There's an interesting development vs. conservation issue on the horizon in St. Lucy, Barbados. Read about it here at the Barbados Advocate. The Arawak cement plant is currently located in the relatively undeveloped northwest region of the island, near Maycock's Bay. The plant is located right on the coast, and if you swim in the area you see a film of particulate matter on the surface of the sea. In addition to this air pollution, the plant is also quite noisy. The combination of air, noise and water pollution no doubt creates a host of negative external effects for nearby residents. The site apparently looks appealing for a new cruise ship port, or perhaps a new airport. Of course, the land could also be set aside for conservation, or developed for residential uses.
What can we say about how land rents for the area will depend on alternative uses? What kind of research questions might we consider before going forward? Does anyone have an indication as to how this might play out?
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Implications for land rent?
Soils in the southern hemisphere are drying up.
Read about it here at Science Daily
Word of the day: "Envirotranspiration"
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Aside: 30+ authors on the study! Four is considered a lot for an econ article. What is it about the natural sciences that leads to such a huge number of co-authors on research articles?
Read about it here at Science Daily
Word of the day: "Envirotranspiration"
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Aside: 30+ authors on the study! Four is considered a lot for an econ article. What is it about the natural sciences that leads to such a huge number of co-authors on research articles?
Offshore energy
Wind or oil?
A new study from Oceana suggests that offshore wind energy could be more cost effective and create more jobs than offshore oil.
A new study from Oceana suggests that offshore wind energy could be more cost effective and create more jobs than offshore oil.
Coming soon to a gas station near you ... E15
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is about to approve 15% ethanol blends in motor fuels (most gas today has 10%).
Economic implications?
Good for the environment? Bad? It depends?
Read the story at:
Bloomberg
The Wall Street Journal
Reuters
Here's a story from the New York Times in 2008 that addresses both the econ and the environmental effects of biofuels (thanks to Gina at env-econ for the link). Gotta love it when a basic understanding of economics helps you see unintended consequences.
Aside: There's only one gas station here in Wilmington where you can buy non-ethanol gasoline... does anyone know where it is?
Economic implications?
Good for the environment? Bad? It depends?
Read the story at:
Bloomberg
The Wall Street Journal
Reuters
Here's a story from the New York Times in 2008 that addresses both the econ and the environmental effects of biofuels (thanks to Gina at env-econ for the link). Gotta love it when a basic understanding of economics helps you see unintended consequences.
Aside: There's only one gas station here in Wilmington where you can buy non-ethanol gasoline... does anyone know where it is?
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Mining is profitable
What's going on here?
Why is the mining of natural resources so profitable during an economic downturn?
Are there externality issues that should be addressed? If so, how, and how might addressing externalities affect profitability and social well-being?
We'll be starting our study of mineral extraction soon.
Why is the mining of natural resources so profitable during an economic downturn?
Are there externality issues that should be addressed? If so, how, and how might addressing externalities affect profitability and social well-being?
We'll be starting our study of mineral extraction soon.
Are electric cars really better for the environment?
Interesting article from Slate.com here
Popular mechanics likes them
We have a chicken-and-the-egg problem
Should EV's be subsidized?
How about pushing fuel economy via command-and-control?
Read one viewpoint here, and the other here.
(Warning: strong opinions and normative content in the articles)
What do you think?
There's a much deeper issue underlying all of this: Can individuals (and nations) on the lower end of the income spectrum afford to be green? Are higher income individuals (and nations) who most certainly create more pollution in some way obligated to do more abatement?
Popular mechanics likes them
We have a chicken-and-the-egg problem
Should EV's be subsidized?
How about pushing fuel economy via command-and-control?
Read one viewpoint here, and the other here.
(Warning: strong opinions and normative content in the articles)
What do you think?
There's a much deeper issue underlying all of this: Can individuals (and nations) on the lower end of the income spectrum afford to be green? Are higher income individuals (and nations) who most certainly create more pollution in some way obligated to do more abatement?
200 new species
This happens every year and it always amazes me... we know so much and at the same time we're clueless.
Economic implications?
Economic implications?
NFWF and fisheries catch shares
Read about it here.
How do catch shares work? (we'll get to this later in the term, but you can start researching it now)
Is this command-and-control, incentives or combination policy?
Why is NFWF providing money for this type of research?
How do catch shares work? (we'll get to this later in the term, but you can start researching it now)
Is this command-and-control, incentives or combination policy?
Why is NFWF providing money for this type of research?
NOAA fisheries research
Here's a link to an outline of NOAA grant support for endangered species research.
Can you link one or more of these to a valuation research question?
That is, once the science is complete, how might the resulting information be combined with economic valuation (market or non-market) to address a policy question?
What valuation techniques might be employed?
Can you link one or more of these to a valuation research question?
That is, once the science is complete, how might the resulting information be combined with economic valuation (market or non-market) to address a policy question?
What valuation techniques might be employed?
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