R.K. Amit

Bio: R.K. Amit is an academic researcher from Indian Institute of Technology Madras. The author has contributed to research in topics: Supply chain & Newsvendor model. The author has an hindex of 9, co-authored 23 publications receiving 193 citations. Previous affiliations of R.K. Amit include Indian Institute of Science & Indian Institutes of Technology.

Dismantlers’ dilemma in end-of-life vehicle recycling markets: a system dynamics model

Abstract: Stringent environmental regulations, improving technology, and growing incomes have shortened vehicle life-cycles that leads to increasing number of end-of life vehicles (ELVs). ELVs form a valuable source of materials when they are recycled in an efficient manner. Regulated ELV recycling markets for ELV recycling ensure an efficient material recovery, unlike unregulated markets which are present predominantly in emerging economies. We analyze ELV recycling in an unregulated market through a system dynamics model. These markets are close to perfectly competitive markets with low enter and exit barriers for dismantlers, and the scrap from dismantled vehicles is traded as a commodity. Dismantlers entry and exit decisions—dismantlers’ dilemma—are based on profitability. We conjecture that the dismantlers’ dilemma constrains the dismantling capacity and fluctuates the scrap supply in unregulated recycling markets. Using the Indian data, the simulation results show that the unregulated market will lead to lower dismantling capacity, which may further worsen by increase in dismantling costs. From our analysis, we suggest that lowering dismantling costs through coordination among the dismantlers and providing support for scrap prices through regulation can improve the dismantling situation in these markets.

Measuring affordability of access to clean water: A coping cost approach

Abstract: Sustainable Development Goal 6.1 is “to achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all”. To measure affordability of accessing clean water, coping cost approach has been adopted, and this paper contributes to the burgeoning empirical literature on measuring affordability. The objective of this paper is to estimate coping costs related to the erratic, unsafe, and inadequate water supply in the metropolitan area of Chennai, India. Based on the data collected from 423 households, we find that households in Chennai city resort to five main types of coping behaviors: collecting, pumping, treating, storing, and purchasing. We employ the multiple regression with robust errors, to estimate the determinants of the coping costs. We obtain the mean coping costs as INR (Indian Rupee) 553, and INR 658 per month for piped and non-piped households in this sample. For non-piped households, collection costs (time costs in traveling and queuing for collecting water) constitute 22% of the coping costs, while collection costs for piped households are less 2% of the coping costs. One interesting finding is the variation of coping costs with household income—these costs are roughly 1% of income for the high income households to as high as 15% for the low income households. The results outline the need of policy intervention to enhance affordability.