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

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

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