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on Environmental Economics |
| By: | Balsalobre-Lorente, Daniel; Shahbaz, Muhammad; Roubaud, David; Farhani, Sahbi |
| Abstract: | This study explores the relationship between economic growth and CO2 emissions in the so-called European Union 5 (EU-5) countries (Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom) for the 1985-2016 period. In doing so, we employ a carbon emission function to investigate the environmental Kuznets curve phenomenon, which describes a relationship between economic growth and environmental degradation. The empirical results confirm the existence of an N-shaped relationship between economic growth and CO2 emissions in the EU-5 countries. We incorporate additional variables such as renewable electricity consumption, trade openness, natural resource abundance, and energy innovation to augment the carbon emission function. Renewable electricity consumption, natural resources, and energy innovation improve environmental quality, while trade openness and the interaction between economic growth and renewable electricity consumption exert a positive impact on CO2 emissions. This study is novel in that it presents an interaction between economic growth and renewable electricity consumption. We also confirm the need for renewable energy regulations related to increasing renewable sources and promoting energy innovation to reduce the negative effects of energy and fossil energy resources on environmental degradation. |
| Keywords: | Economic Growth, Renewable Electricity, Natural Resources, Environment |
| JEL: | A1 |
| Date: | 2017–10–12 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:82252&r=env |
| By: | M. Indra al Irsyada; Anthony Halog; Rabindra Nepal |
| Abstract: | Failures of countries in setting and achieving renewable energy targets are prevalent, raising uncertainty about the overall contribution of renewable energy to global emission reductions. Lack of policy and incorrect modelling analysis are among the sources of the failures. Thus understanding these two sources is crucial to improve confidence about renewables. We assess errors in the projections of renewable energy capacity and production in the United States and European Union countries, which have high commitments to green energy supply. Our results show that solar energy has the lowest uncertainty due to having the most achievable projections of capacity and production. On the other hand, other renewables may entail attractive policies, and further research is needed related to advancing reliable technology and accurate weather predictions. Our findings also provide ranges of projection uncertainty of six renewable energy technologies and, at the same time, draw attention to ways to rectify the dominant errors in the renewable energy projections. |
| Keywords: | Projection error, commitment, technical issues, modeling and policy |
| Date: | 2017–11 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:een:camaaa:2017-74&r=env |
| By: | Christoph Boehringer (University of Oldenburg, Department of Economics); Jan Schneider (University of Oldenburg, Department of Economics); Marco Springmann (University of Oldenburg, Department of Economics) |
| Abstract: | In response to anthropogenic climate change, developed countries have committed themselves to raise 100 billion USD a year from 2020 onwards for addressing the needs of developing countries. In this paper, we investigate the economic and CO2 emission impacts of four alternative options for raising climate funds from public sources in developed countries: CO2 emission prices, wires charges on electricity consumption, a tax on international transport services, and the removal of fossil fuel subsidies. We find that these four options do not only induce very different global costs to raise given amounts of climate funds but have quite diverging implications for the cost incidence between developed and developing countries. Likewise, the global CO2 emission impacts of alternative fund-raising policies differ a lot. |
| Keywords: | climate finance; computable general equilibrium; green climate fund |
| Date: | 2017–11 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:old:dpaper:406&r=env |
| By: | Phoebe Koundouri (Dept. of International and European Economic Studies, Athens University of Economics and Business); Nikitas Pittis (University of Piraeus, Greece); Panagiotis Samartzis; Nikolaos Englezos; Andreas Papandreou |
| Abstract: | This paper focuses on different types of ambiguity that affect climate change regulation. In particular, we analyze the effect of the interactions among three types of agents, namely, the decision maker (DM), the experts and the society, on the probabilistic properties of green-house gas (GHG) emissions and the formation of environmental policy, under two types of ambiguity: "deferential ambiguity" and "preferential ambiguity". Deferential ambiguity refers to the uncertainty that DM faces concerning to which expert's forecast (scenario) to defer. Preferential ambiguity stems from the potential inability of DM to correctly discern the society's preferences about the desired change of GHG emissions. This paper shows that the existence of deferential and preferential ambiguities have significant effects on GHG emissions regulation. |
| Keywords: | decision making on climate change, ambiguity, deep uncertainty, deferential ambiguity, preferential ambiguity, tail risks of environmental-policy variables. |
| JEL: | D8 D80 D81 D83 D |
| Date: | 2017–11 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:aue:wpaper:1706&r=env |
| By: | John Wiseman (Melbourne Sustainable Society Institute, University of Melbourne); Stephanie Campbell (Melbourne Sustainable Society Institute, University of Melbourne); Fergus Green (London School of Economics and Political Science) |
| Abstract: | Until its relatively sudden closure in March 2017, the Hazelwood Power Station in Victoria’s Latrobe Valley was the most carbon-intensive electricity generator in Australia. It became a symbol of Australia’s reliance on coal and an electoral battleground in the bitter political struggles over climate policy that have raged since the mid-2000s. The announcement by Hazelwood’s owners, French multinational power company, Engie, in late 2016 that it would be closing the plant for commercial reasons, therefore came as somewhat of a shock. We argue that Australia’s political and economic institutions help to explain the autonomous decision of Engie to close the plant, the short notice period, and the lack of pre-closure government transition policy. These institutions discourage long-term policymaking and encourage a disproportionate amount of vote-seeking activity directed at marginal electorates. Straightforward “vote-seeking” is however too simplistic an explanation of the transition policies announced at the time of the Hazelwood closure. Of particular relevance is the fact that, over the last few years, the transition away from coal and towards renewable energy has become a virtual inevitability in the Australian energy sector. One important outcome of this trend has been the shift in position of the Australian union movement towards advocacy for “just transition” policies, bringing it both closer to—and, in some cases, in alliance with—environmental groups. Absent institutional reform, the most likely means by which coal closures could move closer to “best practice” in Australia is through action by unions and environmental groups to mobilise institutional investors to pressure energy companies to adopt more worker- and community-friendly, “just transition” policies. The most plausible institutional reform path, given Australia’s existing political-economic institutions, would involve the direct regulation of companies’ transition obligations. Yet, the more interventionist the regulatory change, the greater the costs imposed on existing generators and the more politically contentious the reforms are likely to be. In this difficult policymaking environment, an important variable is likely to be the agency of civil society actors in making the politics of energy/climate policymaking more conducive to just transition-oriented regulatory reforms. Our case study has demonstrated that the positions of key civil society stakeholders in Australia’s energy debate, including unions, environment groups and to some extent business groups have been converging toward a “just”—or at least an orderly—transition as a dominant political narrative for substantive policies to improve the transition arrangements in the Australian energy sector. Strengthening and perhaps formalising these alliances will improve the incentives for political parties to invest in long-term policies in the energy sector. |
| Keywords: | Australia, coal transitions, just transitions, regional policy, energy policy |
| JEL: | O38 R11 |
| Date: | 2017–11 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:een:ccepwp:1708&r=env |
| By: | Gail Cohen; João Tovar Jalles; Prakash Loungani; Ricardo Marto |
| Abstract: | Recent discussions of the extent of decoupling between greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and real gross domestic product (GDP) provide mixed evidence and have generated much debate. We show that to get a clear picture of decoupling it is important to distinguish cycles from trends: there is an Environmental Okun's Law (a cyclical relationship between emissions and real GDP) that often obscures the trend relationship between emissions and real GDP. We show that, once the cyclical relationship is accounted for, the trends show evidence of decoupling in richer nations—particularly in European countries, but not yet in emerging markets. The picture changes somewhat, however, if we take into consideration the effects of international trade, that is, if we distinguish between production-based and consumption-based emissions. Once we add in their net emission transfers, the evidence for decoupling among the richer countries gets weaker. The good news is that countries with underlying policy frameworks more supportive of renewable energy and supportive of climate change tend to have greater decoupling between trend emissions and trend GDP, and for both production- and consumption-based emissions. |
| Date: | 2017–08–30 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:imf:imfwpa:17/191&r=env |
| By: | Nicholas J. Sanders; Ryan Sandler |
| Abstract: | Personal automobile emissions are a major source of urban air pollution. Many U.S. states control emissions through mandated vehicle inspections and repairs. But there is little empirical evidence directly linking mandated inspections, maintenance, and local air pollution levels. To test for a link, we estimate the contemporaneous effect of inspections on local air quality. We use day-to-day, within-county variation in the number of vehicles repaired and recertified after failing an initial emissions inspection, with individual-level data from 1998–2012 from California’s inspection program. Additional re-inspections of pre-1985 model year vehicles reduce local carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, and particulate matter levels, while re-inspections of newer vehicles with more modern engine technology have no economically significant effect on air pollution. This suggests emissions inspections have become less effective at reducing local air pollution as more high-polluting vehicles from the 1970s and 1980s leave the road, and provides an example of how the social efficiency of programs can change under improving technologies. We also estimate the importance of station quality, using a metric devised for California’s new STAR certification program. We show re-inspections of older vehicles conducted by low quality inspection stations do not change air pollution, while inspections at high quality stations have a moderate effect on pollution concentrations, which suggests the potential for ineffective monitoring at low quality inspection stations. We find little effect on ambient ozone levels, regardless of station quality or vehicle age. |
| JEL: | Q52 Q53 Q58 |
| Date: | 2017–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:nbr:nberwo:23966&r=env |
| By: | Lopez-Uribe, Maria del Pilar; Castells-Quintana, David; McDermott, Thomas K. J. |
| Abstract: | The links between climate change, economic growth and economic development have gained increasing attention over recent years in both the academic and policy literature. However, most of the existing literature has tended to focus on direct, short run effects of climate change on the economy, for example due to extreme weather events and changes in agricultural growing conditions. In this paper we review potential effects of climate change on the prospects for long-run economic development. These effects might operate directly, via the role of geography (including climate) as a fundamental determinant of relative prosperity, or indirectly by modifying the environmental context in which political and economic institutions evolve. We consider potential mechanisms from climate change to long-run economic development that have been relatively neglected to date, including, for instance, effects on the distribution of income and political power. We conclude with some suggestions for areas of future research. |
| JEL: | J1 |
| Date: | 2017 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ehl:lserod:65147&r=env |
| By: | Fouquet, Roger |
| Abstract: | This paper draws lessons from long run trends in energy markets for energy and climate policy. An important lesson is that consumer responses to energy markets change with economic development. The British experience suggests that income elasticities1 of demand for energy services have tended to follow an inverse-U shape curve. Thus, at low levels of economic development, energy service consumption tends to be quite responsive to per capita income changes; at mid-levels, consumption tends to be very responsive to changes in income per capita; and, at high levels, consumption is less responsive to income changes. The paper also highlights the importance of formulating integrated energy service policies to reduce risks to developing countries of locking-in to carbon intensive infrastructure or behaviour. Without guidance and incentives, rapid economic development is likely to lock consumers into high energy service prices in the long run and bind the economy onto a high energy intensity trajectory with major long run economic and environmental impacts. Thus, effective energy service policies in periods of rapid development, such as in China and India at present, are crucial for the long run prosperity of the economy and their future ability to mitigate carbon dioxide emissions. |
| Keywords: | energy history; energy transitions; economic development; climate policy |
| JEL: | N0 |
| Date: | 2016–12–05 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ehl:lserod:67785&r=env |
| By: | Lea Skræp Svenningsen (Department of Food and Resource Economics, University of Copenhagen) |
| Abstract: | This study examines whether people have distributional preferences for the impacts of climate policy when making donations towards such policies. In an online choice experiment, using a real donation mechanism, a representative sample of 95 members of the Danish public are provided 27€ and asked to make 16 donation choices among different climate policy options. The climate policies are described in terms of two main outcome variables, including future effects on income in 2100 and present co-benefits from mitigation action. Both outcomes are described for three specific regions of the world, Western Europe, Southeast Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. For each participant, one policy choice was drawn at random to be realised and the total amount donated by participants was used to purchase and withdraw CO2 quotas and credits in the European Emission Trading Scheme and as a donation to the UN Adaptation Fund. A random parameter logit model shows that distributional concerns matter for people when they donate to climate policy and that elements of both inequity aversion and general altruism influence the choice of climate policy. The results underscore the importance of considering preferences for distributional outcomes when designing climate policy. |
| Keywords: | choice experiment, climate change, inequity aversion, altruism, random parameters logit, intergenerational, distributional social preferences |
| JEL: | D30 D91 Q51 Q54 Q58 |
| Date: | 2017–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:foi:wpaper:2017_11&r=env |
| By: | Florian Knobloch; Hector Pollitt; Unnada Chewpreecha; Jean-Francois Mercure |
| Abstract: | We take a simulation-based approach for modelling ten scenarios, aiming at near-zero global CO2 emissions by 2050 in the residential heating sector, using different combinations of policy instruments. Their effectiveness highly depends on behavioural decision-making by households, especially in a context of deep decarbonisation and rapid transformation. We therefore use the non-equilibrium bottom-up model FTT:Heat, which allows to simulate policy-induced technology transitions in a context of inertia and bounded rationality. Results show that a decarbonisation of residential heating is achievable until 2050, but requires substantial policy efforts from 2020 onwards. Due to long average lifetimes of heating equipment, the transition needs decades rather than years. Policy mixes are projected to be more effective for driving the market of new technologies, compared to the reliance on a carbon tax as the only policy instrument. In combination with subsidies for renewables, near-zero decarbonisation can be achieved with a residential carbon tax of 50-150Euro/tCO2. The policy-induced technology transition would increase heating costs faced by households initially, but lead to net savings in the medium term. From a global perspective, the decarbonisation largely depends on policy-implementation in Europe, North-America, China and Russia. |
| Date: | 2017–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:arx:papers:1710.11019&r=env |
| By: | Heyen, Daniel |
| Abstract: | Technological innovation is a key strategy for tackling climate change and other environmental problems. The required R&D expenditures however are substantial and fall on self-interested countries. Thus, the prospects of successful innovation critically depend on innovation incentives. This paper focuses on a specific mechanism for strategic distortions in this R&D game. In this mechanism, the outlook of future conflicts surrounding technology deployment directly impacts on the willingness to undertake R&D. Apart from free-riding, a different deployment conflict with distortive effects on innovation can occur. Low deployment costs and heterogeneous preferences might give rise to 'free-driving' (Weitzman 2015): The country with the highest preference for technology deployment, the free driver, may dominate the deployment outcome to the detriment of others. The present paper develops a simple two stage model for analysing how technology deployment conflicts, free-riding and free-driving, shape R&D incentives of two asymmetric countries. The framework gives rise to rich findings, underpinning the narrative that future deployment conflicts extend to the R&D stage. While the outlook of free-riding unambiguously weakens innovation incentives, the findings for free-driving are more complex, including the possibility of excessive R&D as well as incentives for counter-R&D. |
| Keywords: | Environmental innovation; R&D game; innovation incentives; externalities; strategic conflicts; climate engineering; geoengineering; free driver externality |
| JEL: | D62 H41 O31 Q54 Q55 |
| Date: | 2016–10–25 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ehl:lserod:68104&r=env |
| By: | González Dávila, Osiel; Koundouri, Phoebe; Pantelidis, Theologos; Papandreou, Andreas |
| Abstract: | In this paper we develop a full-preference ranking Choice Experiment (CE) designed to investigate how respondents evaluate a set of proposed improvements towards sustainable river basin management, as per the prescriptions of the European Union-Water Framework Directive (2000). The CE is applied in the Asopos River Basin (ARB) in Greece. Our interest is to test whether residency in the river basin, or otherwise, affects the preferences of the relevant agents. We first estimate a rank-ordered logistic regression based on a full set of choices in order to calculate the willingness to pay (WTP) of respondents for each one of the three attributes considered in the CE (i.e., environmental conditions, impact on the local economy and changes in the potential uses of water). The model is initially estimated for the full sample and then re-estimated twice for two sub-samples: the first one only includes the residents of Athens and the second only includes the residents of Asopos. Afterwards, we examine the effect of various demographic and socio-economic factors (such as income, gender, age, employment and education) on the estimates of our model in order to reveal any differences among respondents with different characteristics, mainly focusing on whether they reside or have personal experience of the RB under valuation. Thus, our analysis simultaneously provides a robustness check on previous findings in the literature and additional information about how various demographic and socio-economic characteristics affect the evaluation of the selected attributes. |
| Keywords: | choice experiment; full-preference ranking; Asopos River Basin; water quality and quantity; Water Framework Directive; willingness to pay |
| JEL: | Q25 Q51 Q53 |
| Date: | 2017–01–01 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ehl:lserod:68893&r=env |
| By: | Peng Zhang; Olivier Deschenes; Kyle C. Meng; Junjie Zhang |
| Abstract: | This paper uses detailed production data from a half million Chinese manufacturing plants over 1998-2007 to estimate the effects of temperature on firm-level total factor productivity (TFP), factor inputs, and output. We detect an inverted U-shaped relationship between temperature and TFP and show that it primarily drives the temperature-output effect. Both labor- and capital- intensive firms exhibit sensitivity to high temperatures. By mid 21st century, if no additional adaptation were to occur, we project that climate change will reduce Chinese manufacturing output annually by 12%, equivalent to a loss of $39.5 billion in 2007 dollars. This implies substantial local and global economic consequences as the Chinese manufacturing sector produces 32% of national GDP and supplies 12% of global exports. |
| JEL: | L60 O14 O44 Q54 Q56 |
| Date: | 2017–11 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:nbr:nberwo:23991&r=env |
| By: | Lutz Sager |
| Abstract: | This paper analyses the relationship between the distribution of income and the carbon dioxide content of household consumption. Household carbon is estimated by linking expenditure data to productive sectors and their carbon intensity derived through input-output analysis. Environmental Engel curves (EECs) are estimated, which describe the relationship between household income and CO2 in the United States between 1996 and 2009. A second-degree polynomial specification in income is found to approximate well the fit of more flexible nonparametric models. These parametric EECs are used to decompose the within-year household carbon inequality as well as the evolution of household carbon over time. In both cases, household income appears to be a main driver of carbon consumption. A potential “equity-pollution dilemma” is described and a method to quantify it is proposed. Assuming (conditional) homogeneity in preferences, EEC estimates predict that progressive income transfers would raise household carbon by 5.1% at the margin and by about 2.3% under complete income redistribution in 2009. |
| Date: | 2017–11 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:lsg:lsgwps:wp285&r=env |
| By: | Alexander Mackie (OECD); Sarah Sentier (OECD); Ivan Haščič (OECD); Myriam Linster (OECD) |
| Abstract: | This paper details a methodology for calculating the extent of terrestrial and marine protected areas recorded in the World Database on Protected Areas by country, type and IUCN management categories. The method allows the data on protected areas to be summarised in a harmonised and more detailed way than is currently available, without requiring any additional reporting by countries. When used in combination with other information about protected areas, this new indicator can help better understand the extent and focus of countries’ conservation efforts. |
| Keywords: | biodiversity, ecosystems, nature conservation, nature protection, protected areas |
| JEL: | Q24 Q28 Q57 Q58 R14 R52 |
| Date: | 2017–11–21 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:oec:envaaa:126-en&r=env |
| By: | Elke D. Groh (University of Kassel); Andreas Ziegler (University of Kassel) |
| Abstract: | This paper examines the acceptance of burden sharing rules that refer to the costs of the German energy transition, which is one of the most challenging and disputed national climate and energy policy measures. Based on data from a comprehensive survey of more than 2,200 citizens, the empirical analysis reveals that the polluter-pays rule has by far the highest support compared with the ability-to-pay rule and especially compared with the equal-pay rule, which is widely refused in the sample. Since the distribution of the costs of the German energy transition is largely in line with the polluter-pays rule, its strong support seems to contribute to the high acceptance of the energy transition at all. The main result of our econometric analysis with multivariate binary and ordered probit models is that not only some attitudinal factors like environmental values and political identification, but especially economic self-interest is relevant since (equivalent) energy expenditures have a significantly negative effect on the support of the polluter-pays rule and especially (equivalent) income has a significantly negative effect on the preference for the ability-to-pay rule. These results suggest that the use of distributional arguments for the criticism of energy policy measures is not necessarily value-driven on the basis of real perceptions of distributive justice, but can also be strategically motivated to prevent and combat economically unfavorable measures. Together with the strong general support of the polluter-pays rule, these results suggest that a sharp reorientation of the German energy transition due to distributional arguments is not very useful. |
| Keywords: | Climate change; climate and energy policy measures; burden sharing rules; eco-nomic self-interest; attitudinal factors; multivariate binary and ordered probit models |
| JEL: | Q54 Q48 Q42 |
| Date: | 2017 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:mar:magkse:201754&r=env |
| By: | Drupp, Moritz A. |
| Abstract: | This paper examines implications of limits to substitution for estimating substitutability between ecosystem services and manufactured goods and for social discounting. Based on a model that accounts for a subsistence requirement in the consumption of ecosystem services, we provide empirical evidence on substitution elasticities. We find an initial mean elasticity of substitution of two, which declines over time towards complementarity. We subsequently extend the theory of dual discounting by introducing a subsistence requirement. The relative price of ecosystem services is non-constant and grows without bound as the consumption of ecosystem services declines towards the subsistence level. An application suggests that the initial discount rate for ecosystem services is more than a percentage-point lower as compared to manufactured goods. This difference increases by a further half percentage-point over a 300-year time horizon. The results underscore the importance of considering limited substitutability in long-term public project appraisal. |
| Keywords: | dual discounting; ecosystem services; limited substitutability; project evaluation; sustainability |
| JEL: | D61 D90 H43 Q01 Q57 |
| Date: | 2016–10–17 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ehl:lserod:68298&r=env |
| By: | Hubert Stahn (Aix-Marseille Univ. (Aix-Marseille School of Economics), CNRS, EHESS and Centrale Marseille) |
| Abstract: | This paper explores the main differences between the Shapley Values of a set of taxa introduced by Haake et al. [4] and Fuchs and Jin [3], the latter having been found identical to the Fair Proportion Index (Redding and Mooers [10]). In line with Shapley [13], we identify the cooperative game basis for each of these two classes of phylogenetic games and use them (i) to construct simple formulas for these two Shapley values and (ii) to compare these different approaches. Using the set of weights of a phylogenetic tree as a parameter space, we then discuss the conditions under which these two values coincide and, if they are not the same, revisit Hartman's [5] convergence result. Finally, we compare the species ranking induced by these two values. Considering the Kendal and the Spearman rank correlation coefficient, simulations show that these rankings are strongly correlated. |
| Keywords: | biodiversity, phylogenetic trees, Shapley value, Fair Proportion index |
| Date: | 2017–11 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:aim:wpaimx:1741&r=env |
| By: | Rodríguez, Adrián G.; Mondaini, Andrés O.; Hitschfeld, Maureen A. |
| Abstract: | La bioeconomía ha ganado importancia durante la última década como marco de referencia para el diseño e implementación de políticas de desarrollo productivo e innovación. sobre todo, ante la necesidad de transitar a formas de producción en las que se minimice o elimine la generación de desechos y el uso de combustibles fósiles. El objetivo de este documento es contribuir a incrementar el conocimiento del tema en la región, sobre todo sus alcances como marco de referencia para las políticas públicas de desarrollo e innovación y que contribuyen al cambio estructural. |
| Keywords: | ECONOMIA, CIENCIAS BIOLOGICAS, ECONOMIA AMBIENTAL, POLITICA ECONOMICA, POLITICA INDUSTRIAL, PRODUCTIVIDAD INDUSTRIAL, EXPORTACIONES, COMPETITIVIDAD, DATOS ESTADISTICOS, ECONOMICS, LIFE SCIENCES, ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMICS, ECONOMIC POLICY, INDUSTRIAL POLICY, INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTIVITY, EXPORTS, COMPETITIVENESS, STATISTICAL DATA |
| Date: | 2017–11 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ecr:col026:42427&r=env |
| By: | Muhammad Kabir Salihu; Andrea Guariso |
| Abstract: | Do changes in the distribution of rainfall between ethnic groups increase the risk of armed conflicts within Nigeria? In this paper, we exploit variation in rainfall during the growing season, to study how resource inequality between ethnic groups affects the risks of violent conflicts in Nigeria. Our main results show that a one standard deviation change in between-group rainfall inequality during the growing season increases civil conflicts prevalence in Nigeria by about seven percentage points. This relationship is driven, in part, by declining social capital. Specifically, we demonstrated that an unequal distribution of rainfall between ethnic groups reinforces citizens grievances over government performance and creates mistrust between predominantly farming communities and those engaged in nomadic herding. The analysis highlights the need to develop conflict-sensitive mitigation and adaptation strategies to reduce the adverse effects of climatic shock. |
| Keywords: | Conflict, Inequality, Rainfall, Trust, Nigeria |
| JEL: | D63 D74 E01 |
| Date: | 2017 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:lan:wpaper:205618510&r=env |
| By: | Bovens, Luc |
| Abstract: | Considerations of objective-value freedom and status freedom do impose constraints on policies that restrict access to cigarettes. As to the objective-value freedom, something of value is lost when anti-alcohol policies lead to pub closures interfering with valued life styles, and a similar, though weaker, argument can be made for cigarettes. As to status freedom, non-arbitrariness requires consultation with vulnerable populations to learn what might aid them with smoking cessation. |
| JEL: | B14 B24 P2 P3 |
| Date: | 2016–06–13 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ehl:lserod:66154&r=env |
| By: | Ballestero, Maureen; López Lee, Tania |
| Abstract: | Este documento analiza el Nexo entre el agua, la energía y la alimentación en la cuenca del río Reventazón en Costa Rica. La atención se concentra en la parte alta de la cuenca, en especial en la zona norte de la provincia de Cartago, por ser donde se encuentran los mayores conflictos e interrelaciones del Nexo. Esta cuenca tiene particularidades que la hacen estratégica para el desarrollo del país y que se consideran favorables para analizar de manera específica las interrelaciones del Nexo. |
| Keywords: | RECURSOS HIDRICOS, RECURSOS ENERGETICOS, AGRICULTURA, AGUA, CUENCAS FLUVIALES, ALIMENTOS, PRODUCCION ALIMENTARIA, DATOS ESTADISTICOS, WATER RESOURCES, ENERGY RESOURCES, AGRICULTURE, WATER, RIVER BASINS, FOOD, FOOD PRODUCTION, STATISTICAL DATA |
| Date: | 2017–11 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ecr:col042:42507&r=env |
| By: | Kerry Anne McGeary; Dhaval M. Dave; Brandy J. Lipton; Timothy Roeper |
| Abstract: | As evidence of the negative effects of environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) has mounted, an increasingly popular public policy response has been to impose restrictions on smoking through 100% smoke-free bans. Yet sparse information exists regarding the impact these smoking bans at the state and local levels have on the health of children and infants. A rationale for expansion of smoke-free laws implicitly presumes that potential public health gains from reducing adult cigarette consumption and declines in adult ETS exposure extend to children. However, if smokers compensate by shifting their consumption of cigarettes from public venues that impose a 100% smoke free ban to smoking at home, then these policies may have a harmful effect on children and infants. This study provides comprehensive estimates of how 100% smoke-free regulations impact the venue of smoking, smoking behaviors, and the health of children and infants. Using models that exploit state- and county-level changes to smoking ban legislation over time, estimates suggest that smoking bans have improved the health of both infants and children, mainly through implementation of more comprehensive bans. Further, we find no evidence of compensatory behaviors among smokers (both smokers with and without children in the household), and actually find that the bans had a positive spillover effect in terms of reducing smoking inside the home – an effect which may further explain the improvement in infant and children’s health. |
| JEL: | D1 H0 I1 K0 |
| Date: | 2017–11 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:nbr:nberwo:23995&r=env |