Optimal Preservation of Agricultural and Environmental Land within a Municipality Under Irreversibility and Uncertainty

Replaced with revised version of paper 07/22/11.Uncertainty, Irreversibility, Spatial-temporal modeling, Value of information, Policy design, Climate change, Agricultural preservation, Environmental conservation, Environmental Economics and Policy, Land Economics/Use, Political Economy, Risk and Uncertainty,

Economic Feasibility of Utilizing Waste-Water Heat from Coal-Fired Electrical Generating Plants in Commercial Greenhouses in North Dakota

This study provides information on the economic feasibility of establishing commercial greenhouses utilizing waste-water heat in North Dakota.Production Economics, Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

Modelling Waikato Farm Nitrogen Discharges for Policy Analysis

This study describes the development of bio economic models examining the economic and water quality impact of various proposed policy options in the Upper Waikato catchment. In the first phase nitrogen emissions are determined for representative farming systems using the Overseer nutrient budget model. These model components are integrated into an economic model, which predicts producer responses to various policy options. The second phase determines catchment wide costs and water quality impacts of riparian buffers by combining geographic information system, bio economic modelling and experimental data. The results of the study signals directions for policy initiatives and further analysis exploring policy design and all costs associated with production adjustment.Riparian margins, Non point pollution, Nitrogen, Linear programming, and Environmental policy, Community/Rural/Urban Development, Crop Production/Industries, Environmental Economics and Policy, Farm Management, Health Economics and Policy, Industrial Organization, Land Economics/Use, Livestock Production/Industries, Research Methods/ Statistical Methods, Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

FAPRI Ethanol Briefing Materials for Congressman Peterson

This report summarizes information about ethanol markets and margins for ethanol producers under a continuation of current farm and energy policies.Agricultural and Food Policy, Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

do more transparent government govern better?

The author explores the link between information flows and governance or institutional quality. Economic theory expounds on the importance of information on economic outcomes either through its direct effect on prices and quantities or through its effect on other factors such as institutions and the quality of governance. She shows that countries with better information flows also govern better. Two kinds of indicators are used to assess better information flows. One index is based on the existence of freedom of information laws. A second index called the"transparency"index measures the frequency with which economic data are published in countries around the world. Empirical analysis shows that countries which have better information flows as measured by both indicators have better quality governance.Environmental Economics&Policies,ICT Policy and Strategies,Public Health Promotion,Decentralization,Educational Technology and Distance Education,ICT Policy and Strategies,Environmental Economics&Policies,Health Monitoring&Evaluation,Educational Technology and Distance Education,Health Economics&Finance

Water rights: a comparison of the impacts of urban and irrigation reforms in Australia

Although there has been a policy thrust towards making all Australians more cognisant of the relative scarcity of water resources, the approach adopted for urban dwellers differs markedly from that applied to irrigators. These differences are examined from a property-rights perspective focussing primarily on the institutional hierarchies in the Victorian water sector. The analysis reveals significant attenuation of urban dwellers’ rights, presumably on the basis of the information deficiencies that circumscribe urban water use. Alternative policy options are then proposed, which might alleviate some of these information deficiencies and simultaneously address the efficiency losses that attend the present arrangements.consumer demand, institutional economics, water management and policy, Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

UNCERTAINTY AND THE REGULATION OF NITRATE POLLUTION FROM AGRICULTURE

A simulation of U.S. corn production compares four environmental policies for controlling agricultural nitrate pollution. Public uncertainty about key economic parameters are considered. Results indicate that policy choice is sensitive to commodity programs and the public information structure. Agricultural research benefits are also sensitive to agricultural environmental policy choices.environmental policy, nonpoint pollution, uncertainty, value of information, Environmental Economics and Policy,

Defining agricultural and forestry systems in econometric land use models: Some critical reflections

The paper discusses the way pastoral and forestry systems are defined in econometric land use modelling on a national level. It briefly reviews the relevant data bases and modelling tools. Above all, it reflects on the questions asked and information needed in the work of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) Policy. The paper presents the first results of a working group about the key policy questions related to land use and land use change and the adequacy of the related analyses and modelling approaches.Agricultural and Food Policy, Environmental Economics and Policy, Land Economics/Use, Research Methods/ Statistical Methods,

RANCH-LEVEL ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF GRAZING POLICY CHANGES: A CASE STUDY FROM OWYHEE COUNTY, IDAHO

Economic impacts often are cited as justification both for and against changes in grazing policy on public lands. A recent study conducted in Owyhee County, Idaho, illustrates a process to gather ranch-level economic information, develop economic models for different ranching systems, and use the models to estimate economic impacts of grazing policy changes. Ranch-level models were developed from producer panels and interviews within the county. Costs and returns, livestock production information, dependency on public lands, and other factors relative to ranch-level economics were gathered in four meetings with livestock producers and other interested parties. Results indicate that, as dependency on federal lands rise, both costs and returns fall. Ranch-level economic impacts of alternative grazing policy scenarios also are detailed.Land Economics/Use, Agricultural and Food Policy,

Optimal Capacity Decisions in a Developing Fishery

The problem of estimating optimal fishing capacity for a developing fishery is discussed, using the methods of Bayesian decision analysis. The results obtained indicate that quite good decisions can often be made on the basis of limited prior information as to fish stock productivity, particularly if a conservative approach allowing for subsequent increases in capacity is employed.Environmental Economics and Policy, International Development, International Relations/Trade, Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,