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on Environmental Economics |
| By: | Andreas Ziegler (University of Kassel) |
| Abstract: | Based on unique data from representative computer-based surveys among more than 3400 citizens, this paper empirically examines the determinants of climate change beliefs, the support of publicly financed climate policy, and the (stated)willingness to pay a price premium for climate-friendly products in three countries which are key players in international climate policy, namely the USA, Germany (as largest country in the European Un-ion), and China. Our econometric analysis focuses on the effect of ideological identification and especially considers the interrelationship between a right-wing or a left-wing orientation and environmental values. Our estimation results imply that environmental aware-ness is in all three countries the major factor for beliefs and attitudes toward climate change. In Germany, citizens with a conservative, but not social or green orientation significantly less often support the considered climate policy and particularly have a significantly lower willingness to pay a price premium, whereas ideological differences are negligible for climate change beliefs. In contrast, a right-wing orientation has significantly negative effects on all beliefs and attitudes toward climate change in the USA. Furthermore, an increasing environmental awareness decreases ideological differences in the support of publicly financed climate policy in Germany and the USA and especially in general climate change beliefs and beliefs in anthropogenic climate change in the USA. Our estimation results suggest alternative strategies such as specific communication campaigns in order to reduce the climate change skepticism in conservative and right-wing circles in the USA and to increase the support of climate policies among such population groups. |
| Keywords: | Climate change beliefs, climate policy, price premium for climate-friendly products, ideological identification, environmental values, econometric analysis |
| JEL: | Q54 Q58 A13 |
| Date: | 2015 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:mar:magkse:201516&r=env |
| By: | Somanathan,E.; Bluffstone,Randall |
| Abstract: | With data from the nearly 6,000 households in the Nepal Living Standards Survey of 2010?11, this paper finds that the mean reduction in household firewood collection associated with use of a biogas plant for cooking is about 1,100 kilograms per year from a mean of about 2,400 kilograms per year. This estimate is derived by comparing only households with and without biogas in the same village, thus effectively removing the influence of many potential confounders. Further controls for important determinants of firewood collection, such as household size, per capita consumption expenditure, cattle ownership, and unemployment are used to identify the effect of biogas adoption on firewood collection. Bounds on omitted variable bias are derived with the proportional selection assumption. The central estimate is much smaller than those in the previous literature, but is still large enough for the cost of adopting biogas to be significantly reduced via carbon offsets at a modest carbon price of $10 per ton of CO2e when using central estimates of emission factors and global warming potentials of pollutants taken from the scientific literature. |
| Keywords: | Energy Production and Transportation,Renewable Energy,Climate Change Mitigation and Green House Gases,Energy and Environment,Environmental Economics&Policies |
| Date: | 2015–06–30 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:7349&r=env |
| By: | Danielle Devogelaer; Dominique Gusbin |
| Abstract: | On October 17, 2014, the Federal Planning Bureau published the fifth edition of its triennial long-term energy outlook. The report describes a Reference scenario up to 2050 and demonstrates the large discrepancy between this Reference scenario and what is necessary to be on track for the EU 2030 Climate/Energy Framework as well as for the low-carbon economy by 2050, hence the need for additional policies and measures. This observation led to the writing of this paper in which three policy driven scenarios that are compatible both with the 2030 and 2050 greenhouse gas emission reduction challenge outlined by the European Council are being scrutinised. The analysis encompasses environmental, energy system, economic and social impacts. |
| Keywords: | Long-term energy projections, Energy policy, Renewable energy sources, Greenhouse gas emissions |
| JEL: | C6 O2 Q4 |
| Date: | 2015–04–29 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fpb:wpaper:1503&r=env |
| By: | Marcelo Arbex (Department of Economics, University of Windsor); Christian Trudeau (Department of Economics, University of Windsor) |
| Abstract: | We model a federation consisting of two jurisdictions. Their representative agents choose their level of consumption, obtained through pollution-inducing production that also generate a negative externality on the neighbor. Agents in different regions value consumption vs. nature differently. We show that even with a decentralized policy we can obtain first-best efficiency by choosing a combination of pollution tax (that depends solely on externality parameters) and lump-sum transfers (that also depend on the initial stocks of nature). Strikingly, optimal policies are invariant with preferences. Numerically we explore further the relationship among preferences for consumption versus nature, pollution externality and government policies. |
| Keywords: | Externalities, pollution tax, lump-sum transfers, environmental preferences, first-best efficiency, strategy-proofness. |
| JEL: | D62 H23 Q53 Q58 |
| Date: | 2015–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wis:wpaper:1503&r=env |
| By: | Landis,Florian; Timilsina,Govinda R. |
| Abstract: | Large-scale deployment of renewable energy technologies, such as wind power and solar energy, has been taking place in industrialized and developing economics mainly because of various fiscal and regulatory policies. An understanding of the economy-wide impacts of those policies is an important part of an overall analysis of them. Using a perfect foresight computable general equilibrium model, this study analyzes the economy-wide costs of achieving a 10 percent share of wind power in Brazil?s electricity supply mix by 2030. Brazil is in the midst of an active program of wind capacity expansion. The welfare loss would be small, 0.1 percent of total baseline welfare in the absence of the 10 percent wind power expansion. The study also finds that, in the case of Brazil, production subsidies financed through increased value-added tax would have superior impacts on welfare and greenhouse gas mitigation, compared with a consumption mandate where electricity utilities are allowed to pass the increased electricity supply costs directly to consumers. These two policies would impact various production sectors differently to achieve the wind power expansion targets: the burden of the mandate falls mostly on electricity-intensive production and consumption, whereas the burden of the subsidy is distributed toward goods and services with higher value added. |
| Keywords: | Energy Production and Transportation,Environment and Energy Efficiency,Climate Change Mitigation and Green House Gases,Climate Change Economics,Energy and Environment |
| Date: | 2015–06–30 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:7346&r=env |
| By: | Halkos, George; Tzeremes, Panagiotis |
| Abstract: | This paper by using the Long range Energy Alternatives Planning System (LEAP) evaluates the progress towards sustainability with long-term scenarios for the energy map of Southeast Balkans, particularly the three countries of Bulgaria, Greece and Romania. The main objective of this work is to examine and compare scenarios based on organizations reports, so that countries achieve the objectives of the European Commission (abating 40% of greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and 80-95% by 2050) and finally to observe the contribution of each country to reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The results reveal that the main challenge for the Southeast Balkans policy makers will be the energy policies associated with the renewable energy usage. It appears that under the seven different energy policy scenarios the higher the participation of renewable energy the higher the reduction of GHG emissions. |
| Keywords: | LEAP software; Renewable energy sources; Scenario analysis; Bulgaria; Greece; Romania. |
| JEL: | Q20 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q50 Q54 Q58 |
| Date: | 2015 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:65280&r=env |
| By: | Yagi, Michiyuki; Hidemichi, Fujii; Hoang, Vincent; Managi, Shunsuke |
| Abstract: | This study estimates the environmental efficiency of international listed firms in 10 worldwide sectors from 2007-2013 by applying an order-m method, a non-parametric approach based on free disposal hull with subsampling bootstrapping. Using a conventional output of gross profit and two conventional inputs of labor and capital, this study examines the order-m environmental efficiency accounting for the presence of each of 10 undesirable inputs/outputs and measures the shadow prices of each undesirable input and output. The results show that there is greater potential for the reduction of undesirable inputs rather than bad outputs. On average, total energy, electricity, or water usage has the potential to be reduced by 50%. The median shadow prices of undesirable inputs, however, are much higher than the surveyed representative market prices. Approximately 10% of the firms in the sample appear to be potential sellers or production reducers in terms of undesirable inputs/outputs, which implies that the price of each item at the current level has little impact on most of the firms. Moreover, this study shows that the environmental, social, and governance activities of a firm do not considerably affect environmental efficiency. |
| Keywords: | Data envelopment analysis; Environmental efficiency; Shadow price; Free disposal hull; Linear programming |
| JEL: | C14 D24 Q50 |
| Date: | 2015–05–23 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:65358&r=env |
| By: | Judith Schicklinski |
| Abstract: | Why are civil society dynamics concerning green spaces across European cities so interesting for socio-ecological transition? All over Europe self-organized civil society movements are emerging to tackle local challenges, becoming active players in local governance processes. These social experiments have even been intensified as a result of tight public local budgets. Their activities contribute to the functioning and well-being of a European society aiming for sustainability. Preserving the availability of bio-diverse green spaces is crucial for the socio-ecological transition of cities since besides providing recreational opportunities for city dwellers, they yield essential ecological benefits from cleaning the air to reducing noise, but also provide habitat for many species and plants and reduce local vulnerabilities to extreme climate events. In cities in which local governments have severe difficulties in affording the provision of green space, new self-organized initiatives have emerged for maintaining and even developing them. Initiatives such as urban gardening have proven that people are able to cooperate, to organize themselves and to take over responsibility for green spaces as well as even introducing new practices that support the socio-ecological transition. This Milestone will contribute to the questions: -how can citizen groups contribute to maintain existing green spaces which are available and accessible for all and possibly being expanded whilst assuring biodiversity and allowing diverse use for local needs (re-creation, community-based food-production, neighbourhood culture, common intergenerational and intercultural learning etc.) at the same time; -which policy framework allows for a constructive colaboration between local authorities, administration, economic actors and citizens, enabling innovative solutions in the area of urban food production, green-space management and participative urban development. |
| Keywords: | Citizen participation, Civil society, Green spaces, Local governance, Self-organisation, Social innovation, Socio-ecological transition, Urban green commons |
| Date: | 2015–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:feu:wfewop:y:2015:m:6:d:0:i:102&r=env |
| By: | Sarah Jacobson (Williams College); Sahan Dissanayake (Colby College) |
| Abstract: | Some policies try to maximize net benefits by targeting different individuals to participate. This is difficult when costs and benefits of participation vary independently, as in land conservation. We share a classroom game that explores cases in which minimizing costs may not maximize benefits and vice versa. This game is a contextually rich pedagogical tool, putting students in the role of landowners who must decide whether to conserve land in different policy environments: flat conservation payments, agglomeration bonuses, and a conservation auction. Students learn about specific issues in land conservation, ecosystem services, preferences for non-money outcomes, and general issues in policymaking. The game is suited to classes in environmental, resource, agricultural, and policy economics, and more general classes in microeconomics and public policy. |
| Keywords: | classroom game, spatial agglomeration, conservation, land use, economic education |
| JEL: | A22 Q24 Q57 |
| Date: | 2015–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wil:wileco:2015-09&r=env |
| By: | Edouard Ilunga wa ilunga; Grégory Mahy; Julien Piqueray; Maxime Séleck; Mylor Ngoy M.N. Shutcha; Pierre Jacques Meerts; Michel-Pierre Faucon |
| Abstract: | Ecological restoration of degraded metal-rich habitats and bare metal-rich soils created by mining activities has nowadays become a major environmental issue to reduce mining impacts on the erosion of biodiversity and the degradation of landscape, soil and water.Studies based on species identification for restoration purposes without reference to plant trait are limited only to local pool of species which makes the interpretation and applications in various ecological contexts rather difficult. This study aims at trait analysis of metal-rich habitats in order to test the differences in plant traits in degraded primary habitat and along a successional gradient in secondary habitats. In this context, investigation of the existence of resilience or the need for ecological restoration is attempted. A second aim of this work is also the identification of traits candidates for appropriate species selection for revegetation of metal-rich bare soils purposes.Results showed that the cover of xylopodia trait values decreases according to the intensity of degradation among habitats, and can be considered an indicator of habitat degradation. Differences of traits values among primary and old secondary habitats highlighted that the absence of resilience of degraded primary steppic savanna was not explained by 14 soil factors measured.The main plant traits for revegetation of metal-rich bare soils are the following: annual life cycle, growth phenology in wet season, depth 0-10. cm of underground system. bud bank by seeds, dispersule size <2. mm. ×. 2. mm and dispersal mode by adhesion.Future challenge would be to develop new functional ecosystem on metal-rich bare soils promoting biodiversity conservation and ecosystem services related to water and soil protection. This would require the association of species selected for revegetation and phytostabilization from plant traits occurring in secondary metalliferous habitats and species selected from plant traits specific to primary habitats. |
| Keywords: | Bare soil; Colonizing ability; Ecological restoration; Functional plant traits; Heavy metals; Metallophyte; Phytostabilization; Post-mining; Revegetation |
| Date: | 2015 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ulb:ulbeco:2013/205477&r=env |
| By: | Roula Inglesi-Lotz (Department of Economics, Democritus University of Thrace, Greece) |
| Abstract: | The severity of investment in Research and Development (R&D) in the energy sector is undisputable especially considering the benefits of new technologies to sustainability, security and environmental protection. However, the nature and potential of various energy technologies that are capable to improve the energy and environmental conditions globally is a challenging task for governments and policy makers that have to make decisions on the allocation of funds in R&D. To do so, the optimal resource allocation to R&D should be determined by estimating the social rate of return for R&D investments. This paper aims to estimate the social rate of return of R&D on various energy applications and technologies such as energy efficiency, fossil fuels, renewable energy sources, and nuclear for the G7 countries. The results show that primarily R&D investment on Energy Efficiency technologies and Nuclear are the ones that yield high social benefits for all G7 countries while exactly the opposite holds for Fossil fuels. |
| Date: | 2015–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pre:wpaper:201549&r=env |
| By: | YOMOGIDA Morihiro |
| Abstract: | This paper investigates the U.S.-China trade war on solar products and analyzes a recent proposal on altering World Trade Organization (WTO) rules to avoid such trade dispute on renewable energy products. First, we examine the international trade structure of solar products between the United States and China and find that vertical specialization arises: the United States exports capital goods and intermediate goods to China and China exports final goods to the United States. Second, by using the official reports of the U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. International Trade Commission, we examine the U.S. government's investigation of countervailing duties on solar products from China. Chinese producers could evade duties on imports to the United States by reconfiguring their supply chains. We examine how the U.S. government plugged a loophole in its import duties. We also show how the Chinese government retaliated to the U.S. restrictions on imports of solar products from China. Third, we conduct a theoretical investigation of a recent proposal on the revision of the WTO rules on subsidies and countervailing duties on green products. Mattoo and Subramanian (2013) proposed altering WTO rules on green subsidies because subsidies for green goods such as solar products improve the environment by reducing greenhouse gases, and countervailing duties curtail such environmental benefits of green subsidies. We examine whether or not Mattoo and Subramanian's argument hold in a standard competitive model of trade with environmental externalities. We find that their argument does not necessarily hold. In fact, the United States' countervailing duties against China's solar products could raise environmental benefits for both countries. |
| Date: | 2015–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:eti:rdpsjp:15033&r=env |
| By: | Mylor Ngoy M.N. Shutcha; Michel-Pierre Faucon; Ckeface C. Kamengwa Kissi; Gilles Colinet; Grégory Mahy; Michel Ngongo Luhembwe; Marjolein Visser; Pierre Jacques Meerts |
| Abstract: | Copper smelting has created large surfaces of bare soil contaminated by trace metals (TMs: e.g. total Cu: 42,500mgkg<sup>-1</sup> in bare soil vs. 220mgkg<sup>-1</sup> in remote forest) in the Lubumbashi suburbs of the 'Cité Gécamines/Penga Penga' (Katanga, D.R. Congo). Human exposure to trace metals at the site has become a primary environmental concern. This study evaluated different strategies (spontaneous and assisted phytostabilisation) to promote plant establishment on bare soil at the contamination site for soil reclamation/remediation. First, soil chemical properties were assessed in three vegetation units (bare soil, metallophytic grassland patches, and termite mounds). Results showed lower nutrients, organic matter content, and pH in bare soil; however increased metal concentrations were not detected. Limestone (0, 2.5, 5, and 10tha<sup>-1</sup>) and compost (0, 45, and 225tha<sup>-1</sup>) were applied in a factorial design. Plant establishment was monitored for three years; and leaf TM concentration was assessed during the third year. Soil amendments improved bare soil conditions (higher pH and nutrients and lower TMs), and facilitated spontaneous plant establishment, with compost exhibiting the largest positive effects. Colonisers were primarily annual species; either true metallophytes or weedy taxa, which were sporadically present at the study site. However, only the perennial Microchloa altera survived during the 6-month dry season. Following three years of phytostabilisation experiment with M. altera by planting, substantial growth and high survival was observed in M. altera. A combination of soil amendments (lime and compost) was most effective to improve plant fecundity, and reduce metal uptake by leaves. Our results show promise for reclamation of bare soil contaminated by the mining industry in tropical climate. |
| Keywords: | Amendments; Copper; Copper flora; Heavy metals; Katanga; Phytoremediation; Phytostabilization; Spontaneous and assisted revegetation; Tropical africa |
| Date: | 2015–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ulb:ulbeco:2013/205355&r=env |
| By: | Urs Fischbacher; Simeon Schudy; Sabrina Teyssier |
| Abstract: | We investigate whether risk, time, environmental, and social preferences affect single family homeowners’ investments in energy efficient renovations and energy quality of their house using established experimental measures and questionnaires. We find that homeowners who report to be more risk taking are more likely to have renovated their house. Pro-environmental and future-oriented renovators, i.e. renovators with lower discount factors, live in homes with higher energy efficiency. Controlling for the energy efficiency of houses, we further find that energy consumption as measured by heating and energy costs are lower for future-oriented and pro-environmental individuals. Social preferences measured in a dictator and a generosity game play a mixed role for investments in energy efficiency and energy consumption. |
| Keywords: | Risk Preferences, Time Preferences, Environmental Preferences, Social Preferences, Energy Efficiency, Artefactual Field Experiment |
| Date: | 2015 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:twi:respas:0095&r=env |
| By: | Yacoub Bahini (CES - Centre d'économie de la Sorbonne - UP1 - Université Panthéon-Sorbonne - CNRS); Cuong Le Van (CES - Centre d'économie de la Sorbonne - UP1 - Université Panthéon-Sorbonne - CNRS, EEP-PSE - Ecole d'Économie de Paris - Paris School of Economics, VCREME - VanXuan Center of Research in Economics, Management and Environment - VanXuan Center of Research in Economics, Management and Environment, IPAG - Business School) |
| Abstract: | In this paper we use the CMM model (Chakravorty et al., 2006) in discrete time and obtain more results concerning the exhaustion time of Non-Renewable Resource (NRE), the dynamic regimes of energy prices, of the stocks of pollution. We show that NRE is exhausted in finite time and is directly influenced by the initial stock of NRE and the costs of NRE and RE. Higher is the initial stock of NRE, far is the time of exhaustion of NRE. Higher is the cost of NRE (resp. the difference of unit costs between RE and NRE), far is the time of exhaustion of NRE. Furthermore, we show that the abatement intervenes, when necessary, not more than two periods. We also show that, when the unit extraction cost of RE is not very high, the stocks of emissions will never be binding if and only if, the initial stock of NRE is less than a critical value. |
| Date: | 2015–05 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:cesptp:halshs-01167042&r=env |
| By: | Bachev, Hrabrin |
| Abstract: | Enhancing environmental performance is a prospective way for increasing market inclusion, effectiveness and sustainability of small-scale farms in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Nevertheless, with very few exceptions, there are no studies on forms, factors and efficiency of “eco-driven” market inclusion of smallholders in modern supply chains in Bulgaria. This paper presents findings of a first large-scale study on state, driving forces, and efficiency of market inclusion of farms through enhanced eco-management in Bulgaria. First, we identify diverse forms of eco-management in farms with different size, market orientation, product specialisation, and location. Second, we assess costs, effects, and efficiency of eco-management, including the extent it contributes to increased market inclusion of farms. Third, we specify critical personal, economic, contractual, institutional, etc. factors of managerial choice in the eco-active farms. Finally, we estimate perspectives of expansion of this particular mode of market inclusion, and suggest directions for improving public policies and business strategies of smallholders. |
| Keywords: | environmental management, market inclusion, forms of eco-management, Bulgarian agriculture |
| JEL: | Q12 Q15 Q18 Q24 Q25 Q28 Q3 Q5 Q57 Q58 |
| Date: | 2015 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:65309&r=env |
| By: | Mohammad Iqbal Irfany (Georg-August-University Göttingen) |
| Abstract: | Although the literature on emission inequality is abundant, this study will differentiate itself by focusing on emission inequalities at the household level due to the disparity in household expenditure profiles. We further separate measures on emission inequality based on household characteristics as well as decompose it into sources of emission. Employing a common application for analyzing inequalities, results show that as per capita expenditure increases, within quintiles emission inequality tends to decline until the middle quintiles but then further increases in expenditure level and worsens emission inequality until the richest household. The decomposition of inequality based on emission sources suggests that energy-transportation dominantly contributes of the overall emission inequality. |
| Keywords: | carbon footprint; household; inequality |
| JEL: | O12 O13 D12 D63 |
| Date: | 2015–06–25 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:got:gotcrc:177&r=env |
| By: | NABABAN, TONGAM SIHOL |
| Abstract: | Global Entrepreneurship and Development Index or the Global Entrepreneurship and Development Index (GEDI) In 2013 positioned Indonesia at ranked 76 of 118 countries. Compared with the ASEAN countries, the position are still far below Singapore (13), and still below Malaysia (57), Brunei Darussalam (58), Thailand (65). This fact shows that Indonesia has not been optimal in building its entrepreneurial yet. To enhance the development of entrepreneurship, the Indonesian government has launched a National Entrepreneurship Movement (GKN), with the aim to increase the number of Indonesia’s entrepreneurs, where now the number of entrepreneurs approximately 0.25% of the total population. In an effort to maintain and improve the position of entrepreneurship that has been achieved today, entrepreneurial practitioners should build sustainable entrepreneurship for creating a strong entrepreneurial competitiveness, sustainable and mutually supportive by involving the synergies of the various elements of society. With the creation of sustainable entrepreneurship, the competitiveness level can be realized nationally and globally. The sustainable entrepreneurship focuses on entrepreneurial skills to achieve the success through social and environmental change or social innovations. Entrepreneurship is not only generating economic success but also the entrepreneurs (sustainable entrepreneurs) should be able to manage the "triple bottom line" (company profitability, potential benefits to the environment, and potential benefits to the community) by balancing economic health, social equity and environmental sustainability through the entrepreneurial behaviors. Lately, a lot of scientific discussions concerning entrepreneurship theory and practice related to sustainable entrepreneurship in a goal-oriented society, ethics, economics, and ecology have bee done. Even some studies on sustainable entrepreneurship have been more developed compared with the business and environment studies, especially in matters of affecting changes in social practices and business environments. However, the question is "How do we understand the characteristics, motivation and factors driving sustainable ecopreneurs to innovate?" The next question is, "How can the implementation of sustainable entrepreneurship in Indonesia in order to be able to compete on a global level?". This paper aims to discuss the conceptual approach of sustainable entrepreneurship and to outline how sustainable entrepreneurs to innovate in bringing additional benefits for the community and the environment. |
| Keywords: | Keywords: sustainable entrepreneurship, competitiveness, social, global, environment. |
| JEL: | Q01 |
| Date: | 2014–05–22 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:65292&r=env |
| By: | Ivan Haščič; Mauro Migotto |
| Abstract: | This paper refines indicators to measure innovation in environment-related technologies, drawing on recent methodological advances that allow a more accurate assessment of environment-related innovation in a broader range of countries and covering a greater variety of the relevant technologies. Three indicators are discussed in the paper: an indicator of technology development (a measure of inventive activity) in over 80 specific environmental technologies; an indicator of international collaboration in technology development (a measure of co-invention); and an indicator of technology diffusion (a measure of market protection). These indicators provide a range of tools for assessing innovative performance in country and policy studies. The indicators are based on patent data because they have a number of attractive properties compared to other alternatives: they are widely available, quantitative, commensurable, output-oriented and capable of being disaggregated – an important advantage when analysing environmental technologies. At the same time, not all innovations or inventions are patented, and measuring the number of patents by itself does not provide an indication of their relative importance and impact. Techniques have been developed to overcome these limitations, yet it is important to carefully interpret patent-based indicators. |
| Keywords: | innovation, indicators, environmental technologies |
| JEL: | O3 O31 O34 O38 Q2 Q4 Q5 |
| Date: | 2015–06–26 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:oec:envaaa:89-en&r=env |
| By: | Llanto, Gilberto M. |
| Abstract: | In the emerging ASEAN Economic Community, regulatory quality and coherence will be critical in stimulating investments and improving the overall business and investment climate. The different countries in the region are concerned not only with aligning and harmonizing regulatory frameworks, but also first and more fundamentally, with reducing regulatory burden, improving regulatory quality and coherence. To achieve these objectives, the literature suggests the establishment of an efficient and effective regulatory management system (RMS). An efficient and effective RMS will be a critical mechanism for "reducing the costs of doing business, facilitating international trade and investment, and improving regulatory outcomes in areas such as health, safety, and environmental protection." The paper examines the case for a regulatory management system for the Philippines and recommends specific measures for its establishment in Philippine policy space. It describes the overall experience of the country in regulatory reform, highlights the challenges in its journey toward regulatory quality and coherence, and identifies steps in constructing a responsive regulatory management system. |
| Keywords: | Philippines, regulation, regulatory quality, regulatory burden, regulatory management system, regulatory impact analysis, regulatory impact statement, cost of doing business |
| Date: | 2015 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:phd:dpaper:dp_2015-32&r=env |
| By: | Harrison Fell (Division of Economics and Business, Colorado School of Mines); Peter Maniloff (Division of Economics and Business, Colorado School of Mines) |
| Abstract: | Subglobal and subnational policies aimed at reducing greenhouse gases are often thought to be less effective than more geographically comprehensive policies as production, and thus emissions, of trade exposed industries may move from the regulated to the unregulated regions. This so-called leakage may negate all emission reductions from the regulated regions and, even worse, may lead to an overall increase in emissions if the unregulated regions have equally or more emissions intensive production. However, if the unregulated regions have less emissions intensive production, the regional regulation may prompt more switching to the relatively cleaner producers than would otherwise occur, creating a type of beneficial leakage. We use detailed electricity generation and transmission data to show that this might be the case for the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), a CO$_2$ cap-and-trade program for the electricity sector in select Northeastern U.S. states. We find evidence that electricity generation did leak out of the RGGI region to surrounding state, but electricity generation in the non-capped jurisdictions is less emissions intensive than in the RGGI region, resulting in a net decrease in aggregate emissions. Back-of-the-envelope calculations suggest that one-quarter of apparent emissions reductions actually leaked but that this served to reduce total combined emissions by an additional one percent. |
| Date: | 2015–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:mns:wpaper:wp201506&r=env |
| By: | Randy A. Becker |
| Abstract: | Water can be a scarce resource, particularly in certain places at certain times. Understanding both water use and conservation efforts can help ensure that limited supplies can meet the demands of a growing population and economy. This paper examines water use and recirculation in the U.S. manufacturing sector, using newly recovered microdata from the (defunct) Survey of Water Use in Manufacturing, merged with establishment-level data from the Annual Survey of Manufactures and the Census of Manufactures. Results suggest that water use per unit of output is largest for larger establishments, in part because larger establishments use water for more purposes. Larger establishments are also found to recirculate water more — satisfying water use needs without necessarily increasing water intake. Various costs also appear to play a role in water recirculation. In particular, the water circulation rate is found to be higher when water is purchased from a utility. Relatively low (internal) prices for self-supplied water could suppress the incentive to invest in recirculation. Meanwhile, establishments with higher per-gallon water intake treatment costs also recirculate more, as might be expected. The cost associated with water discharge – due to regulation or otherwise – also increases circulation rates. The aridity of a locale is found to have little effect on circulation rates. |
| Keywords: | water use, water recirculation, U.S. manufacturing |
| JEL: | Q25 L6 |
| Date: | 2015–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cen:wpaper:15-16&r=env |
| By: | Stephan Klasen (Georg-August-University Göttingen); Katrin M. Meyer (Georg-August-University Göttingen); Claudia Dislich (Georg-August-University Göttingen); Michael Euler (Georg-August-University Göttingen); Heiko Faust (Georg-August-University Göttingen); Marcel Gatto (Georg-August-University Göttingen); Elisabeth Hettig (GIGA Hamburg); Dian N. Melati (Georg-August-University Göttingen); I. Nengah Surati Jaya (Bogor Agricultural University); Fenna Otten (Georg-August-University Göttingen); César Perez (Georg-August-University Göttingen); Stefanie Steinebach (Georg-August-University Göttingen); Suria Tarigan (Bogor Agricultural University); Kerstin Wiegand (Georg-August-University Göttingen) |
| Abstract: | Specialization in agricultural systems leads to trade-offs between economic gains and ecosystem functions. Economic gains can be maximized when production activities are specialized at increasingly broader scales (from the household to the village, region or above), particularly when markets for outputs and inputs function well and allow specialization as well as high levels of food security. Conversely, a tendency toward specialization likely reduces biodiversity and significantly limits ecosystem functions at the local scale. When agricultural specialization increases and moves to broader scales as a result of improved infrastructure and markets, ecosystem functions can also be endangered at broader spatial scales. Policies to improve agricultural incomes through improvements in infrastructure and the functioning of markets thus affects the severity of the trade-offs. This paper takes Jambi province in Indonesia, a current hotspot of rubber and oil palm monoculture, as a case study to illustrate these issues. In doing so, it empirically investigates the trade-offs between economic gains and ecosystem functions for three spatial levels of scale (i.e. household, village, and region) and discusses ways to resolve these trade-offs. |
| Keywords: | Ecosystem services; economies of scale; Indonesia; monoculture; oil palm; rubber |
| JEL: | Q13 Q57 |
| Date: | 2015–06–25 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:got:gotcrc:178&r=env |
| By: | COMBRIS Pierre; SEABRA PINTO Alexandra; GIRAUD HERAUD Eric |
| Abstract: | We study the relative willingness-to-pay (WTP) of consumers according to the diversity of supply in a market and we show how the presence of substitutes for a given product leads to question the incentive mechanisms commonly used in experimental auctions. We propose a Surplus Comparison Mechanism (SCM) in order to yield WTP estimates which better take into account the choice set available to consumers. After showing the efficiency of this mechanism we test the SCM in a laboratory experiment, reconsidering WTP for food environmental certifications (Integrated Pest Management and Organic certification). It appears that WTPs are decreasing when more alternative certifications are offered to consumers. |
| Keywords: | Experimental Auctions, Willingness to pay, Consumers’ surplus, Choice alternatives, Food certification. |
| JEL: | C91 D44 Q51 |
| Date: | 2015 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:grt:wpegrt:2015-20&r=env |
| By: | Michaël GOUJON (Centre d'Etudes et de Recherches sur le Développement International(CERDI)); OLIVIER SANTONI (Centre d'Etudes et de Recherches sur le Développement International(CERDI)); Sosso FEINDOUNO |
| Abstract: | Nous proposons une analyse statistique de séries mensuelles de précipitations et températures géolocalisées pour la Réunion et trois comparateurs (Maurice, Mayotte et les Comores) couvrant la période 1950-2012. Nous utilisons et traitons des données primaires de la base internationale Climate Research Unit version 3 – University of East Anglia, et calculons différents indicateurs statistiques pour mesurer les tendances, les chocs, l’asymétrie de la distribution, l’occurrence des valeurs extrêmes, les tendances dans l’instabilité. Nos résultats montrent l’existence d’une tendance positive et significative dans les températures. En revanche, aucune tendance significative dans les précipitations n’est observée, exceptée pour Maurice où la tendance semble négative. L’instabilité des températures et de précipitations connait quant à elle une tendance à la baisse, particulièrement ces dernières années. Une analyse par mois de l’année confirme ces résultats globaux mais met en évidence une forte instabilité des précipitations et des températures pour certains mois. |
| Keywords: | températures, précipitations, tendances, Chocs, instabilité, petites îles, ocean indien |
| JEL: | C22 Q54 |
| Date: | 2015–05 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cdi:wpaper:1681&r=env |
| By: | Fafchamps,Marcel; Koelle,Michael Rene; Shilpi,Forhad J. |
| Abstract: | Central place theory predicts that agglomeration can arise from external shocks. This paper investigates whether gold mining is a catalyst for proto-urbanization in rural Ghana. Using cross-sectional data, the analysis finds that locations within 10 kilometers from gold mines have more night light and proportionally higher employment in industry and services and in the wage sector. Non-farm employment decreases at 20?30 kilometers distance to gold mines. These findings are consistent with agglomeration effects that induce non-farm activities to coalesce in one particular location. This paper finds that, over time, an increase in gold production is associated with more wage employment and apprenticeship, and fewer people employed in private informal enterprises. It also finds that the changes arising from increasing gold production are not reversed when large gold mines shrink. However this pattern cannot be ascribed unambiguously to agglomeration effects, given an increase in informal mining after formal mines decrease output is also observed. |
| Keywords: | Labor Markets,Transport Economics Policy&Planning,Population Policies,Mining&Extractive Industry (Non-Energy),Climate Change Mitigation and Green House Gases |
| Date: | 2015–06–30 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:7347&r=env |
| By: | Maciej Lis; Agata Miazga |
| Abstract: | Facing rising energy prices, what are expected to be an outcome of climate package, some household groups will reduce other expenditure in order to satisfy the energy consumption needs. According to Eurostat statistics, energy prices in Poland are lower than in other EU member states, but relatively high when compared to prices of other goods and services. On the basis of the 2013 Polish Household Budget Survey, we analyse determinants of energy prices. We demonstrate that electricity spending is stronger related to household characteristics, whereas heating expenditures to building characteristics. We show that increasing electricity prices affect mainly the most populous households, in particular large families. Contrary, changes in heating prices affect mostly residents of old, large houses, in small towns and in the countryside. Therefore, limiting the energy inefficiency of non-insulated buildings and more education about energy saving are crucial to minimize the social cost of climate policy. |
| Keywords: | energy expenditures, electricity expenditures, heating expenditures, household expenditures, energy prices, energy efficiency |
| JEL: | D12 Q41 Q48 |
| Date: | 2015–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ibt:wpaper:wp112015&r=env |
| By: | Kamel Louhichi (European Commission – JRC - IPTS); Pavel Ciaian (European Commission – JRC - IPTS); Maria Espinosa (European Commission – JRC - IPTS); Liesbeth Colen (European Commission – JRC - IPTS); Angel Perni (European Commission – JRC - IPTS); Sergio Gomez y Paloma (European Commission – JRC - IPTS) |
| Abstract: | This report presents the first EU-wide individual farm-level model (IFM-CAP) aiming to assess the impacts of CAP on farm economic and environmental performance. The rationale for such a farm-level model is based on the increasing demand for a micro-simulation tool able to model farm-specific policies and to capture farm heterogeneity across the EU in terms of policy representation and impacts. Based on positive mathematical programming, IFM-CAP seeks to improve the quality of policy assessment upon existing aggregate and aggregated farm-group models and to assess distributional effects over the EU farm population. To guarantee the highest representativeness of the EU agricultural sector, the model is applied to every EU-FADN (Farm Accountancy Data Network) individual farm (around 60 500 farms). The report provides a detailed description of the IFM-CAP model prototype in terms of design, mathematical structure, data preparation, modelling livestock activities, allocation of input costs and the calibration process. The theoretical background, the technical specification and the outputs that can be generated from this prototype are also briefly presented and discussed. The report also presents an application of the model to the assessment of the effects of the crop diversification measure. The results show that most non-compliant farms (80 %) chose to reduce their level of non-compliance following the introduction of the diversification measure owing to the sizable subsidy reduction imposed. However, the overall impact on farm income is rather limited: farm income decreases by less than 1 % at EU level, and only 5 % of the farm population will be negatively affected. Nevertheless, for a small number of farms, the income effect could be more substantial (more than –10 %). |
| Keywords: | Farm model; IFM-CAP; CAP; Subsidies; CAP greening; Policy impact analysis; Positive Mathematical Programming (PMP); FADN; EU; Micro simulations, Modelling, Agriculture. |
| JEL: | Q12 Q18 |
| Date: | 2015–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ipt:iptwpa:jrc92574&r=env |
| By: | Swaha Bhattacharya |
| Abstract: | The relationship between man and his environment is basically two-way in that man is affected by the environment and yet he also the capacity to modify the environment. Man’s capacity to modify the environment is clearly a dynamic one, varying in both time and space. It is our duty to create a good and healthy environment for human being and also save our environment as far as possible. Not only this, one has to keep in mind that changes will happen in each and every moment. Key words: nature, environment, human, human being, psychology |
| Date: | 2015–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:vor:issues:2015-06-06&r=env |