Environmental valuation

Ye

Water and Identity: An analysis of the Cauvery River water dispute

YesThis paper focuses on the dispute over river Cauvery in Southern India. Among the causes of river water disputes are contested property rights, difficulty in enforcing such rights, conflict of uses and a lack of willingness to compromise. A co-operative outcome in such cases depends on several factors: asymmetry of power in a triadic relationship between a federal government and two riparian states (one upstream and one downstream). Other factors influencing co-operation are the extent to which the claims of river waters can be elevated from those of immediate riparian peoples to those of an entire state; the dominance of a masculine paradigm towards 'taming' river waters using 'hard' investments rather than 'soft' and decentralised alternatives. On the basis of district level data, the importance of river Cauvery to the hydrology, economy and polity of the two contesting states is examined. This analysis helps us to appreciate why the two riparian state governments have limited room to manouvre. Drawing from two brief case studies of Murray Darling Basin and recent litigation in the USA, and other international experiences of river water treaties, the paper identifies various implications for the resolution of Cauvery and other river water disputes

Assessing smart city projects and their implications for public policy in the Global South

YesThis article aims to assess critically different definitions and indicators of smart cities. Drawing on exemplary case studies, the author proposes a typology of four categories of smart cities: type A are the world leaders who pioneer ideas not predicated on smart city projects; type B are aspirational cities punching above their weight; type C are surprise transformers that use the smart city concept to propel real transformation; and type D are cases where smart city projects do not directly address the main urban problems. The discussion highlights the need to prevent ‘smart-wash’ by avoiding superficial technological solutions that chase symptoms but not causes of some of the complex urban challenges that they are intending to address. In conclusion, the author considers the public policy implications of applying these typologies to cities in general with particular reference to the Global SouthBritish Academy: [grant number IPM 15008

Violence and urbanisation: The Kerala-Bihar paradox and beyond.

YesAbstract: The aim of this paper is to examine the alleged association between urbanisation and violence and to take some preliminary steps towards an exploration of the role of trust in improving urban governance and thus reduce violence. In this paper, violence is interpreted broadly to include both active or direct violence but also passive and social violence in terms of lack of voice, and as a symptom of governance failure. The paper includes a cross section analysis based on data for some 123 countries and an in-depth case study of India. I will also examine what may be termed as the Kerala-Bihar paradox. Kerala is well-known for its achievements in human development and according to India human development report of 2001, Kerala is ranked 1 on human development indicators while Bihar is among the states lagging behind in terms of human development. However, state level analysis of crime suggests that Kerala is more criminalised than Bihar. In examining this paradox, some inferences are drawn on the role of trust in improving accountable governance and how this may result in reducing violent crime. Some issues for further research are identified

The conflict of forest tenure and the emergence of community based forest management in Indonesia

YesThe forest tenure policy remains a controversy in Indonesia specially, on the issues of how to maintain forest on sustainable way and at the same time how to share of benefit of forest resources to the local communities. Yet, the state is the main actor on forest tenure in Indonesia could not succeed to do so.. This paper discusses the Community Based Forest Management (CBFM) programme in Indonesia with some details relating to the Indonesian political and legal basis on land and natural resources. This paper also describes the conflict of forest resources and the state’s failure in forest resources management in Indonesia. CBFM can be used as an alternative to share resources and conserve the forest by engaging local communities

Extractive Economies and Sustainable Development: An analysis of infrastructure, health and social development

YesExtractive economies can use the natural resource dividend for infrastructure and sustainable development. However, the reality of achieving this is far more complex than one might expect. This paper aims to present some fresh analysis of data of extractive economies to answer three main questions: a. how are extractive economies performing with regard to providing basic services such as health, education, water and sanitation; b. are there patterns of success; and c. what are the implications for policy and action especially in the context of the proposed sustainable development goals. The first issue of course is to define the category extractive economy. Using a new methodology, this paper focuses on the top 40 oil economies, top 41 gas economies and 56 mineral economies. Because some countries do have all three or two of these three natural resources, the overall dataset is of 91 countries covering both developed and developing economies and in all continents. Data pertaining to years 2002 to 2012 is analysed here. While some results are perhaps as may be expected, there are several disturbing findings as well. Extractive economies are among some of the poorly performing countries on indicators highly relevant to prosed SDGs on poverty, health, water and sanitation, and energy. This highlights the need for a strategic focus and developing appropriate mechanisms to use the natural resource dividend to make lasting transformation of social and economic well-being

Governance and economics of smart cities: opportunities and challenges

YesThis editorial introduction to this special issue provides an overview and a conceptual framework of governance and economics of smart cities. We begin with a discussion of the background to smart cities and then it focuses on the key challenges for consideration in smart city economics. Here it is argued that there are four dimensions to smart city economics: the first is regarding the scale of global market for smart cities; the second issue concerns data to be used for smart city projects; the third concerns market competition and structure and the fourth concerns the impact on local economy. Likewise, smart city governance framework has to be considered a layered and multi-level concept focusing on issues of transparency and accountability to the citizens

Cities and the Capability Approach

YesThis chapter is an attempt at reflecting on applying the capability approach to cities and the challenges of inclusive and sustainable cities. The chapter starts with a brief literature review of some of the previous studies that have attempted to extend capability approach and human development thinking to urban issues. Then the chapter proceeds to look at a number of urban and city issues from the lens of expanding substantive freedoms. The paper includes analysis of evidence on life expectancy and living in urban areas. Some conclusions are identified

Regional financial disparity in India: can it be measured?

YesIn this study we examine disparities in financial development at the regional level in India. The major research questions of the study are: How do we measure the level of financial development at the sub-national level? How unequal is financial development across the states? Does it vary by ownership of financial institutions? To explore these research questions, our study develops composite banking development index at the sub-national level for three different bank groups - public, private and foreign for 25 Indian states covering 1996 - 2015. Our findings suggest that despite reforms, banking development is significantly higher in the leading high income and more developed regions compared to lagging ones. Further, we find that all bank groups including public banks are concentrated more in the developed regions. Overall, over the years the position of top three and bottom three states in the aggregate banking index has remained unchanged reflecting lop-sidedness of regional development. We also note improvement in the ranking of some north-eastern states during the period 2009-15

Other People’s Adaptations : Teaching Children With Special Educational Needs to Adapt and to Aspire

For over three decades, the capability approach proposed and developed by Amartya Sen and Martha Nussbaum has had a distinct impact on development theories and approaches because it goes beyond an economic conception of development and engages with the normative aspects of development. This book explores the new frontiers of the capability approach and its links to human development in three main areas. First, it delves into the philosophical foundations of the approach, re-examining its links to concepts of common good, collective agency and epistemic diversity. Secondly, it addresses its 'operational frontier', aiming to give inclusive explanations of some of the most advanced methods available for capability researchers. Thirdly, it offers a wide range of the applications of this approach, as carried out by a mix of renowned capability scholars and researchers from different disciplines. This broad interdisciplinary range includes the areas of human and sustainable development, inequalities, labour markets, education, special needs, cities, urban planning, housing, social capital and happiness studies, among others