SABIIA - Sistema Aberto e Integrado de Informação em Agricultura (Sabiia)

Withagen, Cees; Toman, Michael.

Environmental policymakers must address the adverse effects of a number of pollutants that accumulate in the environment. Goals for the regulation of these damages often involve holding long-term emissions below a level deemed to be "dangerous", or outright banning of offending products or processes along with subsidization of more "green" alternatives. This paper builds upon previous studies by Keeler, Spence, and Zeckhauser (1971) and Tahvonen and Withagen (1996) in addressing the optimal long-term management of an accumulative but assimilatable pollutant through policies that restrict more damaging production processes and thereby induce more benign alternatives. Using a simple general equilibrium approach, we consider the possibility that the...

An Application of Mixed Logit Estimation in the Analysis of Producers’ Stated Preferences

Palavras-chave: Stock externalities; Nonconvexities; Sustainable development; Environmental Economics and Policy; Q20; Q28; D62.

Ano: 1998

URL: http://purl.umn.edu/10748

Kipperberg, Gorm; Bond, Craig A.; Hoag, Dana L..

This paper analyzes Colorado Corn producers’ preferences over both private- and environmental public-good production system attributes. Current production practices are characterized by intensive water and chemical use, resulting in non-point source pollution to water bodies as well as soil erosion problems. Data from a stated preference survey are employed to analyze key attributes of experimentally configured irrigation systems, proposed as alternatives to current practices. Panel mixed logit estimations find positive preferences for profit, risk reduction, and, importantly, systems with less environmental impact in terms of nitrate leaching and soil erosion. The results also find presence of significant preference heterogeneity and a complementary...

Pricing Benefit Externalities of Soil Carbon Sequestration in Multifunctional Agriculture

Palavras-chave: Agricultural production; Profit-maximization; Environment; Mixed logit; Stated preference; Attribute part-worth; Nitrate leaching; Soil erosion; Risk; Crop Production/Industries; C10; D62; Q12; Q15; Q51.

Ano: 2008

URL: http://purl.umn.edu/108719

The Environmental Kuznets Curve in a World of Irreversibility

Hartell, Jason G..

“Multifunctionality” emphasizes the benefit externality properties of nonfood products that coincide with agricultural commodity production, some of which also have public-good properties. However, determining the willingness to pay for local benefit externalities is seen as necessary but daunting. This paper pursues the idea that the valuation process might first start by estimating the incentives required to supply various levels of a benefit externality. With the use of carbon sequestration through the adoption of no-till cultivation as an example of a multifunctional benefit externality, mathematical programming is used to derive representative price schedules. The implication for incentive prices are examined in light of risk aversion.

Tipo: Journal Article

Palavras-chave: Carbon sequestration; Externalities; Multifunctionality; Quadratic programming; C61; D62; Q12; Q21.

Ano: 2004

URL: http://purl.umn.edu/43416

Prieur, Fabien.

We develop an overlapping generations model where consumption is the source of polluting emissions. Pollution stock accumulates with emissions but is partially assimilated by nature at each period. The assimilation capacity of nature is limited and vanishes beyond a critical level of pollution. We first show that multiple equilibria exist. More importantly, some exhibit irreversible pollution levels although an abatement activity is operative. Thus, the simple engagement of maintenance does not necessarily suffice to protect an economy against convergence toward a steady state having the properties of an ecological and economic poverty trap. In contrast with earlier related studies, the emergence of the environmental Kuznets curve is no longer the rule....

Equity and Justice in Global Warming Policy

Palavras-chave: Overlapping Generations; Irreversible Pollution; Poverty Trap; Environmental Kuznets Curve; Environmental Economics and Policy; Q56; D62; D91.

Ano: 2007

URL: http://purl.umn.edu/9546

Kverndokk, Snorre; Rose, Adam Z..

Many countries are implementing or at least considering policies to counter increasingly certain negative impacts from climate change. An increasing amount of research has been devoted to the analysis of the costs of climate change and its mitigation, as well as to the design of policies, such as the international Kyoto Protocol, post-Kyoto negotiations, regional initiatives, and unilateral actions. Although most studies on climate change policies in economics have considered efficiency aspects, there is a growing literature on equity and justice. Climate change policy has important dimensions of distributive justice, both within and across generations, but in this paper we survey only studies on the intragenerational aspect, i.e., within a generation. We...

Environmental Issues of Agriculture: Social Perception Analysis in Southern Spain

Palavras-chave: Economics of Climate Change; Intragenerational Equity; Distributive Justice; Environmental Economics and Policy; D62; D63; H23; H41; Q00.

Ano: 2008

URL: http://purl.umn.edu/44230

Salazar-Ordonez, Melania; Sayadi, Samir.

Agriculture largely shapes the European ecosystems. Today the environmental social interest and the awareness that some farming practices destroy the natural environment is undeniable. Thus, the European decision maker’s emphasis on integrating social demands within the Common Agricultural Policy becomes unquestionable. In this context, this paper analyses: i) the degree of social compliance with soilerosion control from agriculture in Andalusia (southern Spain); ii) the degree of society’s concern about its agriculture; and iii)the respondent’s features that influence both perceptions.

Sustainability and Optimality in Economic Development: Theoretical Insights and Policy Prospects

Palavras-chave: Agriculture; Environment; Social Perception; Environmental Economics and Policy; Q18; D62; Q31.

Ano: 2008

URL: http://purl.umn.edu/44420

Farzin, Y. Hossein.

This paper takes sustainability to be a matter of intergenerational welfare equality and examines whether an optimal development path can also be sustainable. It argues that the general zero-net-aggregate-investment condition for an optimal development path to be sustainable in the sense of the maximin criterion of intergenerational justice is too demanding to be practical, especially in the context of developing countries. The maximin criterion of sustainability may be more appealing to the rich advanced industrial countries, but is too costly and ethically unreasonable for developing nations as it would act as an intergenerational poverty equalizer. The paper suggests that a compromise development policy that follows the optimal growth approach but...

Welfare Measures and Mandatory Regulation for Transgenic Food in the European Union: A Theoretical Framework for the Analysis

Palavras-chave: Sustainability; Intergenerational equity; Optimality; Discounting; Development policy; International Development; Q01; Q56; O21; O13; D62; D63.

Ano: 2007

URL: http://purl.umn.edu/7447

Diez, Maria Del Carmen Fernandez.

This paper presents an analytical framework for studying the impact of mandatory labelling regulation for transgenic food. We compare Genetically Modified (GM) and conventional crop markets and identify gains for food processors prior to mandatory labelling and losses after this measure for the GM market. Nevertheless, food processors could obtain gains for conventional products after market disgregation. Finally, consumers will be worse off both for conventional and GM foods unless qualities other than changes to prices are considered.

Sticks and Carrots for the Design of International Climate Agreements with Renegotiations

Palavras-chave: Welfare; Mandatory labelling; Transgenic; Genetically modified organism; European Union policy; Agricultural and Food Policy; Q18; K32; D62.

Ano: 2005

URL: http://purl.umn.edu/24472

Weikard, Hans-Peter; Dellink, Rob B..

This paper examines stability of international climate agreements for carbon abatement under an optimal transfer rule and renegotiations. The optimal transfer rule suggested to stabilise international environmental agreements (Weikard 2005, Carraro, Eyckmans and Finus 2006) is no longer optimal when agreements are renegotiated. We determine the conditions for optimal self-enforcing sequences of agreements. If these conditions are met, then transfer payments can be arranged such that no country wants to change its membership status at any stage. In order to demonstrate the applicability of our condition we use the STACO model, a 12-regions global model, to assess the impact of welldesigned transfer rules on the stability of an international climate...

The Role of Information Provision as a Policy Instrument to Supplement Environmental Taxes: Empowering Consumers to Choose Optimally

Palavras-chave: Stability of Coalitions; International Environmental Agreements; Partition Function Approach; Sharing Rules; Optimal Transfers; Renegotiations; Environmental Economics and Policy; International Relations/Trade; C72; D62; H41; H77.

Ano: 2008

URL: http://purl.umn.edu/6293

Sartzetakis, Eftichios S.; Xepapadeas, Anastasios; Petrakis, Emmanuel.

The present paper examines, within a dynamic framework, the use of information provision as a policy instrument to supplement environmental taxation. We assume that at least a fraction of consumers do not posses the required information to make the optimal choices, and that their behavior at each time period depends on the accumulated stock of information. We show that, as the accumulated stock of information provision increases, both the optimal level of information provided at each period of time and the optimal tax rate decline over time. Our results provide strong evidence in support of information campaigns as a policy instrument to supplement traditional environmental policies. Information provision can shift the demand towards environmentally...

The Paparazzi Take a Look at a Living Legend: The SO2 Cap-and-Trade Program for Power Plants in the United States

Palavras-chave: Information Provision; Environmental Taxation; Environmental Economics and Policy; Q53; Q58; D62; D82.

Ano: 2009

URL: http://purl.umn.edu/52342

Burtraw, Dallas; Palmer, Karen L..

For years economists have urged policymakers to use market-based approaches such as cap-and-trade programs or emission taxes to control pollution. The SO2 allowance market created by Title IV of the 1990 U.S. Clean Air Act Amendments (CAAA) presents the first real test of the wisdom of economists' advice. This paper provides an overview of the origins, design, and performance of the U.S. acid rain program, and an analysis of its specific features and its adaptability as a model for addressing other pollution problems, such as control of NOX or CO2 emissions. The program also has resulted in innovation through changes in organizational technology, in the organization of markets, and through experimentation at individual boilers, much of which arguably would...

Prices vs. Quantities in Monopolistic Competition

Palavras-chave: Emission trading; Cap and trade; Air pollution; Cost-benefit analysis; Electricity; Particulates; Sulfur dioxide; SO2; Health benefits; Acid rain; Environmental Economics and Policy; Q25; Q4; D62; Q28.

Ano: 2003

URL: http://purl.umn.edu/10665

Vetter, Henrik.

In perfectly competitive markets taxes and quotas are fully equivalent measures for environmental protection. Based on this regulators' revealed preferences for quotas over that of fees finds its explanation in the procedures and spirits of political decision making. This paper offers another explanation: Ordinary welfare economic considerations make a quota preferable to a tax when regulating polluting firms in monopolistically competitive markets.

CONSISTENCY AND OPTIMALITY IN A DYNAMIC GAME OF POLLUTION CONTROL I: COMPETITION

Palavras-chave: Demand and Price Analysis; D61; D62; D43.

Ano: 2000

URL: http://purl.umn.edu/24203

Batabyal, Amitrajeet A..

I model the interaction between a regulator and polluting firms as a Stackelberg differential game in which the regulator leads. The firms create pollution, which results in a stock externality. I analyze the intertemporal effects of alternate pollution control measures in a competitive industry. The principal issue here concerns the dynamic inconsistency of the optimal solution. Inter alia, I compare the steady state levels of pollution under optimal and under time consistent policies. Forthcoming in Environmental and Resource Economics

Market Failures in Real-Time Metering: A Theoretical Look

Palavras-chave: Environmental; Regulation; Tax; Dynamic; Game; Environmental Economics and Policy; Q25; H32; D62.

Ano: 1995

URL: http://purl.umn.edu/28351

Brennan, Timothy J..

Restructuring the electricity market may secure efficiencies by moving away from cost-of-service regulation, with typically (but not necessarily) time-invariant prices, and allowing prices to reflect how costs change. Charging "real time" prices requires that electricity use be measured according to when one uses it. Arguments that such real-time metering should be a policy objective promoted by subsidizing meters or delaying restructuring until meters are installed, require more than these potential benefits. They require positive externalities to imply that too few meters would be installed through private transactions. Real-time metering presents no systematic externalities when utilities must serve peak period users, and may present negative...

Environmental regulation and horizontal mergers in the eco-industry

Palavras-chave: Real-time metering; Electricity restructuring; Deregulation; Rationing; Externalities; Industrial Organization; D45; D62; L11; L94.

Ano: 2002

URL: http://purl.umn.edu/10718

Canton, Joan; David, Maia; Sinclair-Desgagne, Bernard.

This paper considers the environmental policy and welfare implications of a merger between environment firms (i.e., firms managing environmental resources or supplying pollution abatement goods and services). The traditional analysis of mergers in Cournot oligopolies is extended in two ways. First, we show how environmental policy affects the incentives of environment firms to merge. Second, we stress that mergers in the eco-industry impact welfare beyond what is observed in other sectors, due to an extra effect on pollution abatement efforts; this might lead to disagreements between an anti-trust agency seeking to limit market concentration which can be detrimental to consumer surplus and a benevolent regulator who maximizes total welfare.

CDM Baseline Construction for Vietnam National Electricity Grid

Palavras-chave: Eco-industry; Environmental policy; Horizontal mergers; Environmental Economics and Policy; Industrial Organization; D62; H23; L11.

Ano: 2008

URL: http://purl.umn.edu/44456

Tuyen, Tran Minh; Michaelowa, Axel.

For projects under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), a baseline has to be set to allow calculation of the greenhouse gas emissions reductions achieved. An important obstacle to CDM project development is the lack of data for baseline definition; often project developers do not have access to data and therefore incur high transaction costs to collect them. The government of Vietnam has set up all necessary institutions for CDM, wants to promote CDM projects and thus is interested to reduce transaction costs. We calculate emission factors of the Vietnam electricity grid according to the rules defined by the CDM Executive Board for small scale projects and for large renewable electricity generation projects. The emission factors lie between 365 and 899 g...

Agriculture’s Multifunctionality, Sustainability, and Social Responsibility

Palavras-chave: CDM; Baseline; Electricity generation; Vietnam; Public Economics; Risk and Uncertainty; D62; F18; Q25; Q41.

Ano: 2004

URL: http://purl.umn.edu/26393

Hediger, Werner.

We investigate the question whether the concept of corporate social responsibility (CSR) could be used to replace or complement those of multifunctionality and sustainability in the agri-food sector. It shows that the double role of citizens as tax payers and customers requests and allows us to directly link the problems of governance and stakeholder society in an intertemporal framework of total value maximisation and sustainable development. Thus, the concept of CSR provides a link between the views on agriculture’s multifunctionality and sustainability. Moreover, the fact that some actors in a vertical market, such as the agri-food chain, can exercise market power and absorb tax money and resource rents enforces the need of a broader perspective which...

Fishery Management Games: How to reduce effort and admit new members

Palavras-chave: Agricultural policy; Multifunctionality; Sustainability; Social responsibility; Market power.; D62; D63; Q01; Q18.

Ano: 2008

URL: http://purl.umn.edu/36854

Do, Kim Hang Pham; Folmer, Henk; Norde, Henk.

This paper addresses the two main problems that Regional Fishery Management Organizations face. First, how to induce independent nations to reduce their fishing efforts from the competitive equilibrium to prevent the fish stock from extinction or to increase profits. We argue that adjustment from the Nash equilibrium to a state of sustainable yield can be achieved by means of the proportional rule without harming any of the countries involved. Next we propose the population monotonic allocation scheme as management rule for the second problem: the division of profits within an

Estudio de las preferencias por los elementos agrarios del paisaje mediante los metodos del analisis conjunto y valoracion contingente

Palavras-chave: Fishery management; Proportional rule; Population monotonic allocation scheme; Shapley value; Resource /Energy Economics and Policy; C71; C72; D62; D74; Q22.

Ano: 2006

URL: http://purl.umn.edu/31964

Sayadi, Samir; Roa, Maria Carmen Gonzalez; Calatrava-Requena, Javier.

RESUMEN: Entre las externalidades producidas por la actividad agraria hay que considerar su aportación a la configuración del paisaje, es decir, la externalidad estética de los agroecosistemas. Su conocimiento y valoración adquiere cada vez más relevancia. En el presente trabajo se han utilizado los métodos de Análisis Conjunto y Valoración Contingente para estudiar, por una parte, la importancia relativa de la componente agraria en la función de utilidad derivada del disfrute de los paisajes de Las Alpujarras (Granada-España) y, por otra, la disposición a pagar de los entrevistados por disfrutar de dichos paisajes. Se ha realizado un test a una muestra de potenciales visitantes a la zona, utilizando tres elementos básicos de los paisajes: cubierta...

Tipo: Journal Article

Palavras-chave: Conjoint Analysis; Contingent Valuation; Agrarian Landscapes; Sustainable Rural Development; Land Economics/Use; Q56; Q57; D62; Q26.

Ano: 2004

URL: http://purl.umn.edu/28733

Benefit-costs analysis of climate-related agricultural investments in Africa: a case study