Institutional Economics – The Economics of Ecological Economics!

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Aspects of a two-pasture — herbivore model

Pastures for reindeer can be divided into green pastures (mainly herbs and grasses) of summer time and more or less snow-covered lichen pastures of winter. Fall and spring pastures have a composition in-between these extremes, but for model purposes bisection is sufficient. For the animals the green-pasture season is an anabolic phase with a physiological building-up of protein reserves, while winter is a catabolic phase where food-intake is reduced and the animals to a considerable extent survive on the accumulated reserves from summer. While protein reserves are stored from summer to winter, lichen pastures are stored from year to year. Grasses and herbs not being grazed are wilting by the end of the growing season, while lichens not grazed can live for many years. This corresponds with fundamental differences in both growth pattern and resilience. The implications of the different features, and their interconnections, are not easy to survey without formal modeling. The point of departure is a simple pasture-herbivore model, well known from the literature building on a set of differential equations. A new two-pasture-herbivore model is developed. The model includes as basic elements the Klein (1968) hypothesis and that a residual lichen biomass is kept ungrazed due to snow-cover protection. Further the annual cycle is divided into four stylized seasons with herd rates of winter survival, spring calving, summer physiological growth and fall slaughtering. Isoclines are derived for summer pasture, winter pasture and herbivores. Stability properties are discussed in relation to various situations of seasonal pasture balance. Empirical examples, particularly that of changes in pasture balance and vegetation cover in Western Finnmark, Norway, are discussed. The article finds that the two-pasture model provides important features of reality, such as the stability aspects of pasture balance, which cannot be displayed by a one-pasture model. It is suggested that this type of modeling can be used as a basis for further research, e.g. implications of climate change

Integrating Economics and Ecology

SupplementThis report documents the results from an analysis of policy measures to reduce losses of nitrogen, phosphorus and soil from the agricultural sector to the environment. These kinds of losses are nonpoint, and standard emission oriented policy measures like effluent taxes are prohibitively costly to use. The policy altematives are therefore to regulate the input of potentially polluting substances - in this case reduce the use of fertilizers, to prescribe changes in agronomic practices as conducted on the farm or to change product prices. Principally this study analyzes the effects of these types of regulations, their ability to reduce losses of nutrients and soil, and the private and social costs thereby invoked

Value asymmetries in Norwegian forest governance: The role of institutions and power dynamics

We draw on institutional and ecological economics to understand the role of social preferences, institutional arrangements, and power dynamics in mobilizing or restraining ecosystem services and values in Norwegian forest governance. Specifically, we i) elicit local people’s preferences over forest ecosystem services and values, ii) analyze how perceptions of forest values vary across stakeholders, and iii) examine how participation is enabled by institutional arrangements. Our data were collected from a survey (N = 1694) distributed in 10 rural municipalities and from interviews with Norwegian forest experts and stakeholders (N = 15). Four results are highlighted. First, most respondents rank ecosystem services that embody relational and intrinsic values (such as recreation and biodiversity) higher than services that primarily embody instrumental values (timber). Second, women and non-forest owners show higher appreciation for relational values than men and forest owners. Third, dominant value-articulating institutions, such as timber markets and cost-benefit analysis, favor utility, efficiency, and instrumental values. Finally, few participatory arenas for decision-making are available, and local people do not feel empowered in forest governance. Our findings indicate that Norwegian forest governance primarily empowers actors that emphasize instrumental values followed by those who emphasize intrinsic values, whereas relational values tend to be restrained.publishedVersio

ECECMOD: an interdisciplinary modelling system for analyzing nutrient and soil losses from agriculture

Abstract This article discusses a set of principles for policy analysis of environmental problems. The main focus is on integrating economic and ecological analyses through a mathematical modelling framework. The paper starts by developing a general model for the study of environmental issues. Principles for operationalizing the model are discussed, and ECECMOD (a new modelling system constructed to analyze pollution from agricultural systems on the basis of these principles) is introduced. Some of the results obtained by ECECMOD are presented to facilitate a discussion about the gains to be obtained by this kind of analysis. The study shows that it is of great importance to combine economic and ecological analyses at a fairly high level of resolution when studying environmental effects of complex systems

Distinct high resolution genome profiles of early onset and late onset colorectal cancer integrated with gene expression data identify candidate susceptibility loci

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Estimates suggest that up to 30% of colorectal cancers (CRC) may develop due to an increased genetic risk. The mean age at diagnosis for CRC is about 70 years. Time of disease onset 20 years younger than the mean age is assumed to be indicative of genetic susceptibility. We have compared high resolution tumor genome copy number variation (CNV) (Roche NimbleGen, 385 000 oligo CGH array) in microsatellite stable (MSS) tumors from two age groups, including 23 young at onset patients without known hereditary syndromes and with a median age of 44 years (range: 28-53) and 17 elderly patients with median age 79 years (range: 69-87). Our aim was to identify differences in the tumor genomes between these groups and pinpoint potential susceptibility loci. Integration analysis of CNV and genome wide mRNA expression data, available for the same tumors, was performed to identify a restricted candidate gene list.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The total fraction of the genome with aberrant copy number, the overall genomic profile and the <it>TP53 </it>mutation spectrum were similar between the two age groups. However, both the number of chromosomal aberrations and the number of breakpoints differed significantly between the groups. Gains of 2q35, 10q21.3-22.1, 10q22.3 and 19q13.2-13.31 and losses from 1p31.3, 1q21.1, 2q21.2, 4p16.1-q28.3, 10p11.1 and 19p12, positions that in total contain more than 500 genes, were found significantly more often in the early onset group as compared to the late onset group. Integration analysis revealed a covariation of DNA copy number at these sites and mRNA expression for 107 of the genes. Seven of these genes, <it>CLC, EIF4E</it>, <it>LTBP4, PLA2G12A, PPAT</it>, <it>RG9MTD2</it>, and <it>ZNF574</it>, had significantly different mRNA expression comparing median expression levels across the transcriptome between the two groups.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Ten genomic loci, containing more than 500 protein coding genes, are identified as more often altered in tumors from early onset versus late onset CRC. Integration of genome and transcriptome data identifies seven novel candidate genes with the potential to identify an increased risk for CRC.</p

An inclusive typology of values for navigating transformations towards a just and sustainable future

Achieving the intertwined goals of justice and sustainability requires transformative changes to meaningfully engage diverse perspectives. Therefore, scholars and policymakers need new ways of recognising and addressing nature's multiple values across cultures, disciplines and other knowledge traditions. By reviewing academic publications, policy documents and Indigenous and local community sources, we developed an inclusive typology of nature's values to clarify value concepts and guide their consideration in decisions. Through case studies, we illustrate how navigating ‘horizontal’ and ‘vertical’ interactions within and across this typology can help confront plural-value challenges, such as enhancing inclusive participation in environmental research and practice, and effective management of socio-environmental conflicts. We conclude by exploring how this typology of values can further leverage transformative change in other decision-making contexts.Fil: Raymond, Christopher M.. University of Helsinki; FinlandiaFil: Anderson, Christopher Brian. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Tierra del Fuego, Antártida e Islas del Atlántico Sur. Instituto de Ciencias Polares, Ambientales y Recursos Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Athayde, Simone. Florida International University; Estados UnidosFil: Vatn, Arild. Norwegian University of Life Sciences; NoruegaFil: Amin, Ariane M.. Centre Suisse de Recherche Scientifique En Côte D'ivoire; Costa de Marfil. Université Félix Houphouët Boigny; Costa de MarfilFil: Arias Arévalo, Paola. Universidad del Valle; ColombiaFil: Christie, Michael. Aberystwyth University.; Reino UnidoFil: Cantú Fernández, Mariana. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México; MéxicoFil: Gould, Rachelle. University of Vermont; Estados UnidosFil: Himes, Austin. Mississippi State University; Estados UnidosFil: Kenter, Jasper O.. Aberystwyth University.; Reino Unido. University of York; Reino Unido. Ecologos Research Ltd; Reino UnidoFil: Lenzi, Dominic. Universiteit Twente (ut);Fil: Muraca, Bárbara. University of Oregon; Estados UnidosFil: Murali, Ranjini. Snow Leopard Trust; Estados Unidos. Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin; AlemaniaFil: O'Connor, Sebastian. Scotlands Rural College; Reino UnidoFil: Pascual, Unai. Bc3 Basque Centre For Climate Change; España. University of Bern; Suiza. Ikerbasque, Basque Foundation For Science; EspañaFil: Sachdeva, Sonya. Usda Forest Service North Central Research Station; Estados UnidosFil: Samakov, Aibek. Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen; AlemaniaFil: Zent, Eglee. Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas; Venezuel