Showing papers in "Journal of Natural Resources Policy Research in 2015"
TL;DR: In this article, the authors identify factors motivating both communities' decision to participate and intensity of participation in the Community Ratings System (CRS) and find that local capacity, flood risk factors, socio-economic characteristics, and political economy factors are significant predictors of CRS participation.
Abstract: In 1990 the US Federal Emergency Management Agency created the Community Ratings System (CRS) to engage local governments to enhance community flood resilience. The CRS encourages community flood risk management activities by discounting flood insurance premiums commensurate with the level of flood management measures implemented. Using a national sample of communities, this study empirically identifies factors motivating both communities’ decision to participate and intensity of participation in the CRS. The results indicate that local capacity, flood risk factors, socio-economic characteristics, and political economy factors are significant predictors of CRS participation. Further, factors predicting participation in the CRS differ from factors predicting CRS scores.
35 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors explore how an agency utilizes budgetary discretion and how this discretion interacts with performance measurement and find that while the flexibility has allowed the agency to pursue integrated goals, performance measures divert attention from addressing complex problems.
Abstract: Budgetary discretion affords agencies flexibility to accomplish complex goals but must be balanced with accountability. Recently, Congress increased budgetary discretion and changed performance measures to support integrated forest restoration. We use this experiment to explore how an agency utilizes budgetary discretion and how this discretion interacts with performance measurement. We find that while the flexibility has allowed the agency to pursue integrated goals, performance measures divert attention from addressing complex problems. Our findings suggest that performance measures are not a panacea for accountability and need to be combined with other mechanisms, such as internal guidance and oversight from collaborative partners.
16 citations
TL;DR: Confronting how to use probabilistic flood forecasts to make binary management decisions for reducing flood losses requires developing institutional capacity while acknowledging flood risk estimation is one component of decision making under uncertainty in an evolving policy landscape.
Abstract: Advances in probabilistic forecasting, notably based on ensemble prediction systems, are transforming flood risk management. Four trends shaping the assimilation of probabilistic flood forecasting into flood risk management are longer forecasting lead times, advances in decision-making aids, inclusion of probabilistic forecasting in hazard mitigation and collaboration between researchers and managers. Confronting how to use probabilistic flood forecasts to make binary management decisions for reducing flood losses requires developing institutional capacity while acknowledging flood risk estimation is one component of decision making under uncertainty in an evolving policy landscape.
13 citations
TL;DR: As deforestation and forest degradation persist in many parts of the world, and particularly in the tropics, policy-and decision-makers increasingly are incorporating forest tenure reforms that ty... as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: As deforestation and forest degradation persist in many parts of the world, and particularly in the tropics, policy- and decision-makers increasingly are incorporating forest tenure reforms that ty...
10 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors employ a frame analysis approach to determine whether stakeholders use similar frames to those of federal groups, and whether they are comparably influential on regulatory outputs, and reveal that stakeholders tried to influence the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission's (COGCC) Statewide Groundwater Baseline Sampling and Monitoring Rule.
Abstract: Fracking policy is a contentious issue that is increasingly being debated within state administrative agencies. Though scholars have revealed that stakeholders can be influential in federal rulemakings through framing, it is unclear whether groups at the state level are equally influential. This research employs a frame analysis approach to determine whether stakeholders use similar frames to those of federal groups, and whether they are comparably influential on regulatory outputs. I provide original interview data from a range of stakeholder groups and agency staff to unravel how stakeholders tried to influence the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission’s (COGCC) Statewide Groundwater Baseline Sampling and Monitoring Rule. This research confirms that stakeholder groups use similar frames to their counterparts in federal contexts. However, whether stakeholder framing efforts influenced the agency, was in part a function of their access, resources, and relationships to agency personnel. In this case...
10 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a theoretical framework that defines what an integrated and participatory procedure implies has been successfully applied in the fields of strategic natural resources and disaster risk management (NRM and DRM) with a focus already on disciplinary integration, value integration, participation and democracy.
Abstract: A sustainable procedure can be described as a political conversation about desirable futures informed by scientific knowledge from a broad range of disciplines that are effectively integrated, and by the knowledge and perspectives of the concerned actors A theoretical framework that defines what an integrated and participatory procedure implies has been successfully applied in the fields of strategic natural resources and disaster risk management (NRM and DRM) With a focus already on disciplinary integration, value integration, participation and democracy, the framework is here developed further with respect to organizational issues, such as coordination and collaboration among organizations of different types at different scales and with different mandates and incentives The study thus establishes a new integrated approach to systematized scientific knowledge in relation to the concept of sustainable development, via the sustainability principles of integration and participation – a theoretical baseli
10 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the benefits of collaboration in flood risk management by introducing a Provider-User Matrix is examined through a Swedish case of polycentric decision-making, illustrated through a case study.
Abstract: This paper examines the benefits of collaboration in flood risk management by introducing a Provider-User Matrix. The matrix is illustrated through a Swedish case of polycentric decision-making. In ...
8 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors investigated the Nordhaus (1973) model developed to understand how markets allocate energy resources and found that royalties earned by non-renewable energy producers are closely related to the cost of the backstop energy source, the interest rate and the switching date to the backstops.
Abstract: This paper investigates the Nordhaus (1973) model developed to understand how markets allocate energy resources. In particular, the model proposes that royalties earned by non-renewable energy producers are closely related to the cost of the backstop energy source, the interest rate and the switching date to the backstop energy source. Here, the paper presents the prices of the main and backstop energy sources, extraction costs and royalties, as well as transport costs, taxes and interest rates, over more than five hundred years in Britain to test the model’s ability to explain very long run market behavior. While the model needs a more rigorous analysis, the very long run data and this crude test suggests that certain episodes might be explained by the model and that others do not appear to be. Also, each of the three explanatory variables do appear to be relevant in these explained episodes. In general, though, energy markets appear to be myopic, unaware of the limits of the non-renewable resource being traded, and only in moments of crisis do they consider the finiteness of the resource and, then, perhaps too dramatically, triggering major new technological, infrastructure and R&D investments.
7 citations
TL;DR: The influence of Nordhaus' work causes mixed feelings as discussed by the authors, as it was mainly used as keystone to seal his model, but his square choice for nuclear power as backstop supply was unfounded.
Abstract: Few papers by young academics have been as influential on energy economics as ‘The Allocation of Energy Resources’ by William Nordhaus (1973). To me, the influence of Nordhaus’ work causes mixed feelings. His ‘backstop technology’ concept is a source of inspiration. Although mainly used as keystone to seal his model, his square choice for nuclear power as backstop supply was unfounded. The enduring influence of ‘econometric-engineering’ models on public energy policy-makers often precludes a necessary broader decision-making approach.
7 citations
TL;DR: This article reviewed the literature on the concept of natural resource scarcity and discussed the strengths and weaknesses of traditional measures of resource scarcity, and highlighted the more recent developments and the contemporary view on the issue of sustainable development.
Abstract: This paper reviews the literature on the concept of natural resource scarcity and discusses the strengths and weaknesses of traditional measures of resource scarcity. Through examination of the concept of generalized resource scarcity from the classical view to the more conventional and the contemporary views, an effort is made to identify suitable means of detecting scarcity. It also represents a point of departure into the larger debate of the measurement aspects of the scarcity of natural resources. With the rising public awareness and interest in environmental quality, it has become common to point out that conventional scarcity indicators do not take environmental costs into account, and hence give misleading signals regarding natural resource scarcity. The paper highlights the more recent developments and the contemporary view on the issue of sustainable development.
6 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a review of the literature related to social resilience is presented, which suggests that more cross-disciplinary integration is needed if social resilience concepts are to have a genuine impact in helping vulnerable regions tackle climate change.
Abstract: Social resilience concepts are gaining momentum in environmental planning through an emerging understanding of the socio-ecological nature of biophysical systems. There is a disconnect, however, between these concepts and the sociological and psychological literature related to social resilience. Further still, both schools of thought are not well connected to the concepts of social assessment (SA) and social impact assessment (SIA) that are the more standard tools supporting planning and decision-making. This raises questions as to how emerging social resilience concepts can translate into improved SA/SIA practices to inform regional-scale adaptation. Through a review of the literature, this paper suggests that more cross-disciplinary integration is needed if social resilience concepts are to have a genuine impact in helping vulnerable regions tackle climate change.
TL;DR: In this article, a model of dynamic intergenerational preferences and occupational choices is presented to explore possible transition paths out of agriculture in many regions of the world, where a dwindling natural resource base such as groundwater requires increasing reliance on urban livelihoods.
Abstract: Increasing frequency of drought threatens the long-term viability of agriculture in many regions of the world. Some farmers will exit the agricultural industry abruptly, but for many, the path out of agriculture is prolonged and involves several generations within a household. This paper presents a model of dynamic inter-generational preferences and occupational choices to explore possible transition paths out of agriculture. Differing preferences across generations within a farming household are incorporated through a dynamically-evolving utility function, which influences the time paths of optimal investments in human, social and natural capital. A dwindling natural resource base, such as groundwater, requires increasing reliance on urban livelihoods. However, inter-generational differences in preferences for rural versus urban lifestyles, modelled as different weights in the household’s utility function, may determine whether this occupational transition can be attained.
TL;DR: Nordhaus' (1973) prescient analysis is seminal and has been cited hundreds of times as discussed by the authors, in part because of the insights it provides about the energy system and also because it serves as a model mod...
Abstract: Nordhaus’ (1973) prescient analysis is seminal – and has been cited hundreds of times – in part because of the insights it provides about the energy system and also because it serves as a model mod...
TL;DR: In this article, a wide range of rural landscapes, socio-economic conditions, and rural livelihoods are discussed, while most of the chapters deal with land reforms, a few examine dramatic agrar...
Abstract: The chapters in this edited volume visit a wide range of rural landscapes, socio-economic conditions, and rural livelihoods. While most chapters deal with land reforms, a few examine dramatic agrar...
TL;DR: In this paper, a global population-economy-resource model explores the future impact of declining resource availability on the world economy by tracking the likely future consumption of renewable resources, fossil fuels and non-renewable materials and the economic impact of availability.
Abstract: A global population–economy–resource model explores the future impact of declining resource availability on the world economy. The model tracks the likely future consumption of renewable resources, fossil fuels and non-renewable materials and the economic impact of availability. Scarcity will likely become evident during the latter part of this century and constrain economic production, reducing income per capita, living standards and ultimately population. Policy interventions involving a rapid transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy, reduced resource intensity and materials recycling are necessary to correct this trajectory and facilitate ongoing improvements in global average living standards.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors analyze a global mechanism as a policy tool to internalize the positive conservation externalities accruing to commercial users of genetic resources and find that the economically preferable instrument of a comprehensive global mechanism is politically not...
Abstract: Many industries benefit from public biodiversity conservation through the use of genetic resources in R&D processes. The conservation of biodiversity, though, is an under-provided public good. The aim of this paper is to analyze a global mechanism as a policy tool to internalize the positive conservation externalities accruing to commercial users of genetic resources. The United Nations ‘Convention on Biological Diversity’ (CBD) and its ‘Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilisation’ provide a framework for such mechanism. In light of economic arguments in favor of a global mechanism, we study official CBD documents and an online discussion forum launched by the Convention’s Secretariat on a global multilateral mechanism, as well as conduct expert interviews with important political stakeholders on genetic resource trade. We find that the economically preferable instrument of a comprehensive global mechanism is politically not ...
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors evaluate the benefits and costs of protecting natural valley storage (NVS) areas for flood mitigation and find that the costs of large-scale land acquisition will often exceed the sole benefits of avoided flood damages.
Abstract: Between 1972 and 1994, the US Army Corps of Engineers undertook five studies in New England evaluating the benefits and costs of protecting natural valley storage (NVS) areas—natural reservoirs—for flood mitigation. Only along the Charles River did benefits outweigh costs. Analysis of the studies finds that the costs of large-scale land acquisition will often exceed the sole benefits of avoided flood damages. To generate net benefits, there must be significant amounts of NVS lands still undeveloped, development pressure on those lands, and downstream areas that would sustain large damages. The NVS studies also raised questions of whether the Corps should be involved in land acquisition, and whether regulating land use could substitute for purchasing land. Note, these findings do not apply to other forms of natural flood-risk reduction, such as levee setbacks, green infrastructure for stormwater management, and multi-purpose projects, which have different economic and institutional contexts.
TL;DR: In this paper, the impact of institutions on attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) in the resource-rich developing countries and compare to the non-resource rich countries was examined by using the indexes of democracy and the rule of law.
Abstract: In this paper we examine the impact of institutions on attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) in the resource-rich developing countries and compare to the non-resource rich countries. We followed the empirical approach on data from 104 countries covering the period 1995–2010. In this study the institutions are measured by using the indexes of democracy and the rule of law. When these indexes are tested simultaneously we find that the improvement in the quality of democracy promotes FDI to both resource-rich and non-resource rich countries. However, improvement of the rule of law promotes FDI only if the share of nonrenewable resources in total exports is below a certain critical value. Also our findings suggest that resource-rich countries keep attracting FDI regardless of the quality of their institutions. This may explain why some resource-rich countries stay non-democratic and delay in improving the quality in the rule of law.
TL;DR: Nordhaus as mentioned in this paper developed a general equilibrium model to determine the path of prices of energy resources and efficiently allocate four main energy resources (petroleum, coal, natural gas, and uranium-235) over time, space and different energy demand categories.
Abstract: Nordhaus (1973) does have important implications in energy policy. Nordhaus develops a general equilibrium model to determine the path of prices of energy resources and efficiently allocate four main energy resources (petroleum, coal, natural gas, and uranium-235) over time, space and different energy demand categories. Additionally, he explores whether the resulting optimal price paths are close to market-determined ones. His formulation of the model follows a standard dynamic optimization problem; and thus the price paths associated with his optimal solution (shadow prices for resources over time) are interpreted as rents that a competitive market would impute to scarce resources (Hotelling’s Rule). The main empirical conclusion of the paper is that the calculated prices are not very far from the actual market ones, with the exception of petroleum products and coal. According to natural resources economic theory, in an efficient allocation, resources are extracted such that the stream of discounted profits (from selling a unit of the resource at each time period) is maximized. The time horizon, nevertheless, Nordhaus considers, is a very long one (200 years). Furthermore, in discounting future values, Nordhaus applies a constant interest rate. The following paragraphs discuss how both these aspects in natural resources modeling have been questioned by economists. Economists have argued extensively, in the context of Net Present Value criterion (in Cost Benefit Analysis, CBA), over the choice of the appropriate discount rate. The conclusion of the debate is that the choice of the discount rate depends on the extent to which a project is funded by consumption or private investment. For example, if the project is entirely funded by consumption, then it has been argued that it should be discounted by the Social Rate of Time Preference; while if it is funded by displaced investment, then it should be discounted by the Private Return to investment (other economists have argued we may want to use a mix of these two). In any case, the standard practice has been to use the same value for discount rate across all time periods, the latter thus leading to exponential discounting. Nevertheless, the classic constant discount rates have been proven to perform well in short–medium time horizons. However, over the recent years, economists have shown that discounting at a constant positive rate is problematic, particularly in long-run environmental problems (such as climate change, nuclear waste, or biodiversity loss). The reason is that a constant discount rate over time discounts so heavily the welfare (costs or benefits) of future generations, such that it appears small (in present value terms). The
TL;DR: In this article, the authors assess the household decision-making behavior in fuelwood extraction from natural forests and find that factors such as off-farm income, wealth, diversification index, agricultural efficiency and male-female ratio had negative and significant effects on fuelwood dependency.
Abstract: Households located in peripheral villages of the natural forests are heavily dependent on fuelwood for their primary energy source. Due to excessive use, the productivity of the remaining forests is at a critical stage. The study’s main objective was to assess the household decision-making behavior in fuelwood extraction from natural forests. Households’ decision-making behavior was tested using social, economic and physical factors. Five forest reserves were selected for the study where fuelwood dependency is pronounced. The study findings showed factors such as off-farm income, wealth, diversification index, agricultural efficiency and male–female ratio had negative and significant effects on fuelwood dependency. Income diversification, creating off-farm employment, augmenting household wealth and farming efficiency may be viable options for minimizing fuelwood dependency.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors divide their book into four sections with the first section focusing on water scarcity and management, and the second section is devoted to water scarcity management and management.
Abstract: The editors divide their book into four sections with the first section focusing on water scarcity and management. Chapter 1, Rosegrant’s global outlook for water, food and hydropower serves as a g...
TL;DR: The Allocation of Energy Resources (Nordhaus, 1973) as discussed by the authors is a seminal work in the field of energy resource allocation, which was published in the midst of an oil embargo and rapidly rising energy prices.
Abstract: Over 40 years ago, in the midst of an oil embargo and rapidly rising energy prices, Nordhaus wrote the seminal piece The Allocation of Energy Resources (Nordhaus, 1973). While there are many dispar...
TL;DR: The editors, Dannele Peck and Jeffrey Peterson as discussed by the authors, have done an excellent job in selecting articles for this unique volume, which contains eight papers including an introduction by the editors.
Abstract: The editors, Dannele Peck and Jeffrey Peterson, have done an excellent job in selecting articles for this unique volume. The book contains eight papers including an introduction by the editors prev...
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors present a real phenomenon and serious problem plaguing the entire African continent and one that has been in the limelight for some time now, and present a nine chapter book, edited by Fassil Demissie.
Abstract: This book, edited by Fassil Demissie, presents a real phenomenon and serious problem plaguing the entire African continent and one that has been in the limelight for some time now. The nine chapter...
TL;DR: In economics, the question of what makes an economy sustainable has been a central issue in economics since the inception of the discipline as discussed by the authors, and it has been the subject of many studies.
Abstract: What makes an economy sustainable? That simple question, arguably dating back to the Reverend Malthus in 1798, has been a central issue in economics since the inception of the discipline. And yet w...
TL;DR: Gopalakrishnan et al. as mentioned in this paper identify, examine, analyze and assess the complex world of disaster management, and design robust, effective, implementation-friendly, widely accessible and affordable policies.
Abstract: The human and economic impacts of water disasters have increased dramatically in recent years. This is evidenced by the fact that they contributed to nearly 90% of all natural disasters, 96% of the people affected (2.4 billion) and 76% of the economic damages (approximately USD 1 trillion) caused by natural disasters globally. Despite the conspicuous presence of water disasters, discourse on their policy aspects continues to remain a neglected area (for a detailed analysis, see Gopalakrishnan, 2013). Ossified governance structures, polycentric decision-making entities, entropy-ridden institutions, cascading conflict scenarios, deep-seated and wide-ranging internal feuds and precariously perched, top-heavy decision agencies significantly add to the complexity of policy domains in the water disasterscape. Such an intractable combination of essentially incompatible forces and features renders the design and implementation of effective and efficient disaster risk management policies an extraordinarily challenging proposition. Against this bleak backdrop, well-intentioned policies stumble into a collision course, making the emergence of workable policies exceedingly difficult. The purpose of this special issue is to help identify, examine, analyze and assess the complex world of disaster management, and design robust, effective, implementation-friendly, widely-accessible and affordable policies. Based on a historical survey of natural disasters in general, and water disasters in particular, I have identified five broad categories of water policies for an in-depth study: risk management; vulnerability assessment; capacity building and resilience; disaster risk reduction-development linkage; and institutional design (see Table 1) (Gopalakrishnan, 2013).
TL;DR: In this article, the authors addressed two emerging questions in the field of energy economics: 1) how do current market prices of natural resources reflect true scarcity of resources and 2) how to quantify the true scarcity in terms of energy efficiency.
Abstract: Nordhaus (1973) has in his seminal contribution addressed two emerging questions in the field of energy economics. First, how do current market prices of natural resources reflect true scarcity fro...
TL;DR: Ackerman et al. as discussed by the authors described the world before climate change in the Journal of Natural Resources Policy Research 7:2-3, 157-160, DOI: 10.1080/19390459.2015.1043703
Abstract: ISSN: 1939-0459 (Print) 1939-0467 (Online) Journal homepage: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/rjnr20 The world before climate change Frank Ackerman To cite this article: Frank Ackerman (2015) The world before climate change, Journal of Natural Resources Policy Research, 7:2-3, 157-160, DOI: 10.1080/19390459.2015.1043703 To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/19390459.2015.1043703 Published online: 11 May 2015.
TL;DR: In this article, a claimed efficiency gap resulting from distorted consumer deci cation is identified, and the International Energy Agency (IEA) considers conservation to be an important source of future energy.
Abstract: Conservation is considered to be an important source of future energy, for example, in the International Energy Agency (2013), due to a claimed efficiency gap resulting from distorted consumer deci...