Consistency and optimality in a dynamic game of pollution control II: Monopoly

This paper continues a line of research begun in Batabyal (1995a). I model the interaction between a regulator and a monopolistic, polluting firm as a Stackelberg differential game in which the regulator leads. The firm creates pollution, which results in a stock externality. I analyze the intertemporal effects of alternate pollution control measures. The principal issue here concerns the dynamic inconsistency of the optimal solution. Inter alia, I compare the steady state levels of pollution under optimal and under dynamically consistent policies.     

The Case of the Missing Pollution Haven Hypothesis

One particularly vexing puzzle for economists and policymakers over the past several decades concerns the empirical significance of the theoretically predicted pollution haven hypothesis. While neoclassical theory and conventional wisdom both surmise that local economies will suffer deleterious effects from stricter environmental regulations, empirical studies have largely failed to validate such claims. This study utilizes the method of matching to show that the impact of stricter regulation is heterogeneous spatially, varying systematically based on location-specific attributes. Previous studies that assume a homogenous response may therefore inadvertently mask the overall impact of more stringent regulations by pooling unaffected and affected regions.JEL Classification: Q25, Q28, H00, L51, R1The authors wish to thank to Michael Crew, Anthony Heyes, an anonymous referee, Werner Antweiler, Randy Becker, Wayne Gray, Shelby Gerking, Michael Greenstone, Vern Henderson, and Arik Levinson. Participants at various university seminars and conferences also lent useful insights to this line of research.     

A review and validation of overall survival extrapolation in health technology assessments of cancer immunotherapy by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence: how did the initial best estimate compare to trial data subsequently made available?

Background: Validation of overall survival (OS) extrapolations of immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) during the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) Single Technology Assessment (STA) process is limited due to data still maturing at the time of submission. Inaccurate extrapolation may lead to inappropriate decision-making. The availability of more mature trial data facilitates a retrospective analysis of the plausibility and validity of initial extrapolations. This study compares these extrapolations to subsequently available longer-term data.

Methods: A systematic search of completed NICE appraisals of ICIs from March 2000 to December 2017 was performed. A targeted search was also undertaken to procure published OS data from the pivotal clinical trials for each identified STA made available post-submission to NICE. Initial Kaplan-Meier curves and associated extrapolations from NICE documentation were extracted to compare the accuracy of OS projections versus the most mature data.

Results: The review identified 11 STAs, of which 10 provided OS data upon submission to NICE. The extrapolations undertaken considered parametric or piecewise survival models. Additional data cut-offs provided a mean of 18 months of OS beyond the end of the original data. Initial extrapolations typically under-estimated OS from the most mature data cut-off by 0.4–2.7%, depending on the choice of assessment method and use of the manufacturer- or ERG-preferred extrapolation.

Conclusion: Long-term extrapolation of OS is required for NICE STAs based on initial immature OS data. The results of this study demonstrate that the initial OS extrapolations employed by manufacturers and ERGs generally predicted OS reasonably well when compared to more mature data (when available), although on average they appeared to underestimate OS. This review and validation shows that, while the choice of OS extrapolation is uncertain, the methods adopted are generally aligned with later-published follow-up data and appear appropriate for informing HTA decisions.     

机场环境管制探讨

机场环境管制的重点是噪声和排放物污染。除直接管制外,收费是国外机场环境管制中应用得最多且最有效率的经济管制方式。我国除继续强化已有的直接管制方式外,还可以从收取以保护环境为目的的噪声费和排放物费、限制机场土地的使用、采取国际机场协会提出的短期和长期机场环境保护措施三个方面进一步加强机场环境管制。     

生态系统服务价值评价在土地规划环境影响评价中的应用

本文引入生态服务价值理论,尝试从生态系统服务价值变化的角度评价镇江市土地利用规划(1996～2010年)对区域生态环境的影响。结果表明,在实施土地利用规划的情况下,镇江市的生态服务功能价值将从1996年的7.91亿美元下降到2010年的7.75亿美元,镇江市土地利用规划将对区域生态环境带来负面影响,需要采取积极有效的措施降低对土地利用变化对生态环境的影响。     

完善我国环境税收制度的思考

我国环境税制建设应从完善现行各税种中涉及的环境保护和生态发展的各项税收政策入手,并在此基础上开征专门的环境税种。当前应尽快开征水资源环保税、垃圾处理税和资源开采税,不宜开征排污税,燃油税也不宜纳入环境税范围;在完善我国环境税制方面,应把重点放在对消费税、资源税、耕地占用税、车船使用税以及有关的税收优惠政策调整上。     

景区环境控制指标体系研究--以三峡库区为例

根据景区环境控制的原则,本文从生态环境、空间环境、设施环境以及社会环境四个方面建立起三峡库区景区环境控制指标体系,并以重庆库区为例对各项指标的控制标准进行了较为详细的论述.     

城市地价评估中的地质环境问题

地价评估通常考虑的影响因素主要有社会因素、经济因素、政策法规，以及地块的地理位置，而对城市的地质环境的影响考虑较少。本文就城市地质环境问题，研究了其对土地价格评估的作用，以及在地价评估中的量化关系。     

大都市群可持续发展研究

在中国培育数个大都市群是中国实现现代化的必然选择,同时环境资源日益稀缺必将成为大都市群可持续发展的主要挑战.前瞻性地研究大都市群环境变异的规律,主动、系统、全面地采取相对应的调控措施,才能有效地解决大都市群发展与环境的协调问题.     

浅析运输方式的绿色化

在中国环境危机和能源危机日益严重的背景下，物流业面临严峻的挑战．因此物流绿色化已成为物流管理系统的发展趋势。本文将从物流过程中的运输环节入手，通过分析传统运输的弊端，探索新型的运输方式，以提高物流绿色化水平。