Communication and heterogeneity in a commons dilemma: an experimental approach

Heterogeneity is considered harmful for cooperation in common-pool resource extraction. In this study, we focus on the heterogeneity of users and communication, among the factors related to the success that are organized as Ostrom’s enabling conditions. We use laboratory experiments to separately identify the effect of different formats of communication in a commons dilemma with user heterogeneity. This paper modifies the standard common-pool resources (CPR) game to represent the situation where two groups of users with different utility functions are spatially linked in the CPR. An example of this situation would be an upstream community that appropriates a river’s water resource, which results in a change in the quantity or quality of the river, through pollution or extraction, to the downstream community that also utilizes the river. We will test the effect of communication in this environment

The Development and Assessment on the Qualities and Abilities Questionnaire in Elementary and Junior High School <Research Article>

本研究では，次期学習指導要領改訂の重要な観点である，主体性・多様性・協働性・学びに向かう力等の「育成すべき資質・能力」に着目して，小中学校の児童生徒を対象とした質問紙を開発し，教育現場での有効性を検討することを目的とした。質問紙開発に当たっては小学校校長や教諭等と協議を重ね，先行研究などから収集した項目を精選した。そして，資質・能力を多角的に見取るために，「社会性と情動」アンケート（田中・真井・津田・田中，2011）と共に，児童生徒約1600名に質問紙開発のための調査を実施した。その結果，育成すべき資質・能力に関して，「主体性・積極性」，「自尊心」，「協働する力」などの因子が得られた。続いて，各学校のニーズに応じて，児童一人一人の多様性の把握，学校全体，中学校区での分析を行ったところ，児童生徒の的確な見取りや，各校での取組の成果や課題の明確化につながった。以上の結果より，本資質・能力質問紙の有用性が示唆された。The present study aimed to develop a questionnaire concerning the "qualities and abilities that should be promoted," in terms of subjectivity, diversity, cooperation of labor, willingness to learn, and human nature, which will be important aspects of the next revision of the course of study; to conduct the questionnaire among children in elementary and junior high schools; and to examine its utility at these schools. When the questionnaire was developed, the author conferred repeatedly with the principal of the elementary school and with teachers, and the question items collected from previous works, etc., were selected. To identify the "qualities and abilities" multilaterally, the questionnaire was conducted with approximately 1600 children alongside a "sociality and affect" questionnaire (Tanaka, Sanai, Tsuda, and Tanaka, 2011 ). As a result, factors such as "subjectivity and activeness," "pride," and "cooperation of labor" could be related to "qualities and abilities that should be promoted." An analysis of findings in terms of the diversity of the children, the school as a whole, and the junior high school district was conducted by using the results in relation to the demands of each school, leading to an appropriate understanding of the children, clarification of the results of the teachers' approach, and the problems in each school. These findings suggest that this "qualities and abilities" questionnaire is useful

Natural capitals for nature’s contributions to people: the case of Japan

Recently, natural capital has gained the attention of researchers and policymakers to promote sustainability. Previous studies have investigated the value of ecosystem services with respect to specific areas or species. Other studies have investigated the value of various types of ecosystem services and natural capital by integrating a number of findings using meta-analyses at the global level. Although these studies have provided information on either the global value of natural capital or the local value of specific subjects, there is little evidence on the country-specific values of natural capital in Japan, which will provide useful information for national environmental policies. We investigated the perceived values of terrestrial and marine natural capital in Japan using internet surveys and payment card methods. Data on various natural forms of capital were collected in a unified format and comparable manner. We found that some explanatory variables, such as perceived importance and visit frequency, as well as sociodemographic characteristics, are significant drivers of the willingness to pay (WTP), which maintains each aspect of natural capital. In addition, we conducted future predictions of terrestrial and marine natural capital using a scenario developed in a previous study. Our results indicate that Japan should follow a population dispersed scenario for the sustainable management of natural capital up to 2050

Do commuters adapt to in-vehicle crowding on trains?

In-vehicle crowding on public transportation is a serious problem that transportation planners must address. Recent studies have emphasized that in-vehicle crowding impacts travelers’ stress and health, while other studies have investigated how daily travel affects subjective well-being (SWB). Based on the findings of these studies, we provide useful insights into the value of a reduction in crowding in terms of SWB. The other factor we should consider is adaptation, as the effects of travel discomfort disappear after travelers become accustomed to them. In this paper, we analyzed the direct and stress-related indirect effects of dissatisfaction with in-vehicle crowding on life satisfaction, focusing on whether these effects differ by the length of time commuters have been using trains. Using a sample of 8296 train commuters in Tokyo, we found that (1) dissatisfaction with in-vehicle crowding directly lowers life satisfaction among some groups of short-term train commuters and (2) dissatisfaction with in-vehicle crowding indirectly lowers life satisfaction through stress and health, regardless of whether commuters have used trains for more or less than one year. These results revealed the importance of focusing on the stress-related indirect effects of dissatisfaction with crowding, while direct effects on SWB exist only among some commuters. Our results demonstrated the possibility of adaptation to direct effects

Revenue Sharing and Social Capital in Community-Based Resource Management: Empirical Evidence from Japanese Surf-Clam Fisheries

This article provides the first rigorous analysis of the effects of revenue sharing and social capital and identifies the mechanism through which revenue sharing and social capital affect resource outcomes. Revenue sharing alters harvest incentives but also fosters social capital through bonding a group financially, which can affect the incentive for cooperation. Similarly, social capital counteracts the incentive to free-ride induced by revenue sharing in addition to sustaining the incentive to cooperate. Using data collected from Japanese fishery groups, we find evidence that revenue sharing improves economic outcomes primarily through incentivizing fishers to develop their information networks

Putting a Dollar Value on Whaling: Can Bargaining Break Deadlock in Whaling Conflict?

An international conflict between pro- and anti-whaling countries has been a concern. While many Western countries condemn whaling, Japan conducts ‘research whaling’ under the special permission of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) along with Norway and Iceland, who also engage in commercial whaling. Especially Japan and Australia have been divided over whaling for many years, which brought them to the dispute at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Yet, Japan still whales and the discontent among Australian is growing. In economic theory, this is inefficiency resulting from lack of property rights; there is no owner of whales who can decide whether to catch or protect in the most efficient manner. In this study, we examine an economic way of solving this conflict on whaling. In particular, we reply on the Coase theorem and consider monetary compensation as an alternative way. The study hypothesizes that Australians’ willingness to pay (WTP) to prohibit Japan from whaling is greater that Japanese’ willingness to accept (WTA) to abandon whaling, and if so, it can be Pareto-improving that Australia pays Japan to stop whaling. We conducted an international survey to measure WTP and WTA of the two countries using double bounded dichotomous choice and a payment card. Australians were asked about their WTP to ban Japan from catching any great whales as well as catching Antarctic Minke Whales only, which is the only whale species in Antarctic that Japan hunts. Counterpart WTAs were asked in Japan

Measuring Economic Value of Whale Conservation: Comparison between Australia and Japan

The positions of Japan and Australia have been in sharp contrast over whaling; Japan seeks to expand whaling and is not concerned about protecting whales while Australia attempts to halt whaling and strengthen whale conservation. In this study, we hypothesize that this sparked difference reflects different levels of willingness to pay (WTP): low WTP for Japan and high WTP for Australia. This study examines how the difference is brought about, and in particular, we consider the familiarity of whale watching as a key to the difference between the two countries. Our hypothesis is that a conservation program targeting 1) a whale species for whale watching, 2) a whale species for hunting, and 3) an endangered species, receives a higher WTP, and those who value 1 and 2 are the ones who go on a whale-watching tour more frequently. We also use various environmental attitudes to explain different levels of WTP. We conducted an international survey to measure WTP among Japanese and Australian samples. Choice experiment data are analyzed using latent class model to account for heterogeneity in preferences

Exploring a Gap between Australia and Japan in the Economic Valuation of Whale Conservation

Wildlife conservation is an important part of environmental policy; in the case of whales, we must consider the balance between two uses: whaling and whale watching. This study provides an economic valuation of whale conservation using stated-preference choice experiment data collected from anti-whaling populations in Australia and Japan. Using a mixed logit model, we find higher economic valuation for a ban on whaling than for conventional protection actions in Australia. Despite the popularity of whale watching, limiting protections for species that are observed during whale-watching tours do not necessarily increase valuation. In contrast, we do not find a policy favored among the anti-whaling Japanese, who are in the minority and are significantly different from the general population in socio-demographic terms. Nonetheless, protection focusing on endangered whales is utility increasing for both countries. Overall, the results show a significant difference even among the anti-whaling populations of the two countries, suggesting a high bar for reaching international consensus over whaling. Lastly, the results from a latent class model also suggest that the level of demand for whale conservation in Japan could match the Australian level by proclaiming the importance of conserving endangered species and providing information on whales

Natural capital for nature’s contributions to people: the case of Japan

Recently, natural capital has gained the attention of researchers and policymakers to promote sustainability. Previous studies have investigated the value of ecosystem services with respect to specific areas or species. Other studies have investigated the value of various types of ecosystem services and natural capital by integrating a number of findings using meta-analyses at the global level. Although these studies have provided information on either the global value of natural capital or the local value of specific subjects, there is little evidence on the country-specific values of natural capital in Japan, which will provide useful information for national environmental policies. We investigated the perceived values of terrestrial and marine natural capital in Japan using internet surveys and payment card methods. Data on various natural forms of capital were collected in a unified format and comparable manner. We found that some explanatory variables, such as perceived importance and visit frequency, as well as sociodemographic characteristics, are significant drivers of the willingness to pay (WTP), which maintains each aspect of natural capital. In addition, we conducted future predictions of terrestrial and marine natural capital using a scenario developed in a previous study. Our results indicate that Japan should follow a population-dispersed scenario for the sustainable management of natural capital up to 2050