82 research outputs found
Economic valuation of marine and coastal ecosystems: is it currently fit for purpose?
In this paper, we consider whether the current âstate of the artâ of environmental valuation is suitable for producing policy-relevant estimates of the benefits or costs of changes in marine and coastal ecosystems. We review recent changes in European legislation which has meant an increasing demand for economic valuation from the policy and regulatory community. The next section considers, at a more conceptual level, whether the economic âtoolboxâ and scientific evidence is up to the task of meeting the demand for more evidence-based policy. Finally, three case studies are used to explore the nature of the valuation task and review what is currently known. These case studies are of salt-marsh restoration, marine renewable energy investments, and deep sea conservation
Valuing improvements to coastal waters using choice experiments: an application to revisions of the EU Bathing Waters Directive
Planned changes to the European Unionâs Bathing Waters Directive (2006/7 EC) will force member states to produce improvements in a number of parameters of coastal water quality. This study uses the choice experiment method to estimate the economic benefits attached to such improvements, based on a sample of recreationalists on beaches in Ireland. The analysis indicates that improvements in all of the bathing water related attributes studied result in positive willingness to pay, and also show evidence of scope effects. Using random parameters and latent class modelling techniques, potential heterogeneity in preferences is then investigated and shown to be present to a significant degree. One observable determinant of this preference heterogeneity is the degree of exposure of individuals to health risks relating to water quality, as proxied by the type of recreational activity they undertake
Towards Efficient Data Valuation Based on the Shapley Value
"How much is my data worth?" is an increasingly common question posed by
organizations and individuals alike. An answer to this question could allow,
for instance, fairly distributing profits among multiple data contributors and
determining prospective compensation when data breaches happen. In this paper,
we study the problem of data valuation by utilizing the Shapley value, a
popular notion of value which originated in coopoerative game theory. The
Shapley value defines a unique payoff scheme that satisfies many desiderata for
the notion of data value. However, the Shapley value often requires exponential
time to compute. To meet this challenge, we propose a repertoire of efficient
algorithms for approximating the Shapley value. We also demonstrate the value
of each training instance for various benchmark datasets
In Defence of the Hearing? : Emerging Geographies of Publicness, Materiality, Access and Communication in Court Hearings
The shift towards dispute resolution taking place outside traditional legal arenas is fundamentally changing the relationship between space and law, presenting legal geography with pressing new research opportunities. This paper explores how the emerging geographies of publicness, materiality, access to justice and communication shed light on the consequences of alternative and online dispute resolution. Crucially, these consequences raise urgent interdisciplinary questions for geography and law. We set out these questions and suggest that legal geography will be best placed to address them by working through some of the practical, applied ramifications of its concepts and perspectives
Estimating the Irish public's willingness to pay for more sustainable salmon produced by integrated multi-trophic aquaculture
Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) has been put forward as a potential sustainable alternative to single fin fish species aquaculture. In IMTA, several species are combined in the production process. Integrating species has a conceivable dual advantage; the environmental impact can be lowered through nutrient cycling and from an economic perspective there is potential for increased efficiency, product diversification and a higher willingness to pay for more environmentally friendly produced salmon. This paper presents the results from a choice experiment which examines whether the Irish public is willing to pay a premium for “sustainably produced” farmed salmon from an IMTA process. Uniquely, an ecolabel was used in the design, based on familiar energy rating labels, to communicate the environmental pressure of fish farming to respondents. The experiment demonstrates that the Irish public has a willingness to pay a price premium for sustainability in salmon farming and for locally produced salmon
Economic valuation of marine and coastal ecosystems : is it currently fit for purpose?
DMP acknowledges the support of the NERC CBESS consortium (Coastal Biodiversity and Ecosystem Service Sustainability: NE/J015644/1). DMP, NJ and NH acknowledge the support of the MASTS pooling initiative (The Marine Alliance for Science and Technology for Scotland). MASTS is funded by the Scottish Funding Council (grant reference HR09011) and contributing institutions. SH also acknowledges the support of the Beaufort Marine Research Award through the Irish Marine Institute.In this paper, we consider whether the current âstate of the artâ of environmental valuation is suitable for producing policy-relevant estimates of the benefits or costs of changes in marine and coastal ecosystems. We review recent changes in European legislation which has meant an increasing demand for economic valuation from the policy and regulatory community. The next section considers, at a more conceptual level, whether the economic âtoolboxâ and scientific evidence is up to the task of meeting the demand for more evidence-based policy. Finally, three case studies are used to explore the nature of the valuation task and review what is currently known. These case studies are of salt-marsh restoration, marine renewable energy investments, and deep sea conservation.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe
Estimating the Irish public's willingness to pay for more sustainable salmon produced by integrated multi-trophic aquaculture
Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) has been put forward as a potential sustainable alternative to single fin fish species aquaculture. In IMTA, several species are combined in the production process. Integrating species has a conceivable dual advantage; the environmental impact can be lowered through nutrient cycling and from an economic perspective there is potential for increased efficiency, product diversification and a higher willingness to pay for more environmentally friendly produced salmon. This paper presents the results from a choice experiment which examines whether the Irish public is willing to pay a premium for âsustainably producedâ farmed salmon from an IMTA process. Uniquely, an ecolabel was used in the design, based on familiar energy rating labels, to communicate the environmental pressure of fish farming to respondents. The experiment demonstrates that the Irish public has a willingness to pay a price premium for sustainability in salmon farming and for locally produced salmon.PostprintPeer reviewe
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