| 1. |
- Carson, Richard T., et al.
(författare)
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Perceptions of the seriousness of major public health problems during the COVID-19 pandemic in seven middle-income countries
- 2023
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Ingår i: Communications Medicine. - : Springer Nature. - 2730-664X. ; 3
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- IntroductionPublic perception of the seriousness of the COVID-19 pandemic compared to six other major public health problems (alcoholism and drug use, HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, lung cancer and respiratory diseases caused by air pollution and smoking, and water-borne diseases like diarrhea) is unclear. We designed a survey to examine this issue using YouGov’s internet panels in seven middle-income countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America in early 2022.MethodsRespondents rank ordered the seriousness of the seven health problems using a repeated best-worst question format. Rank-ordered logit models allow comparisons within and across countries and assessment of covariates.ResultsIn six of the seven countries, respondents perceived other respiratory illnesses to be a more serious problem than COVID-19. Only in Vietnam was COVID-19 ranked above other respiratory illnesses. Alcoholism and drug use was ranked the second most serious problem in the African countries. HIV/AIDS ranked relatively high in all countries. Covariates, particularly a COVID-19 knowledge scale, explained differences within countries; statistics about the pandemic were highly correlated with differences in COVID-19’s perceived seriousness.ConclusionsPeople in the seven middle-income countries perceived COVID-19 to be serious (on par with HIV/AIDS) but not as serious as other respiratory illnesses. In the African countries, respondents perceived alcoholism and drug use as more serious than COVID-19. Our survey-based approach can be used to quickly understand how the threat of a newly emergent disease, like COVID-19, fits into the larger context of public perceptions of the seriousness of health problems.
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| 2. |
- Damania, Richard, et al.
(författare)
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Environmental policy instruments and corruption
- 2020
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Ingår i: China Economic Journal. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1753-8963 .- 1753-8971. ; 13:2, s. 123-138
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In this paper we discuss the choice of taxation or regulation of environmental externalities. The subject might appear to be a well-trodden path, but we believe we have a new angle on this well-established question. We think we are being quite realistic when we assume that corrupt practices lurk behind every corner, threatening to derail the good intents of any regulator. With this starting point we compare the result of trying to impose taxation contra regulation in environments where the implementation in both cases will be marred by corrupt practices of under-reporting emissions and bribing inspectors. In a simple and stylized model of these circumstances we show that taxes tend to perform the same or better in the sense that a pollution tax induces greater compliance and lower pollution than does a regulatory standard. We also show that the advantages of a tax are particularly great in countries where the enforcement ability of authorities is weak, which is commonly thought to be the case in developing countries.
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| 3. |
- Sjöstrand, Karin, 1975
(författare)
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Decision support for sustainable water security
- 2020
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Society’s large dependence on water, in combination with climate, socio-economic and demographic changes, places a massive pressure on our freshwater resources. As a result, water crisis, defined as a significant decline in the available quality and quantity of freshwater, is now considered to be among the most critical global risks to society. The overall aim of this thesis is to increase the understanding of how decision support methods based on risk, cost-benefit and multi-criteria decision analyses can be used to facilitate our collective action towards water security. In the thesis, a sustainability assessment model is presented which can rank alternative drinking water options from the most preferred to the least preferred within each of the social, environmental and economic sustainability domains and with regards to all domains. The thesis further presents a marginal abatement cost curve to provide a common starting point for cross-sectoral dialogue on water scarcity mitigation. It enables a comparison of the cost-effectiveness of alternative mitigation measures, providing guidance for businesses, households, farmers and water utilities. Furthermore, a scenario-based risk assessment approach is presented to enable a comprehensive view on risk when evaluating water supply systems and risk reduction options. The approach allows for thorough analyses of economic losses under a range of water supply disruption scenarios, facilitating prioritizations on measures that aim to reduce the overall risk rather than individual risks. The provided methods are all exemplified in Swedish case studies, demonstrating different ways of evaluating and comparing management responses to the water-related challenges we face. In conclusion, the methods can help us strengthen the ongoing discussions regarding challenges and opportunities while providing structure and transparency to decision-making, and by that contribute to an enhanced water security.
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| 4. |
- Sterner, Thomas, 1952, et al.
(författare)
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Funding Inclusive Green Transition through Greenhouse Gas Pricing : Carbon Pricing
- 2020
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Ingår i: ifo DICE Report. - 2511-7815. ; 18:1, s. 3-8
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- 2015 was a special year. During a few months the political stars aligned and made it possible for the international community to agree on the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement to limit global warming. Now the signatories need to find ways to implement these agreements, which not only imply a deep decarbonization of the economy but must also meet the Sustainable Development Goals. In this article we discuss the importance of pricing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions2 to make this happen. Climate abatement is a truly global public good and so we actually have to have a functioning policy in all countries. Our interest is thus on pricing in all countries but in particular the developing countries that are bigger and most crucial to the struggle for a green transition.
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