| 1. |
- Aronsson, Thomas, 1963-, et al.
(författare)
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Optimal Taxation, Redistribution, and Environmental Externalities
- 2017
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Ingår i: International Review of Environmental and Resource Economics. - : Umeå University. - 1932-1465 .- 1932-1473. ; 11:3, s. 233-308
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Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- This paper surveys research on optimal redistributive taxation in economies with environmental externalities. A major question is whether externality correction only motivates an adjustment of the tax policy rule for the externality-generating activity, or whether the marginal value of the externality directly enters the policy rules for other tax instruments as well. In a static benchmark model with an atmospheric consumption externality, where the government uses a mix of a nonlinear income tax and linear commodity taxes, we show that Sandmo’s (1975) additivity property applies. This means that externality correction leads to an additional term (measuring the marginal value of the externality) in the commodity tax formula for the externality generating good, while the policy rules for commodity taxation of clean goods and marginal income taxation take the same form as in the absence of any externality. We also extend this benchmark model to capture a number of scenarios (such as non-atmospheric externalities, border trade in the externality generating good, and competition between governments in a multi-country framework), where the additivity property no longer applies. We end by examining an intertemporal model of optimal taxation with a stock-externality, allowing us to integrate the study of optimal redistributive taxation with literature on environmental economics and policy based on dynamic models.
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| 2. |
- Bostian, Moriah, et al.
(författare)
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Network Representations of Pollution-Generating Technologies
- 2017
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Ingår i: International Review of Environmental and Resource Economics. - : Now Publishers Inc.. - 1932-1465 .- 1932-1473. ; 11:3, s. 193-231
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We update developments on modeling technology including unintended outputs and show how these can, at least to a large extent, be incorporated in a network model framework. Recently there have been efforts to specify more detailed models which include multiple functions to separately capture intended and unintended products. Yet another recent strand of the recent literature has also explicitly tried to include a material balance condition in the model. We see this general evolution as beginning with what might be called a black box technology, with inputs entering the box, and good and bad outputs exiting the box. The more sophisticated models can be thought of as filling in the black box with the more detailed processes involved with production, prevention and abatement, with production accompanied by undesirable byproducts subject to legal regulations and laws of nature. This can be modeled as a network within the black box.
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| 3. |
- Broberg, Thomas, et al.
(författare)
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Inefficiencies in Residential Use of Energy : A Critical Overview of Literature and Energy Efficiency Policies in the EU
- 2015
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Ingår i: International Review of Environmental and Resource Economics. - : Now Publishers Inc.. - 1932-1465 .- 1932-1473. ; 8:2, s. 225-279
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A rather large literature argues that firms and households do not always improve energy efficiency by investing in new technology even if it would be cost-effective to do so. In this paper, we review the theoretical and empirical literature on the so-called energy efficiency gap and provide a rationale for policymakers to act to improve energy efficiency. By eliminating market failures, welfare can be improved in a broad sense, including both environmental quality and material welfare. We also discuss social 'nudges' as examples of policy instruments that do not directly target any market failure in energy markets but that still may have a significant impact on energy use. Although we acknowledge the existence of the energy efficiency gap, we argue that the gap in general is overestimated as parts of it can be explained by heterogeneity in preferences and thus explained by rational choices.
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| 4. |
- Brännlund, Runar, 1957-, et al.
(författare)
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Environmental policy without costs? : A review of the Porter hypothesis
- 2009
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Ingår i: International Review of Environmental and Resource Economics. - : now publishers. - 1932-1465 .- 1932-1473. ; 3:2, s. 75-117
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This paper reviews the theoretical and empirical literature connected to the so-called Porter hypothesis; that is, it reviews the literature connected to the relation between environmental policy and competitiveness. According to the conventional wisdom environmental policy, aiming for improving the environment through, for example emission reductions, does imply costs since scarce resources must be diverted from somewhere else. However, this conventional wisdom has been challenged and questioned recently through what has been denoted the “Porter hypothesis”. Advocates of the Porter hypothesis challenge the conventional wisdom on the ground that resources are used inefficiently in the absence of the right kind of environmental regulations, and that the conventional neoclassical view is too static to take inefficiencies into account. The conclusions that can be drawn from this review are: (1) that the theoretical literature can identify the circumstances and mechanisms that must exist for a Porter effect to occur, (2) that these circumstances are rather non-general, hence rejecting the Porter hypothesis in general, and (3) that the empirical literature gives no general support for the Porter hypothesis. Furthermore, a closer look at the “Swedish case” reveals no support for the Porter hypothesis in spite of the fact that Swedish environmental policy the last 15–20 years seems to be in line the prerequisites stated by the Porter hypothesis concerning environmental policy.
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| 5. |
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| 6. |
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| 7. |
- Kyriakopoulou, Efthymia
(författare)
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Cities and the Environment : The Case of Air Pollution
- 2021
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Ingår i: International Review of Environmental and Resource Economics. - : Now Publishers. - 1932-1465 .- 1932-1473. ; 15, s. 319-358
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Why do people choose to reside in cities? How does urban pollution affect their location decisions? This paper provides an overview of the literature that studies how different agglomeration and dispersion forces affect the internal structure and the size of cities. In particular, we discuss models that investigate the role of urban pollution on the structure of cities. We show that pollution associated with the industrial, residential and transport sectors has an impact on different land uses and might lead to either monocentric or polycentric urban forms. We also examine the effect of land use, environmental and transport policies on urban form and urban pollution levels. We conclude by discussing the policy challenges that can be identified in order to efficiently manage urbanisation and create sustainable cities.
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| 8. |
- Li, Chuan-Zhong, 1962-, et al.
(författare)
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The Economics of Resilience
- 2017
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Ingår i: International Review of Environmental and Resource Economics. - : Now Publishers. - 1932-1465 .- 1932-1473. ; 11:4, s. 309-353
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This paper provides an interpretive overview on the economics of resilience with special reference to social-ecological systems. We address the basic sciences of regime shifts and resilience in different settings linked to empirical cases and review the economic models related to these aspects. In particular we discuss models to assess market outcomes when thresholds exist and are known and particular characteristics of such systems when they are optimally managed. We also examine multiple aspects of uncertainty including unknown but learnable thresholds and systems where either the threshold or the stock dynamics are uncertain because they change in a stochastic way. Moreover, we discuss resilience in relation to measurement and valuation using approaches that focus on the role of biodiversity for resilience, the insurance value of resilience and the value of resilience as a stock that influences social welfare. Finally, we discuss issues related to practical resilience management and identify knowledge gaps that future research efforts could address.
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| 9. |
- Lundgren, Tommy, et al.
(författare)
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The Economics of Biofuels
- 2008
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Ingår i: International Review of Environmental and Resource Economics. - : Now Publishers. - 1932-1465 .- 1932-1473. ; 2:3, s. 237-280
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Biofuels are increasingly regarded as energy sources with the potential to solve diverse problems related to serious concerns, including climate change, environmental degradation, energy supply, and energy security. Here we examine biofuels, primarily biofuels used for transportation (e.g., ethanol and biodiesel), through the lens of modern resource economics and address fundamental questions, such as: Why biofuels?We then review some of the relevant literature and present a framework for analysis drawn mainly from the green accounting literature. The literature reviewed indicates that the effects of policies promoting conversion from fossil fuels to biofuels do not necessarily promote welfare. Our theoretical framework provides indications of possible reasons for this. Based on findings obtained using the framework we propose policies that not only penalize emissions of CO2 from all sources, but also stimulate biomass growth. Finally, we identify issues for further research.
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| 10. |
- Löfgren, Karl-Gustaf, 1943-, et al.
(författare)
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Modeling forest harvest decisions : Advances and challenges
- 2009
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Ingår i: International Review of Environmental and Resource Economics. - : Now Publishers. - 1932-1465 .- 1932-1473. ; 3:3, s. 195-216
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Timber harvest decision is one of the most important topics of forest economics. Martin Faustmann presented in 1849 the first "correct model" for determining the optimal time to harvest a forest stand. The Faustmann model builds on a set of restrictive assumptions that are far from realistic. During the past four decades the Faustmann model has been extended substantially. One important extension is the inclusion of non-timber benefits. Another is the recognition of uncertainty, especially the adoption of the adaptive optimization framework to determine the optimal time to harvest a stand under conditions of uncertainty. Currently available economic models of forest harvest decisions can be used to determine the optimal time to harvest a forest stand in a variety of special cases, but their ability to describe a typical harvest decision problem remains unsatisfactory. To improve the decision models, researchers must pay more attention to the fact that forests usually are managed for multiple purposes and under conditions of economic, biological, and ecological uncertainties. Therefore, non-timber benefits and uncertainties need to be considered simultaneously, which often implies that the decisions for different stands are interdependent. The information needed for applying the decision models also requires much more research. A particularly important, yet difficult, matter is the rational expectations timber price process.
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| 11. |
- Pettersson, Fredrik, et al.
(författare)
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Convergence of Carbon Dioxide Emissions: A Review of the Literature
- 2014
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Ingår i: International Review of Environmental and Resource Economics. - : Now Publishers. - 1932-1465 .- 1932-1473. ; 7:2, s. 141-178
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The objective of this paper is to review previous research on convergence of carbon dioxide emissions among countries. We discuss the key findings in this work, how the choices of model, data, statistical tests, etc. influence the results, and highlight some policy implications. The empirical research on convergence in per capita carbon dioxide emissions shows some evidence of convergence between developed (OECD) countries, while at the global level there appear to be relatively persistent gaps or divergence. These results are however sensitive to the choice of econometric approach and data set (e.g., the length of the time series). Still, the empirical basis for an egalitarian rule of equal per capita emissions in the design of global climate policy is not solid; it ignores the specific structural characteristics of countries such as climate, natural resource endowments, etc. The analysis therefore points to a need for more in-depth analyses of the structural determinants of carbon intensity (productivity) at the country level, as well as to additional research on the economic consequences of different types of equity principles (including combinations of such principles).
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| 12. |
- Ronquist, Fredrik, et al.
(författare)
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Phylogeny, evolution and classification of gall wasps : the plot thickens.
- 2015
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Ingår i: PLOS ONE. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1932-6203. ; 10:5
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Gall wasps (Cynipidae) represent the most spectacular radiation of gall-inducing insects. In addition to true gall formers, gall wasps also include phytophagous inquilines, which live inside the galls induced by gall wasps or other insects. Here we present the first comprehensive molecular and total-evidence analyses of higher-level gall wasp relationships. We studied more than 100 taxa representing a rich selection of outgroups and the majority of described cynipid genera outside the diverse oak gall wasps (Cynipini), which were more sparsely sampled. About 5 kb of nucleotide data from one mitochondrial (COI) and four nuclear (28S, LWRh, EF1alpha F1, and EF1alpha F2) markers were analyzed separately and in combination with morphological and life-history data. According to previous morphology-based studies, gall wasps evolved in the Northern Hemisphere and were initially herb gallers. Inquilines originated once from gall inducers that lost the ability to initiate galls. Our results, albeit not conclusive, suggest a different scenario. The first gall wasps were more likely associated with woody host plants, and there must have been multiple origins of gall inducers, inquilines or both. One possibility is that gall inducers arose independently from inquilines in several lineages. Except for these surprising results, our analyses are largely consistent with previous studies. They confirm that gall wasps are conservative in their host-plant preferences, and that herb-galling lineages have radiated repeatedly onto the same set of unrelated host plants. We propose a revised classification of the family into twelve tribes, which are strongly supported as monophyletic across independent datasets. Four are new: Aulacideini, Phanacidini, Diastrophini and Ceroptresini. We present a key to the tribes and discuss their morphological and biological diversity. Until the relationships among the tribes are resolved, the origin and early evolution of gall wasps will remain elusive.
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