Assesing the viability of protecting colombian caribbean coast from sea level rise: an economic valuation approach

The coastal areas of Colombia are highly susceptible to sea level rise (SLR) due to climatechange. The degree of vulnerability has been determined and currently an adaptation plan isbeing evaluated. This study applied a Cost Benefit Analysis (CBA) over a 100 years scenario toassess the feasibility of the plan in the Colombian Caribbean Coast. A Contingent ValuationMethod was used to estimate the market and the non-market benefits, using a random sampleof 504 respondents in Barranquilla, Cartagena and Santa Marta. The estimated benefitsare weighted against the cost of the protection strategy as estimated by the NetherlandsClimate Change Studies Assistance Programme. The CBA results indicate that carrying out theadditional measures for protecting the Colombian Caribbean Coast from SLR is an economicand ecological feasible venture even if predictions of SLR are uncertain

Assesing the viability of protecting colombian caribbean coast from sea level rise: an economic valuation approach

The coastal areas of Colombia are highly susceptible to sea level rise (SLR) due to climatechange. The degree of vulnerability has been determined and currently an adaptation plan isbeing evaluated. This study applied a Cost Benefit Analysis (CBA) over a 100 years scenario toassess the feasibility of the plan in the Colombian Caribbean Coast. A Contingent ValuationMethod was used to estimate the market and the non-market benefits, using a random sampleof 504 respondents in Barranquilla, Cartagena and Santa Marta. The estimated benefitsare weighted against the cost of the protection strategy as estimated by the NetherlandsClimate Change Studies Assistance Programme. The CBA results indicate that carrying out theadditional measures for protecting the Colombian Caribbean Coast from SLR is an economicand ecological feasible venture even if predictions of SLR are uncertain

What Makes Arab Economies Fail? An Assessment of the Complementary Relationship between Socioeconomic Reforms and Institutions

Following the Arab spring, Arabs today are passing through a dangerous time of tough and difficult choices that bear far-reaching consequences. This paper argues that there was a significant economic element to the Arab Spring, which relies mainly on the Arab economies’ failure to achieve sustained inclusive growth. The purpose of the study is to understand whether the economic growth of the region has been unsatisfactory due to Arab economies lagging in terms of reforms, or because of the reform programs themselves. In this paper, the empirical model analyses the linkages between economic reforms, human capital, physical infrastructure, and governance and growth for a panel of 87 countries, including 20 from the Arab region over the period 1995 to 2014. The analysis finds that macroeconomic and external stability are primary variables for the reform development and the growth prospects of the developing countries. The efficiency of structural reforms depends on success in stabilising the economy. The most striking result from the baseline model is that the coefficient of governance is significant and positively determines growth in the whole sample, while it is harmful in Arab sample. Additionally, the result tends to show that the resource curse in the Arab region is largely an “institutional curse”, even though it has several macroeconomic manifestations. The conclusion of the study confirms that reform is simultaneously political, social and economic. Economic reform should not be seen in a vacuum, in isolation from the political and social choices that society makes

Religious tourism and economic growth in oil-rich countries: Evidence from Saudi Arabia

Key studies have identified the need to diversify the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia economy beyond its heavily oil-based status if it is to attain long-term sustainable growth. Tourism, in particular religious tourism, has been recognized as one key non-tradable sector that could promote this growth. This article applies a time-series approach to examine the impact of the tourism industry on the economic prosperity of the Kingdom between 1970 and 2011. The results show that tourism only plays a minor role in improving economic growth when the economy as a whole is taken into consideration. However, when isolating the non-oil sectors, the impact of tourism could be seen to have a greater influence on economic growth. Tourism is therefore potentially important for any future diversification of the economy from oil

Economic Contributions of Mega-Dam Infrastructure as Perceived by Local and Displaced Communities: A Case Study of Merowe Dam, Sudan

No embargo required. Investigations on the socioeconomic impacts of mega-dam projects have tended to focus on conventional cost–benefit analysis, while studies exploring perceptions of local communities, who are some of the prime beneficiaries of these development initiatives, are limited. This paper aims to address this research gap through a case study of community perceptions on the socioeconomic impacts of the Merowe Dam in Sudan from the residents of upstream, downstream, and relocated locations. Data were collected primarily through surveys and interviews with residents, government officials, dam implementation authority, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and other key informants and a series of indicators were developed for the analysis from the responses. Three inter-related areas of impact were scrutinized: (a) electricity generation; (b) development of modern agriculture; and (c) institutional infrastructure in the region. The results reveal that local communities are fully aware of both the positive and adverse socioeconomic impacts of the Merowe Dam, although these are focused more on the visible impacts closely related to their livelihood and income, such as increased food production, water shortages, electricity supply and its costs. Policy implications include investments in the new settlement areas with respect to the agricultural economy, such as irrigation improvement through electrification, promoting crop diversity, research, development, and diffusion of modern agricultural technologies. Efforts are also needed to strike a balance between provision of utilities and services, (i.e., water, electricity and other infrastructural facilities) provided by the Merowe Dam, amongst communities in relocated, upstream, and downstream locations.</jats:p

Challenges faced by cocoyam farmers in adapting to climate change in Southeast Nigeria

The study examined the challenges faced by cocoyam farmers in adapting to climate change in Southeast, Nigeria. Three hundred and eighty-four respondents selected through multi-stage sampling technique were used for the study. Data were collected using structured questionnaire and interview schedule and analysed using both descriptive and inferential statistical tools. Findings showed that majority were females (67%), married (92%) and maintain average household size of 6 persons and a mean age of 51 years. They were mainly primary (32%) and secondary (34%) school certificate holders with farming (77%) as their major occupation. The major cropping pattern practiced was mixed farming with cassava (63%) and maize (58%) as the major crops cultivated by the farmers. Majority of the farmers owned farms of one hectare and below accessed mainly through inheritance (76%) and labour sourced mainly through hiring (50%). Most (81%) of the farmers have spent more than ten years in farming. Climate change information was accessed mainly through their personal experience (64%), radio (42%) and fellow villagers (39%). The study identified eight major challenges faced by cocoyam farmers in adapting to climate change namely Lack/high cost of farm inputs and low soil fertility (Factor 1), Land and labour constraints (Factor 2), Poor access to information and ineffectiveness of cooperatives (Factor 3), lack of/poor access to fund and credit facilities and poor government support (Factor 4), lack of improved varieties of cocoyam (factor 5), poor value attached to cocoyam (Factor 6), poor infrastructural capacity and technology know-how (Factor 7) and Transportation constraint (Factor 8). Analysis of variance identified significant variations in the challenges faced by cocoyam farmers in the study area. The study recommends enrollment in cooperatives and revitalizing existing cooperatives, re-orientation of farmers on the benefits of cocoyam and increased used of climate change information sharing using mobile phones as possible ways of alleviating the challenges