ESSAYS IN APPLIED ECONOMICS, HOUSEHOLD BEHAVIOR, AND ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMICS

Ph.DDOCTOR OF PHILOSOPH

Theoretical implication of reversals of the ozone weekend effect systematically observed in Japan

Systematic changes of the ozone weekend effect are found over broad areas of Japan. These changes are characterized by (1) spatial reversals from a weekend increase in the vicinity of huge precursor source areas to a weekend decrease in the surrounding rural areas, and (2) temporal reversals from a weekend increase under relatively unsuitable meteorological conditions for ozone formation to a weekend decrease under relatively suitable conditions. We developed a simple numerical advection–reaction model to explain the relationship between the duration of advection and the supplied solar energy, which causes the daily maximum ozone concentration to be lower near the precursor source. Ozone isopleth diagrams for individual advection durations (equivalent to the distance from the source) for a wide range of initial precursor conditions show that both VOC-limited and NO<sub>x</sub>-limited regimes exist for each advection duration, but the area of NO<sub>x</sub>-limited regime becomes dominant as the advection duration increases because of the increased exposure of the air mass to solar energy. For given initial VOC and NO<sub>x</sub> concentrations, the area remote from the source becomes a NO<sub>x</sub>-limited regime even if the precursor source area is in the VOC-limited regime. The rate of reduction of weekend emissions of NO<sub>x</sub> is larger than that of VOC, causing a weekend increase in ozone inside an area of VOC-limited regime near the source, but a weekend decrease in remote areas with a NO<sub>x</sub>-limited regime. The boundary between these two ozone formation regimes depends on meteorological conditions: when sunlight intensity and temperature are relatively low, the change from a VOC-limited to a NO<sub>x</sub>-limited regime occurs at a point more remote from the source than when they are relatively high, which causes a prevailing ozone weekend increase over a wide geographical area on days with lower ozone potential. Therefore, observations of ozone weekend changes can be interpreted in light of the theoretical implications of our model; they can be used for determination of ozone formation regimes, which change in different locations and under different meteorological conditions

Macrocriminology and Freedom

How can power over others be transformed to 'power with'? It is possible to transform many institutions to build societies with less predation and more freedom. These stretch from families and institutions of gender to the United Nations. Some societies, times and places have crime rates a hundred times higher than others. Some police forces kill at a hundred times the rate of others. Some criminal corporations kill thousands more than others. Micro variables fail to explain these patterns. Prevention principles for that challenge are macrocriminological. Freedom is conceived in a republican way as non-domination. Tempering domination prevents crime; crime prevention reduces domination. Many believe a high crime rate is a price of freedom. Not Braithwaite. His principles of crime control are to build freedom, temper power, lift people from poverty and reduce all forms of domination. Freedom requires a more just normative order. It requires cascading of peace by social movements for non-violence and non-domination. Periods of war, domination and anomie cascade with long lags to elevated crime, violence, inter-generational self-violence and ecocide. Cybercrime today poses risks of anomic nuclear wars. Braithwaite’s proposals refine some of criminology’s central theories and sharpen their relevance to all varieties of freedom. They can be reduced to one sentence. Strengthen freedom to prevent crime, prevent crime to strengthen freedom

Environmental Effects of Stratospheric Ozone Depletion, UV Radiation, and interactions with Climate Change: 2022 Assessment Report

The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer was established 35 years ago following the 1985 Vienna Convention for protection of the environment and human health against excessive amounts of harmful ultraviolet-B (UV-B, 280-315 nm) radiation reaching the Earth’s surface due to a reduced UV-B-absorbing ozone layer. The Montreal Protocol, ratified globally by all 198 Parties (countries), controls ca 100 ozone-depleting substances (ODS). These substances have been used in many applications, such as in refrigerants, air conditioners, aerosol propellants, fumigants against pests, fire extinguishers, and foam materials. The Montreal Protocol has phased out nearly 99% of ODS, including ODS with high global warming potentials such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFC), thus serving a dual purpose. However, some of the replacements for ODS also have high global warming potentials, for example, the hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). Several of these replacements have been added to the substances controlled by the Montreal Protocol. The HFCs are now being phased down under the Kigali Amendment. As of December 2022, 145 countries have signed the Kigali Amendment, exemplifying key additional outcomes of the Montreal Protocol, namely, that of also curbing climate warming and stimulating innovations to increase energy efficiency of cooling equipment used industrially as well as domestically. As the concentrations of ODS decline in the upper atmosphere, the stratospheric ozone layer is projected to recover to pre-1980 levels by the middle of the 21st century, assuming full compliance with the control measures of the Montreal Protocol. However, in the coming decades, the ozone layer will be increasingly influenced by emissions of greenhouse gases and ensuing global warming. These trends are highly likely to modify the amount of UV radiation reaching the Earth\u27s surface with implications for the effects on ecosystems and human health. Against this background, four Panels of experts were established in 1988 to support and advise the Parties to the Montreal Protocol with up-to-date information to facilitate decisions for protecting the stratospheric ozone layer. In 1990 the four Panels were consolidated into three, the Scientific Assessment Panel, the Environmental Effects Assessment Panel, and the Technology and Economic Assessment Panel. Every four years, each of the Panels provides their Quadrennial Assessments as well as a Synthesis Report that summarises the key findings of all the Panels. In the in-between years leading up to the quadrennial, the Panels continue to inform the Parties to the Montreal Protocol of new scientific information

Macrocriminology and Freedom

How can power over others be transformed to 'power with'? It is possible to transform many institutions to build societies with less predation and more freedom. These stretch from families and institutions of gender to the United Nations. Some societies, times and places have crime rates a hundred times higher than others. Some police forces kill at a hundred times the rate of others. Some criminal corporations kill thousands more than others. Micro variables fail to explain these patterns. Prevention principles for that challenge are macrocriminological. Freedom is conceived in a republican way as non-domination. Tempering domination prevents crime; crime prevention reduces domination. Many believe a high crime rate is a price of freedom. Not Braithwaite. His principles of crime control are to build freedom, temper power, lift people from poverty and reduce all forms of domination. Freedom requires a more just normative order. It requires cascading of peace by social movements for non-violence and non-domination. Periods of war, domination and anomie cascade with long lags to elevated crime, violence, inter-generational self-violence and ecocide. Cybercrime today poses risks of anomic nuclear wars. Braithwaite’s proposals refine some of criminology’s central theories and sharpen their relevance to all varieties of freedom. They can be reduced to one sentence. Strengthen freedom to prevent crime, prevent crime to strengthen freedom

Essays in environmental economics: innovation and economic performance of firms, and distributional questions

This thesis consists of two parts within the field of environmental economics. The first part contributes to the literature on the relationship between firms’ environmental and economic performance. The second part investigates distributional questions within environmental economics. The first part of this thesis consists of three co-authored chapters. Chapter 1 provides a systematic and detailed literature review on the relationship between firms’ environmental and economic performance. It is an introductory and scene-setting chapter to the subsequent two chapters. Chapter 2 examines how diversifying production towards low carbon goods and services impacts the financial performance and market valuation of firms. Using new data on firms’ revenues that are generated from the production of green goods and services, we are able to measure shifts from non-green to green activities at the firm level. The paper provides novel insight into the relationship between such green revenues and a comprehensive set of accounting- and market based economic performance measures. Chapter 3 uses event study methodology to assess the impact of the Paris Agreement on stock returns. We show that green firms, have experienced significant positive abnormal returns in the week following the agreement compared to the overall market. In addition, we show that emissions-intensity appears to be a less precise determinant for firms’ stock performance. The second part consists of two single-authored chapters. Chapter 4 examines distributional preferences for international climate finance. Understanding public preferences for climate policies is crucial to ensure and increase public support for such policies. Using a choice experiment on a representative sample of the UK population this chapter elicits preferences with respect to distributional dimensions of adaptation finance. The findings provide new insights into preferred payment mechanisms and support the adoption of egalitarian policy mandates among international climate adaptation funds. Chapter 5 contributes to the literature on distributional outcomes of natural resource wealth. We use panel regression techniques as well as the quasi-experimental synthetic control method at the country- and US state-level to estimate the effect of an oil price boom on income inequality. The paper does not find strong evidence for a significant relationship. It discusses challenges in empirically identifying effects on aggregate inequality metrics

A Climate Chronology

The most challenging of all endeavors in human history will likely be that of understanding the impact of our industrial and technological enterprises on the planet’s climate and ecosystems, and responding effectively to the threats posed by that impact. I began writing this chronology while developing a climate policy course at the University of Maine. It has grown substantially during the ensuing nine years, and continues to grow. By juxtaposing developments in climate science, U.S. policy, and international policy over the previous two centuries, I hope to give the reader new insights into where we have been, where we are now, and where we may be headed in this formidable endeavor. I welcome comments, and suggested additions to this evolving work. It will be updated every January