|
on Environmental Economics |
|
Issue of 2019‒09‒09
forty-nine papers chosen by Francisco S. Ramos Universidade Federal de Pernambuco |
| By: | Christina Littlejohn; Stef Proost |
| Abstract: | The transport sector is the only sector where carbon emissions continue to grow. This has led policy makers to propose ambitious policies to reduce emissions in the car sector, in particular fuel efficiency standards, portfolio mandates for Electric Vehicles and purchase taxes or subsidies. A portfolio mandate describes a minimum quota of annual electric vehicle sales. We use a two-period model for the car manufacturing sector to compare the cost efficiency of these policies. The model has gasoline fuelled cars (GV) compete with battery electric cars (EV). Both types of cars have endogenous technological progress that is triggered by environmental policies, including tradable fuel efficiency standards, portfolio mandates, carbon taxes, purchase taxes and R&D subsidies. EVs can serve as batteries that permit grid operators to shift off peak (renewable) electricity to peak hour supply. The model is calibrated to evaluate the EU policy to reduce average carbon emissions of cars by 37,5% in 2030. We assess the cost-efficiency of three types of policy instruments evaluating production costs, fuel costs, and externalities. We find that a fuel efficiency standard targeting gasoline cars achieves emission reductions at a much lower cost than a portfolio mandate for Electric cars. |
| Keywords: | electric vehicles, EU climate policy, climate change, portfolio mandate, R&D |
| JEL: | Q54 Q58 |
| Date: | 2019 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ces:ceswps:_7789&r=all |
| By: | Anthony Wiskich |
| Abstract: | Different optimal tax paths for short-lived methane and long-lived carbon arise in a cost-benefit framework with an unknown temperature threshold where severe and irreversible climate impacts, called a tipping point, occurs. Tax paths are compared with a cost minimising approach where an upper-temperature limit is set. In both approaches, the weight (ratio) of methane to carbon taxes converge to the same value by the end of the peak temperature stabilisation period. Numerical results from the cost-benefit framework suggest: the optimal weight is close to the current United Nations policy of a 100-year Global Warming Potential; and the time-frame should decrease to align with the expected end of peak temperature. |
| Keywords: | Climate change, tipping points, optimal policy, optimal taxes, global warming potential |
| JEL: | H23 O44 Q30 Q40 Q54 Q56 Q58 |
| Date: | 2019–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:een:camaaa:2019-65&r=all |
| By: | Baiardi, Donatella |
| Abstract: | Yes, they matter. To reply to this question, we assess the impact of energy efficiency and renewable energy policies on six different air pollutants: carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxides (N2O), non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs), nitrogen oxides (NOx) and sulphur dioxide (SO2) in the case of the Italian provinces in the decade 2005-2015. The empirical analysis is performed in a panel data context by means of propensity score matching with multiple treatment, since our framework is characterized by the presence of two treatments, corresponding to the two different energy policies analyzed, i.e. energy efficiency policy and renewable policy. These two policies can be applied by each province as mutually exclusive strategies or as joint strategies. Our results show that renewable policies are the most efficient in terms of climate goals especially when planned on a local scale, while energy efficiency policies alone are ineffective. Moreover, the success of these policies depends on the type of pollutant to be reduced. Finally, we note that the effect of these two policies was reinforced by the counter-cyclical fiscal policies implemented to contrast the Global Financial Crisis in 2008. |
| Keywords: | Energy efficiency policies,Renewable energy policies,Global air pollutants,Local air pollutants,Propensity score matching with multiple treatment,Italian provinces |
| JEL: | Q50 Q40 Q53 Q58 |
| Date: | 2019 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:esprep:202077&r=all |
| By: | Anthony Wiskich |
| Abstract: | This paper describes an integrated assessment model with an unknown temperature threshold where severe and irreversible climate impacts, called a tipping point, occurs. The possibility of tipping leads to the following linked outcomes: a prolonged period of peak temperature; a rebound in emissions prior to and during peak temperature; and a fall in the optimal carbon tax as a ratio of output prior to and during peak temperature. Although tipping can occur in any period where temperature rises to a new maximum, the optimal carbon price can be calculated from future temperature outcomes conditional on no tipping. Learning that tipping has not occurred lowers the tax. |
| Keywords: | Climate change, tipping points, optimal policy, optimal taxes |
| JEL: | H23 O44 Q30 Q40 Q54 Q56 Q58 |
| Date: | 2019–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:een:camaaa:2019-64&r=all |
| By: | Buchholz, Matthias; Mußhoff, Oliver; Peth, Denise |
| Abstract: | Pesticides are an important input in modern agriculture. However, intensive use of pesticides is also related to adverse effects on the environment and human health. While implementation of pesticide taxes with the intent to reduce pesticide applications has been widely discussed, green nudges are considered as innovative policy tools to foster environmental friendly behaviour. To date, little is known about the effects of these policy tools at the farm level. With this in mind, we use a business management game to investigate how a pesticide tax and a green nudge affect crop, tillage and pesticide decisions for a ‘virtual’ farm. Results from a sample of German agricultural students reveal that both policies are able to reduce the amount of pesticides applied. However, implementation of the pesticide tax also involves a substantial profit loss. Unlike in the green nudge treatment, participants under pesticide tax adjust their cropping and tillage strategies which could involve unintended ecological effects. |
| Keywords: | Environmental Economics and Policy, Farm Management |
| Date: | 2019–08–26 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:gewi19:292279&r=all |
| By: | Toshi H. Arimura (Faculty of Political Science and Economics & Research Institute for Environmental Economics and Management (RIEEM), Waseda University, 1?6?1 Nishiwaseda, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 169?8050, Japan.); Tatsuya Abe (Graduate School of Economics, Waseda University, 1-6-1 Nishiwaseda, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 169-8050, Japan.) |
| Abstract: | The Tokyo ETS is the first emission trading scheme to control GHG emissions from office buildings. Although the Tokyo government claimed that Tokyo ETS had been successful, some argued that the emission reduction under Tokyo ETS was actually the result of electric power price increases triggered by the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011. Using a facility-level data set for Japanese office buildings, we conducted an econometric analysis to examine the impact of Tokyo ETS. We found that half of the emission reduction is a result of the ETS, while the rest of the reduction is due to the electricity power price increase. Another unique feature of Tokyo ETS is that an accurate permit price is not publicly available due to its design. Using our estimated model, we found that the price is approximately $50 per ton of CO2 in the early phase. |
| Keywords: | Emission Trading Scheme, Electricity, Micro Data, Office buildings, Climate Change |
| JEL: | Q54 Q41 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:was:dpaper:1908&r=all |
| By: | Ma?gorzata Holka (Institute for Agricultural and Forest Environment, Polish Academy of Sciences); Jerzy Bie?kowski (Institute for Agricultural and Forest Environment, Polish Academy of Sciences) |
| Abstract: | Crop production induces emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG) and other harmful substances to the environment. In view of the environmental protection, it is essential to find solutions for reducing the negative impacts of crop cultivation. Currently, no-tillage systems are becoming more and more popular in grain maize production due to their economic and environmental benefits. The aim of the study was to assess the environmental impact of grain maize production in different soil tillage systems. The study was conducted in 20 farms, located in the Wielkopolska voivodship (Poland), during the period 2015-2017. The cultivation of grain maize in three soil tillage systems: traditional tillage, reduced tillage and direct sowing was analyzed. Data included field characteristics, type and duration of technological operations and agricultural production inputs: seeds, fertilizers, plant protection products, fuel, engine fuel, lubricants, agricultural machinery. Assessment was performed according to the life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology. LCA was carried out from "cradle-to farm gate", i.e. from the manufacturing of means of production through to the process of crop cultivation and harvesting. Results analysis have been referenced to functional unit of 1 ha of grain maize cultivation. The following impact category indicators have been calculated: the global warming potential, the eutrophication potential, the acidification potential, the photochemical ozone creation potential and the abiotic resources depletion potential. The carbon sequestration potential associated with maize cultivation in each tillage system was estimated. The values of impact category indicators, especially in the case of global warming potential, acidification potential and eutrophication potential depended mainly on fertilization. GHG emissions from processes of soil cultivation and sowing of grain maize were largest in traditional tillage mainly due to larger fuel consumption and use of agricultural machinery in comparison to reduced tillage and direct sowing. In grain maize cultivation, carbon inputs to soil from the applied natural fertilizers and plant residues ploughed in lead to increased soil carbon sequestration and contribute to reductions in GHG emissions.The study was carried out in the frame of the research project funded by the National Science Centre, Poland. Project No. 2015/19/N/HS4/03031. Project tittle: Environmental life cycle assessment and life cycle costing of grain crop production in different soil tillage systems. |
| Keywords: | grain maize, soil tillage systems, environmental impact, life cycle assessment, impact category indicators |
| JEL: | Q54 Q57 |
| Date: | 2019–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:sek:iacpro:9211579&r=all |
| By: | Ni, Yuanming (Dept. of Business and Management Science, Norwegian School of Economics) |
| Abstract: | More and more fishery researchers begin to acknowledge that one-dimensional biomass models may omit key information when generating management guidelines. For the more complicated age-structured models, numerous parameters require a proper estimation or a reasonable assumption. In this paper, the effects of recruitment patterns and environmental impacts on the optimal exploitation of a fish population are investigated. Based on a discrete-time age-structured bioeconomic model of Northeast Atlantic mackerel, we introduce the mechanisms that generate 6 scenarios of the problem. Using the simplest scenario, optimizations are conducted under 8 different parameter combinations. Then, the problem is solved for each scenario and simulations are conducted with constant fishing mortalities. It is found that a higher environmental volatility leads to more net profits but with a lower probability of achieving the mean values. Any parameter combination that favours the older fish tends to lend itself to pulse fishing pattern. The simulations indicate that a constant fishing mortality around 0.06 performs the best. A comparison between the optimal and the historical harvest shows that for more than 70% of the time, the optimal exploitation precedes the historical one, leading to 43% higher net profit and 34% lower fishing cost. |
| Keywords: | Age-structured; bioeconomic; recruitment; optimization |
| JEL: | C44 C61 Q00 Q20 Q22 Q50 |
| Date: | 2019–09–03 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hhs:nhhfms:2019_004&r=all |
| By: | OECD |
| Abstract: | Embracing new technologies that could enable drastic reductions in GHG emissions will be key to delivering low-emissions pathways for growth, but it is not always obvious what the big breakthroughs will look like. This report looks at how blockchain technology can be applied to support sustainable infrastructure investment that is aligned with climate change objectives. It focuses on three key points: the financing of infrastructure initiatives, the creation of visibility and alignment of climate action, and the provisioning of awareness and access for institutions and consumers. |
| Date: | 2019–09–05 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:oec:envaac:16-en&r=all |
| By: | Fethi Amri (University of Carthage, Faculty of Economics and Management of Nabeul) |
| Abstract: | This study examines the relationship between innovation and environmental sustainability in Tunisia over the 1971-2014 period. For this reason, the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) with break-point method and the Granger causality tests are performed. In the current study, the total patent is considered as a measure of innovation. Our outcome goes in the direction of non-acceptance of the Kuznets hypothesis. In addition, the impact of energy consumption on CO2 emissions is positive. Moreover, even if the effect of technological innovation is directly insignificant, it indirectly contributes to lessen the effect of energy consumption. Furthermore, in the long and short terms, there are feedback links between economic growth and energy consumption, between pollution and both economic growth and energy consumption. In the long and short runs, there is also a one-way impact going from technological innovation variable to energy consumption one while there is no causality between technological innovation on the one hand and economic growth and CO2 emissions on the other hand. Consequently, policy makers should stimulate innovatively and enhance technologic capacity in Tunisia. |
| Date: | 2019–08–21 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:erg:wpaper:1323&r=all |
| By: | Uthes, Sandra; Herrera, Beatriz |
| Abstract: | There is a growing demand in the last years for farm-level sustainability data reflected in various initiatives from farmers, science and food or related industries. The broad aim to develop viable food production systems, through supporting the sustainable management of natural resources and climate action and to strive for more balanced territorial development are core values within the EU and are reflected in the changing Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). The CAP is one of the key drives of agricultural practice across the EU, it has become more oriented towards the concepts of sustainability reflecting these higher order objectives. The EU operates a farm-level monitoring system, the Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN), which acts as a check to establish if such successful change is being achieved, currently the primary focus is on the economic dimension of sustainability. This article uses an FADN farm sample for which both FADN and additional sustainability data were available form a data collection carried out by the EU-project FLINT. In particular, we compare the relationship between input intensity, efficiency and sustainability. Sustainability performance of the farms is compared by applying sustainability thresholds as identified in a literature survey. The farms were grouped according to their degree of efficiency and sustainability and possible relationships with farm characteristics are analysed. Based on farm benchmarking, around one half of the farms was observed to be neither efficient nor sustainable, while 15% met our criteria for being classified as efficient and sustainable. The results of our study are not representative but illustrative and can be a starting point for further analyses in this field. |
| Keywords: | Agricultural and Food Policy, Farm Management, Productivity Analysis |
| Date: | 2019–09–04 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:gewi19:292342&r=all |
| By: | Buschmann, Christoph; Röder, Norbert |
| Abstract: | Growing evidence suggests that biodiversity in the agricultural landscape is declining sharply. Farmland birds are particularly affected, the population of the lapwing (Vanellus vanellus) has been decreasing strongly in Germany. Up to now the European Union has tried to tackle the problem of biodiversity loss mainly with voluntary (second pillar) agri-environmental schemes financed by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD). However, only a small fraction of the agricultural land is enrolled in such programs. We analyze a potential scheme to protect the lapwing in order to identify drivers and inhibitors of acceptance. The analysis is based on a discrete choice experiment with 270 arable farmers in Germany. Results show that those scheme attributes associated with EAFRD compliance, the type of sanctioning and a minimum participation period of five years, particularly reduce the farmers’ acceptance. Results for other attributes indicate that farmers’ preferences and ecological requirements often contradict each other, so that they constitute an economic-ecological trade-off. Finally, the paper sketches how the identified weak spots of biodiversity protection schemes may be tackled under a different regime of Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). Here, we take up the current CAP reform proposals of the European Commission. |
| Keywords: | Environmental Economics and Policy, Land Economics/Use, Resource /Energy Economics and Policy |
| Date: | 2019–08–26 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:gewi19:292288&r=all |
| By: | Pestel, Nico (IZA); Wozny, Florian (IZA) |
| Abstract: | This paper studies health effects from restricting the access of high-emission vehicles to innercities by implementing Low Emission Zones. For identification, we exploit variation in the timing and the spatial distribution of the introduction of new Low Emission Zones across cities in Germany. We use detailed hospitalization data combined with geo-coded information on the coverage of Low Emission Zones. We find that Low Emission Zones significantly reduce levels of air pollution in urban areas and that these improvements in air quality translate into population health benefits. The number of diagnoses related to air pollution is significantly reduced for hospitals located within or in close proximity to a Low Emission Zone after it becomes effective. The results are mainly driven by reductions in chronic cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. |
| Keywords: | Low Emission Zone, air pollution, health, Germany |
| JEL: | I18 Q52 Q53 |
| Date: | 2019–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iza:izadps:dp12545&r=all |
| By: | Ambec, Stefan (Toulouse School of Economics, University of Toulouse Capitol (INRA) and University of Gothenburg); Coria, Jessica (Department of Economics, School of Business, Economics and Law, Göteborg University) |
| Abstract: | We propose informational spillovers as a new rationale for the use of multiple policy instruments to mitigate a single externality. We investigate the design of a pollution standard when the firms’ abatement costs are unknown and emissions are taxed. A firm might abate pollution beyond what is required by the standard by equalizing its marginal abatement costs to the tax rate, thereby revealing information about its abatement cost. We analyze how a regulator can take advantage of this information to design the standard. In a dynamic setting, the regulator relaxes the initial standard in order to induce more information revelation, which would allow her to set a standard closer to the first best in the second period. Updating standards, though, generates a ratchet effect since the low-cost firms might strategically hide their cost by abating no more than required by the standard. We provide conditions for the separating equilibrium to hold when firms act strategically. We illustrate our theoretical results with the case of NOx regulation in Sweden. We find evidence that the firms that are taxed experience more frequent standard updates. |
| Keywords: | pollution; externalities; asymmetric information; environmental regulation; tax; standards; multiple policies; ratchet effect; nitrogen oxides |
| JEL: | D04 D21 H23 L51 Q48 Q58 |
| Date: | 2019–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hhs:gunwpe:0774&r=all |
| By: | Trilnick, Itai |
| Keywords: | Productivity Analysis |
| Date: | 2019–06–25 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aaea19:291195&r=all |
| By: | Adjei-Mantey, Kwame; Adusah-Poku, Frank |
| Abstract: | The continent of Africa has experienced its fair share of natural disasters historically and in contemporary times. The effect of natural disasters on economic growth has generated useful but inconclusive debates in the literature. Different studies have found positive, negative or no significant effects at all in some cases of disasters on growth. This makes the question of what impacts natural disasters have on an economy’s growth a purely empirical one and more meaningful to be examined on a case by case basis. Using panel data solely for the continent of Africa from 1980-2015, our regression results show a significant negative effect of natural disasters on economic growth, growth in agricultural value-added and growth in industrial value-added. Additionally, our results also show that disaster effect appears and persists in the post-year periods. The negative relationship between economic growth and disasters is also robust to different disaster measures. We recommend the need to invest in the modernization of the agricultural sector in Africa with the goal of withstanding the negative effects of natural disasters. |
| Keywords: | Africa, economic growth, disaster measures, natural disasters, climate change |
| JEL: | O44 O47 Q54 |
| Date: | 2019–03–01 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:95588&r=all |
| By: | Ambec, Stefan; Coria, Jessica |
| Abstract: | We propose informational spillovers as a new rationale for the use of multiple policy instruments to mitigate a single externality. We investigate the design of a pollution standard when the firms' abatement costs are unknown and emissions are taxed. A firm might abate pollution beyond what is required by the standard by equalizing its marginal abatement costs to the tax rate, thereby revealing information about its abatement cost. We analyze how a regulator can take advantage of this information to design the standard. In a dynamic setting, the regulator relaxes the initial standard in order to induce more information revelation, which would allow her to set a standard closer to the first best in the second period. Updating standards, though, generates a ratchet effect since the low-cost firms might strategically hide their cost by abating no more than required by the standard. We provide conditions for the separating equilibrium to hold when firms act strategically. We illustrate our theoretical results with the case of NOx regulation in Sweden. We find evidence that the firms that are taxed experience more frequent standard updates. |
| Keywords: | pollution, externalities, asymmetric information, environmental regulation, tax,; standards, multiple policies, ratchet effect, nitrogen oxides. |
| Date: | 2019–09–04 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:tse:wpaper:123350&r=all |
| By: | Simplice A. Asongu (Yaoundé/Cameroon); Rexon T. Nting (London, UK); Joseph Nnanna (The Development Bank of Nigeria, Abuja, Nigeria) |
| Abstract: | This study investigates linkages between environmental degradation, globalisation and governance in 44 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa using data for the period 2000-2012. The Generalised Method of Moments is employed as empirical strategy. Environmental degradation is proxied by carbon dioxide emissions whereas globalisation is appreciated in terms of trade openness and net foreign direct investment inflows. Bundled and unbundled governance indicators are used, namely: political governance (consisting of political stability/no violence and “voice & accountability†), economic governance (encompassing government effectiveness and regulation quality), institutional governance (entailing corruption-control and the rule of law) and general governance (a composite measurement of political governance, economic governance and institutional governance). The following main finding is established. Trade openness modulates carbon dioxide emissions to have positive net effects on political stability, economic governance, the rule of law and general governance. |
| Keywords: | Carbon dioxide emissions; Economic development; Africa |
| JEL: | C52 O38 O40 O55 P37 |
| Date: | 2019–01 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:exs:wpaper:19/051&r=all |
| By: | Matthias Jordan; Volker Lenz; Markus Millinger; Katja Oehmichen; Daniela Thr\"an |
| Abstract: | Meeting the defined greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction targets in Germany is only possible by switching to renewable technologies in the energy sector. A major share of that reduction needs to be covered by the heat sector, which accounts for ~35% of the energy based emissions in Germany. Biomass is the renewable key player in the heterogeneous heat sector today. Its properties such as weather independency, simple storage and flexible utilization open up a wide field of applications for biomass. However, in a future heat sector fulfilling GHG reduction targets and energy sectors being increasingly connected: which bioenergy technology concepts are competitive options against other renewable heating systems? In this paper, the cost optimal allocation of the limited German biomass potential is investigated under longterm scenarios using a mathematical optimization approach. The model results show that bioenergy can be a competitive option in the future. Especially the use of biomass from residues can be highly competitive in hybrid combined heat and power (CHP) pellet combustion plants in the private household sector. However, towards 2050, wood based biomass use in high temperature industry applications is found to be the most cost efficient way to reduce heat based emissions by 95% in 2050. |
| Date: | 2019–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:arx:papers:1908.10065&r=all |
| By: | Izabela Styczynska; Karolina Zubel |
| Abstract: | EuroPACE is an innovative financial mechanism inspired by an American building improvement initiative called Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE). The innovative character of the EuroPACE mechanism is that financing through EuroPACE is linked to the taxes paid on a property. In other words, the financing lent by a private investor is repaid through property taxes and other charges related to the buildings. EuroPACE is therefore in line with the EC’s objectives of (1) putting EE first, (2) contributing to the EU’s global leadership, and (3) empowering consumers to enable MS to reach their energy and climate targets for 2030. Last but not least, EuroPACE could contribute to the democratisation of the energy supply by offering cash-flow positive, decentralised EE solutions. The EuroPACE mechanism engages several stakeholders in the process: local government, investors, equipment installers, and homeowners. To establish the EuroPACE programme, several conditions must be satisfied, each of which are relevant for different stakeholder at different stages of the implementation. For the purpose of this report, we divided these criteria into two categories: key criteria, which make the implementation possible, and complementary criteria, which make the implementation easier. For the time being, it is a pure hypothesis to be tested with potential EuroPACE implementation. |
| Keywords: | energy efficiency, local and regional authorities, on-tax financing, property taxation, renewable energy sources, residential retrofits |
| JEL: | G23 H71 O13 O18 R11 |
| Date: | 2019 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:sec:report:0498&r=all |
| By: | Hausmann, Isabell; Wieck, Christine |
| Abstract: | This work aims to address questions of choice, overlap and synergies across different indicator systems with a focus on CAP indicators and the SDG indicator system. In a comparative, descriptive analysis, we qualitatively compare the indicators chosen for the measuring of the EU agricultural sector and SDG performance and identify synergies, overlap or lack of alignment. The results further the understanding of synergies and linkages between the indicator systems and facilitate an informed policy debate about potential achievement of policy goals. |
| Keywords: | Agricultural and Food Policy, Environmental Economics and Policy |
| Date: | 2019–08–26 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:gewi19:292309&r=all |
| By: | Gammans, Matthew; Mérel, Pierre |
| Keywords: | Production Economics |
| Date: | 2019–06–25 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aaea19:291174&r=all |
| By: | Carlos A. Chávez (Universidad de Talca and Interdisciplinary Center for Aquaculture Research (INCAR)); James J. Murphy (Department of Economics, University of Alaska Anchorage and Economic Science Institute, Chapman University); John K. Stranlund (Department of Resource Economics, University of Massachusetts-Amherst) |
| Abstract: | This work presents the results of framed field experiments designed to study the co-enforcement of access to common pool resources. The experiments were conducted in the field with participants in the territorial use rights in fisheries (TURFs) management scheme that regulates access to nearshore fisheries along the coast of Chile. In the experiments, TURF members not only decided on harvest but also invested in monitoring to deter poaching by outsiders. Treatments varied whether the monitoring investment was an individual decision or determined by a group vote. Per-unit sanctions for poaching were exogenous as if provided by a government authority, and we varied the sanction level. Our results suggest that co-enforcement, in which monitoring for poaching is provided by resource users and sanctions are levied by the government, can reduce poaching levels. Monitoring investments were not high enough to lift the expected marginal penalty for poaching above the marginal gain from poaching when the sanction for poaching was low, but expected marginal penalties were higher than the marginal gain from poaching when the sanction was high. Despite this, poaching levels were not sensitive to changes in monitoring levels and sanctions. While co-enforcement did not eliminate poaching, it did eliminate the gains from poaching in all but one treatment. |
| Keywords: | experimental economics, Common pool resources; enforcement; field experiments; poaching; territorial use rights fisheries; social dilemma; fisheries management; development economics; co-enforcement |
| JEL: | C72 C90 C93 D70 H41 K42 Q22 Q28 Q56 |
| Date: | 2019 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:chu:wpaper:19-18&r=all |
| By: | Melstrom, Richard T. |
| Keywords: | Resource /Energy Economics and Policy |
| Date: | 2019–06–25 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aaea19:291086&r=all |
| By: | Minda Ma; Weiguang Cai |
| Abstract: | This paper aims to investigate the factors that can mitigate carbon-dioxide (CO2) intensity and further assess CMRBS in China based on a household scale via decomposition analysis. Here we show that: Three types of housing economic indicators and the final emission factor significantly contributed to the decrease in CO2 intensity in the residential building sector. In addition, the CMRBS from 2001-2016 was 1816.99 MtCO2, and the average mitigation intensity during this period was 266.12 kgCO2/household/year. Furthermore, the energy-conservation and emission-mitigation strategy caused CMRBS to effectively increase and is the key to promoting a more significant emission mitigation in the future. Overall, this paper covers the CMRBS assessment gap in China, and the proposed assessment model can be regarded as a reference for other countries and cities for measuring the retrospective CO2 mitigation effect in residential buildings. |
| Date: | 2019–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:arx:papers:1909.01249&r=all |
| By: | Rodriguez, Orlando |
| Keywords: | Resource /Energy Economics and Policy |
| Date: | 2019–06–25 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aaea19:291098&r=all |
| By: | Timu, Anne G. |
| Keywords: | Risk and Uncertainty |
| Date: | 2019–06–25 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aaea19:291282&r=all |
| By: | Haqiqi, Iman; Hertel, Thomas W. |
| Keywords: | Resource /Energy Economics and Policy |
| Date: | 2019–06–25 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aaea19:291097&r=all |
| By: | Cécile Couharde; Rémi Generoso; Olivier Damette; Kamiar Mohaddes |
| Abstract: | This paper examines the growth effects of ENSO events through their interactions with local weather conditions using the Standardized Precipitation and Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) from 1975 to 2014 and over a sample of 74 countries. The inclusion of SPEI in panel estimation makes it possible to control for time-varying country-specific effects of ENSO events, therefore outlining their heterogeneous effects on growth and eliminating a potential source of omitted variable bias. By better identifying the persistence of ENSO effects on local weather conditions, we evidence that ENSO events generate heterogeneous and local effects depending not only on countries' climate regime but also on their weather patterns. Our results suggest that examining the growth effects of ENSO events should thus explicitly account for their interaction with weather patterns to capture more precisely the heterogeneity across countries. |
| Keywords: | Economic growth, ENSO events, Weather conditions |
| JEL: | O44 Q54 R11 |
| Date: | 2019 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:drm:wpaper:2019-17&r=all |
| By: | Imad Moosa (School of Economics, Finance and Marketing, RMIT) |
| Abstract: | Empirical work on the environmental effects of FDI has produced a mixed bag of results, with hardly any evidence for MENA countries. A theoretical model is presented, postulating that whether FDI has a positive or negative effect on the environment depends on the position of the underlying country or region on the environmental Kuznets curve. This paper presents results indicating that FDI leads to environmental degradation in MENA countries and that they fall on the rising sector of the EKC. The theoretical model is supported by the empirical results. |
| Date: | 2019–08–21 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:erg:wpaper:1321&r=all |
| By: | Ahundjanov, Behzod B.; Akhundjanov, Sherzod B. |
| Keywords: | Resource /Energy Economics and Policy |
| Date: | 2019–06–25 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aaea19:291112&r=all |
| By: | Cloete, Schalk; Hirth, Lion |
| Abstract: | Capital-intensive CO2 capture plants become uneconomical at the low running hours implied by a renewables-based power system. To address this challenge, the novel gas switching reforming (GSR) power and hydrogen plant was recently proposed. When electricity is scarce, GSR generates power. When electricity is abundant, rather than shutting down, GSR keeps operating and produces hydrogen instead, maintaining a high capacity factor for all CO2 capture, transport, and storage infrastructure. This study assesses the interplay between this flexible GSR technology and variable renewables using a power system model. The model optimizes investment and hourly dispatch of 13 different technologies to minimize total system costs. Results show that the inclusion of GSR brings substantial benefits relative to conventional CO2 capture. When a CO2 price of €100/ton is implemented, inclusion of GSR increases the optimal wind and solar share from 32% to 47%, lowers total system costs by 8%, and reduces total system emissions from 45 to 4 kgCO2/MWh. In addition, GSR produces clean hydrogen equivalent to about 90% of total electricity demand, which can be used to decarbonize transport and industry. GSR could therefore become a key enabling technology for a decarbonization effort led by wind and solar power. |
| Date: | 2019 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:esprep:202076&r=all |
| By: | Petrolia, Daniel R.; Hwang, Joonghyun |
| Abstract: | We revisit three recently-published papers that apply discrete-choice experiment methods to coastal and marine ecosystem goods and services, in light of attribute non-attendance (AN-A). We find that accounting for AN-A does not always improve model fit, but when it does, the improvement can be substantial. Estimated price and attribute coefficients change, but these changes do not follow a consistent pattern, either in direction or magnitude. Mean attribute increment value (i.e., willingness to pay, WTP) estimates change, but also with no discernible pattern. However, in several cases, generally in those cases where accounting for AN-A improves model fit, we observe substantial improvements in the confidence intervals on WTP, i.e., accounting for AN-A appears to produce much more precise WTP estimates. In short, we find that accounting for AN-A is not always warranted, but when it is, the key payoff appears to be more precise WTP estimates. |
| Keywords: | Environmental Economics and Policy, Research Methods/ Statistical Methods |
| Date: | 2019–09–04 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:misswp:292344&r=all |
| By: | Axenbeck, Janna |
| Abstract: | This paper investigates the effect of environmental innovations on firm profitability with respect to differences between small and medium-sized (SME) and large (LE) enterprises. Using data from the Mannheim Innovation Panel (MIP) 2015, results show that, in general, SME benefit more from environmental innovations than LE. This effect is particularly strong for resource efficiency-improving innovations induced by regulation. These environmental innovations are significantly related to an increase in profits of SME, whilst related to a decrease in profits of LE. A robustness check with data from the MIP 2009, however, does not confirm this result as the effect for LE is insignificant and differences between the two groups cannot be found in this survey wave. A reason why negative effects for LE are observed in the MIP 2015 - but not in the MIP 2009 - might be that most LE had already exploited the potentials of environmental innovations when they were surveyed in the MIP 2015. This is supported by evidence suggesting that size-related differences in the MIP 2015 are driven by a negative relationship between LE's profits and environmental innovations related to externalities that were reduced by innovations in periods before. |
| Keywords: | Firm Behavior,Firm Size,Porter hypothesis,Environmental Technology Adaption,Technological Innovation,Environmental Regulation |
| JEL: | D22 L25 Q52 Q55 Q58 |
| Date: | 2019 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:zewdip:19033&r=all |
| By: | Schillinger, Moritz (University of Basel) |
| Abstract: | In 2017, the Swiss electorate voted to transition the Swiss energy system towards energy efficiency and renewable energy resources. This transition entails many changes to the existing energy technologies and the supporting markets. In particular, this paper focuses on the Swiss electricity balancing markets and their adaptation in the context of the energy transition. I use an operational model for a set of Swiss hydropower plants to quantify the opportunity costs of balancing provision for hydropower under the past, current, and future Swiss balancing market designs. My results show that compared to the former balancing market design, significant cost savings can be achieved by the planned modifications. In addition, I show how the opportunity cost dynamics may change in the future with an increasing share of variable renewable energy in the system. |
| Date: | 2019–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:bsl:wpaper:2019/14&r=all |
| By: | Sebayang, Minda Muliana; Bukit, Rina |
| Abstract: | The size of the company (size) is a factor that affects quality disclosure of environmental impacts. This is related to the number of assets owned by the company where large companies need more funds in managing their operations compared to smaller companies. Companies with large sizes also tend to pay more attention to the quality of disclosure of the company's environmental impact to obtain a good impression from stakeholders. This study aims to obtain empirical evidence about the characteristics of companies that influence the quality of disclosure of the company's environmental impact. |
| Keywords: | environmental quality disclosure; Indonesia; companies’ characteristics; profitability; company size; |
| JEL: | G29 G30 O44 |
| Date: | 2019 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:95520&r=all |
| By: | Lee, Meongsu; Westhoff, Patrick |
| Keywords: | Agricultural and Food Policy |
| Date: | 2019–06–25 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aaea19:290888&r=all |
| By: | Bardt, Hubertus; Schaefer, Thilo |
| Abstract: | In der Diskussion um die Bepreisung von Kohlendioxidemissionen gibt es unterschiedliche Vorschläge von der Erweiterung des europäischen Emissionshandels über einen zusätzlichen Emissionshandel für Verkehr und Wärmeerzeugung bis hin zu einer Besteuerung von Kohlendioxid. All dies hat zum Ziel, den Emissionen einen angemessenen Preis zu geben. Zumeist wird dabei aber nicht berücksichtigt, dass es bereits eine Reihe von sehr unterschiedlichen CO2-Preisen gibt. |
| Date: | 2019 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:iwkkur:492019&r=all |
| By: | Joséphine Leuba |
| Abstract: | The present article describes how the spatial distribution of income in Switzerland is related to natural amenities. We explore the link between inequalities in Swiss municipalities and the presence of lakes, rivers, mountains, good accessibility and green amenities. By using fiscal data on average income, Gini index and density of taxpayers in different income brackets, we confirm that a larger variety of landscape is associated with larger spatial income differentials. We also show that inequalities are more pronounced within municipalities located in a particularly nice environment. |
| Keywords: | Spatial income distribution, natural amenities, income sorting, inequality |
| JEL: | D30 J31 J61 R12 R23 |
| Date: | 2019–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:irn:wpaper:19-04&r=all |
| By: | Pedro Albuquerque (KEDGE Business School [Marseille], AMSE - Aix-Marseille Sciences Economiques - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - AMU - Aix Marseille Université - ECM - Ecole Centrale de Marseille - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique); Wassim Rajhi (Independent Researcher - Independent researcher) |
| Abstract: | Panel VAR methodology is used in this study to empirically evaluate the effects of natural disasters and state fragility on economic and financial dimensions in developing countries such as GDP per capita, banking and financial system deposits, banks' Z-scores, and non-performing loans. Results based on three panels of up to 66 countries and 17 years of annual data indicate that natural disasters and state fragility may cause significant economic and financial disruption in low-income and middle-income countries. Shocks from natural disasters seem to be temporary and detrimental only to non-performing loans, while shocks from state fragility appear to be permanent and to create detrimental economic and financial feedback loops. |
| Keywords: | Banking stability,GDP per capita,Natural disasters,State fragility |
| Date: | 2019–12 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:journl:hal-02270791&r=all |
| By: | Fan, Maoyong; He, Guojun |
| Keywords: | Resource/ Energy Economics and Policy |
| Date: | 2019–06–25 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aaea19:291260&r=all |
| By: | Pieralli, Simone |
| Keywords: | Production Economics |
| Date: | 2019–06–25 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aaea19:291164&r=all |
| By: | Niens, Christine |
| Abstract: | Volunteering is of high importance in Germany. Especially in rural areas, additional volunteers will be needed in the future to fill the gaps in local services and home care. In a similar way, nature conservation depends on the support provided by volunteers in various areas, such as for protecting biodiversity. This study analyses the "Willingness to volunteer" of the German population in three different areas: nature conservation, home care of the elderly and public services, using a quantitative survey (n = 584). Approximately half of the respondents do not exclude volunteering in the future. Results further point to a preference for volunteering in areas of nature conservation and public service instead of volunteering in home care. The interest in volunteering is primarily driven by intrinsic motivation and the respondents' attitudes are not biased by social desirability. |
| Keywords: | Community/Rural/Urban Development |
| Date: | 2019–08–26 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:gewi19:292297&r=all |
| By: | Clara I. González; Soledad Núñez |
| Abstract: | El cambio climático y la transición hacia una economía de bajo carbono involucran al sistema financiero mediante dos vías. Primero, por su papel de canalizador de la financiación necesaria para llevar a cabo las cuantiosas inversiones que requiere el cumplimiento de los Acuerdos de París. En los últimos años, se han producido avances, aún insuficientes, en el desarrollo de nuevos productos, siendo los bonos verdes el instrumento de financiación verde más desarrollado. Segundo, por los riesgos financieros que el cambio climático y la transición hacia una economía de bajo carbono implican que afectan al balance de las entidades financieras y tienen, además, una naturaleza sistémica. Esto hace necesario llevar a cabo un proceso de evaluación de dichos riesgos y de su exposición a ambos, si bien no es una tarea fácil. Hay aún obstáculos y retos que superar, como son la falta de una taxonomía sobre qué es “verde” y qué es “marrón”, la falta de información y de conocimiento de metodologías apropiadas, el horizonte más largo e incierto de estos riesgos, lo cual supone poner en marcha nuevas capacidades e integración de dichos riesgos en toda la organización, así como un enfoque forward looking. Por último, las responsabilidades de los bancos centrales en relación a la supervisión de entidades y de la estabilidad financiera determina que también sea necesario que los bancos centrales integren los aspectos relacionados con el cambio climático en sus prácticas supervisoras y macroprudenciales, así como conocer mejor las implicaciones sistémicas que pueden tener para la economía y el conjunto del sistema financiero. |
| Date: | 2019–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fda:fdaddt:2019-06&r=all |
| By: | Heinrich, Barbara; Wietzke, Alexander; Polaschegg, Marcus; van Waveren, Clara-Sophie |
| Abstract: | Der Biodiversitätsschwund in Agrarlandschaften wird mittlerweile von einer breiten Öffentlichkeit und politisch vielfältig diskutiert. Forderungen, den Trend zu stoppen oder umzukehren, finden zunehmend Gehör. Jedoch herrscht weitgehend Unklarheit darüber, welche konkreten Veränderungen es in welcher Größenordnung in Agrarlandschaften bedarf, um den Biodiversitätsschwund zu stoppen und eine Trendumkehr zu erreichen.In der hier vorgestellten Forschungsarbeit werden Biodiversitätsziele für die Agrarlandschaft definiert und ein Zielkonzept entwickelt, welches Kriterien enthält, die a) aus ökologischer Sicht die Erreichung dieser Ziele erwarten lassen und b) für die Agrarlandschaft konkret anwendbar sind (Operationalisierbarkeit). Ergebnis ist das Konzept ‚Biodiversitätsziele für Agrarlandschaften‘ und seine konkrete Anwendung auf vier Beispielbetrieben. |
| Keywords: | Agricultural and Food Policy, Environmental Economics and Policy, Land Economics/Use |
| Date: | 2019–08–26 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:gewi19:292313&r=all |
| By: | Latacz-Lohmann, Uwe; Breustedt, Gunnar; Herrmann, Claus-Christoph; Schreiner , Julia |
| Abstract: | Die Nutzung von Moorflächen ist eine der größten Treibhausgasquellen in der deutschen Landwirtschaft. In der vorliegenden Studie wurde mit Hilfe eines Discrete Choice Experimentes untersucht, welche Präferenzen 79 Landwirte mit Grünlandnutzung in norddeutschen Mooren für unterschiedliche Ausgestaltungen von Moorschutzverträgen haben. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass Landwirte für Wasserstandanhebungen bis 20 cm unter Flur im Winter und 40 cm im Sommer bei erlaubter organischer Düngung sowie ein Umbruchsverbot bei der Grünlanderneuerung vergleichsweise einfach zu gewinnen sein dürften. Die Durchsetzung von vollständigen Düngungsverboten und die langfristige Unterschutzstellung (20 Jahre oder länger) der Flächen würden in freiwilligen Maßnahmen allerdings teuer werden. Beide Maßnahmen zusammen führen im Durchschnitt der Landwirte zu Zahlungsforderungen von 1000 bis 2000 €/ha pro Jahr. Ein vollständiges Verbot der Grünlanderneuerung kommt mit weiteren ca. 200 €/ha/a hinzu. Eine umbruchlose Nachsaat hingegen wird kaum als Einschränkung gesehen. Ferner scheint es sinnvoll zu sein, die intrinsische Motivation der Landwirte zu berücksichtigen. Boni von bis zu 100 €/ha/a für die Teilnahme arrondierter Flächen sind nicht signifikant. Zusammenfassend hat die Studie für die Gestaltung freiwilliger Moorschutzverträge wichtige Erkenntnisse über die Auflagen geliefert, für die die Landwirte besonders hohe Kompensationen verlangen würden. |
| Keywords: | Environmental Economics and Policy, Land Economics/Use, Resource /Energy Economics and Policy |
| Date: | 2019–08–26 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:gewi19:292276&r=all |
| By: | Zinnbauer, Maximilian; Eysholdt, Max; Kreins, Peter |
| Abstract: | Die aktuelle Debatte um die Verschärfung der Düngeverordnung und die juristische Intervention der EU hat deutlich gemacht, dass es in Teilen der deutschen Landwirtschaft einen Wandel im Nährstoffmanagement geben muss. Um diesen Wandel wissensbasiert und im Hinblick auf umweltrechtliche Vorgaben effizient voranzubringen, sind räumlich differenzierte Informationen zur Nährstoffsituation der Gewässer auf der einen Seite und der Landwirtschaft auf der anderen Seite unerlässlich. Als Teil des Projektes „AGRUM Deutschland“ werden bundesweite Nährstoffbilanzen erstmals auf der Basis der bestverfügbaren Datengrundlage zur landwirtschaftlichen Produktionsstruktur, den InVeKoS-Daten bzw. den Agraratlas-Daten, für die Gemeindeebene berechnet. Als Teil eines agro-hydrologischen Modellverbundes dienen die Bilanzen als Startgröße für die Abschätzung der nährstoffbezogenen Ist-Situation, für die Ausweisung des Minderungsbedarfs und für die Abschätzung der Zielerreichung in Grundwasser, Obeflächengewässern und Meeren. Letztlich erfolgt eine Bewertung möglicher Minderungsmaßnahmen. |
| Keywords: | Agricultural and Food Policy, Environmental Economics and Policy, Farm Management |
| Date: | 2019–08–26 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:gewi19:292311&r=all |
| By: | Joshua S. Graff Zivin; Tong Liu; Yingquan Song; Qu Tang; Peng Zhang |
| Abstract: | The practice of burning agricultural waste is ubiquitous around the world, yet the external human capital costs from those fires have been underexplored. Using data from the National College Entrance Examination (NCEE) and agricultural fires detected by high-resolution satellites in China during 2005 to 2011, this paper investigates the impacts of fires on cognitive performance. To address the endogeneity of agricultural fires, we differentiate upwind fires from downwind fires. We find that a one-standard-deviation increase in the difference between upwind and downwind fires during the exam decreases the total exam score by 1.42 percent of a standard deviation (or 0.6 point), and further decreases the probability of getting into first-tier universities by 0.51 percent of a standard deviation. |
| JEL: | I20 I30 J20 O53 Q10 Q53 |
| Date: | 2019–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:nbr:nberwo:26205&r=all |
| By: | Joseph, Siny |
| Keywords: | Agribusiness |
| Date: | 2019–06–25 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aaea19:290705&r=all |