Are Italians Willing to Pay for Agricultural Environmental Safety? A Stated Choice Approach

The widespread use of pesticides in agriculture provides a particularly complex pattern of multidimensional negative side-effects, ranging from food safety related effects to the deterioration of farmland ecosystems. The assessment of the economic implications of such negative processes is fraught with many uncertainties. This paper presents results of an empirical study recently conducted in the North of Italy aimed at estimating the value of reducing the multiple impacts of pesticide use. This type of analysis is rather novel in Italy. A statistical technique known as choice modelling is used here in combination with contingent valuation techniques. The experimental design of choice modelling provides a natural tool for tackling simultaneously the economic dimensions of several negative environmental effects associated with agrochemicals use. In particular, the paper addresses the reduction of farmland biodiversity, groundwater contamination and human intoxication. The resulting estimates show that, on average, Italians consumers are prone to accept substantial price mark-ups for agricultural goods (in particular, foodstuff) produced in environmentally benign ways.pesticide risks, food safety, willingness-to-pay, choice modeling, contingent valuation, Environmental Economics and Policy,

Willingness to Pay for Agricultural Environmental Safety: Evidence from a Survey of Milan, Italy, Residents

The widespread use of pesticides in agriculture provides a particularly complex pattern of multidimensional negative side-effects, ranging from food safety related effects to the deterioration of farmland ecosystems. The assessment of the economic implications of such negative processes is fraught with many uncertainties. This paper presents results of an empirical study recently conducted in the North of Italy aimed at estimating the value of reducing the multiple impacts of pesticide use. A statistical technique known as conjoint choice experiment is used here in combination with contingent valuation techniques. The experimental design of choice modelling provides a natural tool to attach a monetary value to negative environmental effects associated with agrochemicals use. In particular, the paper addresses the reduction of farmland biodiversity, groundwater contamination and human intoxication. The resulting estimates show that, on average, respondents are prone to accept substantial willingness to pay premia for agricultural goods (in particular, foodstuff) produced in environmentally benign ways.Pesticide risks, Food safety, Willingness-to-pay, Choice modeling, Contingent valuation

A Meta-Analysis of the Willingness to Pay for Reductions in Pesticide Risk Exposure

The use of environmental policy instruments such as eco-labelling and pesticide taxes should preferably be based on disaggregate estimates of the individuals' willingness to pay (WTP) for pesticide risk reductions. We review the empirical valuation literature dealing with pesticide risk exposure and develop a taxonomy of environmental and human health risks associated with pesticide usage. Subsequently, we use meta-analysis to investigate the variation in WTP estimates for reduced pesticide risk exposure. Our findings show that the WTP for reduced risk exposure is approximately 15% greater for medium, and 80% greater for high risk-levels, as compared to low risk levels. The income elasticity of pesticide risk exposure is generally positive, although not overly robust. Most results indicate that the demand for human health and environmental safety is highly elastic. We also show that geographical differences, characteristics of the survey, and the type safety device (eco-labelling, integrated management, or bans) are important drivers of the valuation results.Institutional and Behavioral Economics,

A Meta-Analysis of the Willingness to Pay for Reductions in Pesticide Risk Exposure

The use of environmental policy instruments such as eco-labelling and pesticide taxes should preferably be based on disaggregate estimates of the individuals’ willingness to pay (WTP) for pesticide risk reductions. We review the empirical valuation literature dealing with pesticide risk exposure and develop a taxonomy of environmental and human health risks associated with pesticide usage. Subsequently, we use meta-analysis to investigate the variation in WTP estimates for reduced pesticide risk exposure. Our findings show that the WTP for reduced risk exposure is approximately 15% greater for medium, and 80% greater for high risk-levels, as compared to low risk levels. The income elasticity of pesticide risk exposure is generally positive, although not overly robust. Most results indicate that the demand for human health and environmental safety is highly elastic. We also show that geographical differences, characteristics of the survey, and the type safety device (eco-labelling, integrated management, or bans) are important drivers of the valuation results.Pesticide risk, Willingness to pay, Meta-analysis

New information technology and spatial transport development

This paper reviews recent transport developments taking place in Europe. Particular attention is given to the impact of technological dynamics as reflected in the new information technology (NIT). Against this background the paper gives an overview of results and findings from four major international conferences on the impact of NIT on spatial developments and transport. There appears to be a consensus that the impact of NIT will not be dramatic and that the degree of substitutability of NIT vis--vis physical travel is limited. Peripheral areas of conurbations seem likely to be late comers in the area of NIT. However, in terms of the increase of a region\u27s competitive position, NIT may be an important vehicle, as it may also be for logistic systems and traffic safety

Urban Migrant Absorption; Theories and Policies on the Absorption of Immigrants on the Local Market of Host Areas

This paper addresses labour market aspects of new immigrants in host countries with a specific emphasis on the Netherlands. In general, it can be stated that in the Netherlands immigrant groups have not been absorbed very well in the labour market and that to some extent the dual labour market approachis applicable to the Dutch situation.Furthermore, future labour market developments in western Europe - and hence also in the Netherlands - are not very favourable, because the skillprofile of the new immigrant groups corresponds in a decreasing way to the needs in western European labour markets. Various policies - especially inurban areas - have been developed to improve the labour market situation of immigrants. These projects are diverse in nature and aim at the improvementof basic skills, e.g. language and vocational training programs. The results of these programmes in terms of an improvement in labour marketparticipation are often somewhat disappointing. Furthermore, a systematic evaluation of these programs ismissing. Therefore, in this paper a systematic evaluation framework is presented which incorporates both quantitative and qualitative evaluationapproaches. This may improve assessment procedures used and will hopefully encourage policy-makers to systematically evaluate labour market absorptionprogrammes

Knowledge Virtualization and Local Connectedness among Smart High-tech Companies

Smart high-tech companies are characterized by knowledge intensity and open innovation. Even when these companies emerge in spatial clusters or dense urban places, they may utilize knowledge networks on a global scale. However, there is not much insight into the factors that shape knowledge networks, the role of virtualization herein and the impact of on global knowledge sourcing on local connectedness. This paper seeks to fill these gaps in understanding, by drawing on a selected sample of young high-technology companies in the Netherlands and application of rough set analysis to identify homogeneous categories of companies in the highly differentiated segment of young high-tech companies. The outcomes suggest that employing mainly local and employing mainly global knowledge networks coexist in city-regions, and that only part of the globalized companies are losing local connectedness, particularly those involved in co-creation with global customers and those acting as learning partners of multinational corporations (‘reverse’ knowledge transfer). Factors counteracting a weakening of local connectedness are specific local knowledge relationships and the strategy of developing local/regional customer markets