that compete with comparable products of local origin, or organic local products in supermarkets that compete with similar products from other distribution outlets. Results show common consumer concerns such as quality or personal and family health, and common preference for local and organic products but for different reasons. However, results also shed light on different patterns related to environmental concerns or commitment to supporting small or local farmers. The impacts of the findings of this study relate to a diversity of topics such as social mobilization for sustainable agriculture, local organic food networks and environmental concerns. ...French Abstract : De nombreuses recherches portent sur la consommation durable et le profil des consommateurs de produits biologiques, mais ces recherches portent sur la consommation dans les pays développés, et ne permettent pas de savoir s'il existe des différences de consommation entre pays développés et pays en développement. Le but de cet article est de comparer le comportement de consommateurs de produits biologiques en France et au Brésil, sur la base d'entretiens individuels permettant de comparer plusieurs situations de choix : produits biologiques importés en concurrence avec des produits locaux comparables, produits biologiques locaux disponibles en supermarché ou d'en d'autres circuits de distribution,... Les résultats mettent en évidence des attentes communes, comme la qualité ou la santé, et des préférences partagées pour les produits biologiques et locaux, mais pour des raisons différentes dans les deux échantillons. Les résultats montrent également que l'importance accordée aux préoccupations environnementales et au soutien aux petits producteurs locaux n'est pas la même dans les deux échantillons. Cette recherche conduit à des pistes de réflexion portant sur la mobilisation des consommateurs pour la consommation durable, les réseaux de production et consommation de produits biologiques et les préoccupations environnementales des consommateurs. |
| Keywords: | ORGANIC FOOD; LOCAL FOOD; SUSTAINABLE CONSUMPTION; QUALITATIVE STUDY |
| JEL: | D1 D8 M31 Q01 |
| Date: | 2007 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:umr:wpaper:200704&r=env |
| By: | Yves Crozet (LET - Laboratoire d'économie des transports - CNRS : UMR5593 - Université Lumière - Lyon II - Ecole Nationale des Travaux Publics de l'Etat) |
| Abstract: | Après avoir longtemps été proposé, sans succès, par les économistes comme un moyen de réduire la congestion routière, le péage urbain connaît un regain d’intérêt. Des villes comme Londres et Stockholm l’ont instauré, beaucoup d’autres s’interrogent. Ce que montrent ces expériences, c’est la grande diversité des objectifs que recèle l’idée de péage urbain. Dans cet ensemble, ce n’est pas forcément la dimension environnementale qui va l’emporter, mais plutôt une logique patrimoniale qui cherche à protéger la ville des effets pervers, non pas tant de la congestion que de la vitesse automobile. |
| Keywords: | péage urbain ; coûts de congestion ; tarification différenciée ; politique des transports urbains |
| Date: | 2007 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:papers:halshs-00192205_v1&r=env |
| By: | Klaus Moeltner (Department of Resource Economics, University of Nevada, Reno); Richard T. Woodward (Department of Agricultural Economics, Texas A&M University) |
| Abstract: | This study applies functional Benefit Transfer via Meta-Regression Modeling to derive valuation estimates for wetlands in an actual policy setting of proposed groundwater transfers in Eastern Nevada. We illustrate how Bayesian estimation techniques can be used to overcome small sample problems notoriously present in Meta-functional Benefit Transfer. The highlights of our methodology are (i) The hierarchical modeling of heteroskedasticity, (ii) The ability to incorporate additional information via refined priors, and (ii) The derivation of measures of model performance with the corresponding option of model-averaged Benefit Transfer predictions. Our results indicate that economic losses associated with the disappearance of these wetlands can be substantial and that primary valuation studies are warranted. |
| Keywords: | Bayesian Model Averaging; t-Error Regression Model; Meta-Analysis; Benefit Transfer; Wetland Valuation |
| JEL: | C11 C15 Q51 |
| Date: | 2007–12 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:unr:wpaper:07-012&r=env |
| By: | Klaus Moeltner (Department of Resource Economics, University of Nevada, Reno); Randall S. Rosenberger (Department of Forest Resources, Oregon State University) |
| Abstract: | Meta-functional Benefit Transfer, while conceptually attractive, is often plagued by the paucity of available source studies and related small sample problems. A broadening of scope of the Meta-Regression Model by adding data from “related, yet different” contexts or activities may circumvent these issues, but may not necessarily enhance the efficiency of transfer functions if the different contexts do not share policy-relevant parameters. We illustrate how different combinations of contexts can be interpreted as ‘data spaces’ which can then be explored for the most promising transfer function using Bayesian Model Search techniques. Our results indicate that for some scope-augmented data spaces model-averaged benefit predictions can be more efficient than those flowing from the baseline context and data. |
| Keywords: | Bayesian Model Averaging; Stochastic Search Variable Selection; Meta-Analysis; Benefit Transfer; Resource Valuation |
| JEL: | C11 C15 Q51 |
| Date: | 2007–12 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:unr:wpaper:07-011&r=env |
| By: | Catherine Figuière (LEPII - Laboratoire d'Économie de la Production et de l'Intégration Internationale - CNRS : UMR5252 - Université Pierre Mendès-France - Grenoble II); Michel Rocca (LEPII - Laboratoire d'Économie de la Production et de l'Intégration Internationale - CNRS : UMR5252 - Université Pierre Mendès-France - Grenoble II) |
| Abstract: | Les emplois intégrant certaines dimensions du développement durable se développent, même si leur affichage n'est pas toujours limpide. Ce texte se propose de discuter des enjeux de cet accroissement dans le domaine des postes proposés aux économistes. Il poursuit un double objectif : d'une part, caractériser la grande variété des profils de postes auxquels peuvent prétendre des économistes "formés au développement durable" à l'Université ; d'autre part, souligner la nécessité d'une formation articulant des connaissances spécifiques au développement durable et la maîtrise d'outils transversaux, afin d'armer de jeunes diplômés face à la variété quasi infinie de l'offre de situations professionnelles. |
| Keywords: | développement durable ; économiste ; formation initiale ; métier ; enseignement supérieur ; université ; France |
| Date: | 2007 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:papers:halshs-00186717_v1&r=env |
| By: | Josephine, Faass; Michael, Lahr |
| Abstract: | This paper is an investigation into the relative importance of a wide variety of factors in influencing whether members of the American public support or oppose the use of biotechnology in agriculture and food production. To accomplish this end, as well as to facilitate the examination of a large number of independent variables simultaneously, several statistical methods, including factor analyses, instrumental variables analysis, and probit and logistic regressions were performed. It was determined that people’s perceptions of risks and moral acceptability were important contributors to opinion formation in this regard. The effects of expected benefits, feelings of trust in information, and knowledge about biotechnology and genetics, were also investigated and found to exert varying levels of influence depending on the identity of the expected beneficiary or information source, as well as the kind of knowledge under consideration. The roles of religious and political party affiliation were also examined and determined to be significant. |
| Keywords: | genetically modified foods; biotechnology; public opinion |
| JEL: | H0 Q18 |
| Date: | 2007–02–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:6124&r=env |