Piloting a systematic framework for public investment in regional natural resource management: Dryland salinity in Australia

The Salinity Investment Framework (SIF3) is designed to help environmental managers make better policy decisions about protecting key assets under threat of dryland salinity, a major degradation problem in Australia. This study reports results from applying SIF3 in partnership with two regional organizations (in the states of Victoria and Western Australia) with contrasting institutional powers and structures. We also engaged relevant policy makers with a view to influencing national policy. Available knowledge, science, and data were used to develop region-specific recommendations for public investment in salinity management. SIF3 proved easy to apply, requiring minimal changes from its original version. Establishing trust and credibility with stakeholders was extremely important. More time was required to be spent on communicating what SIF3 was and what it would mean for stakeholders than in applying it in the catchments. In both regions, recommendations included making a clear distinction between localized assets (such as a particular wetland) and dispersed assets (such as agricultural land as a whole); more targeted investment in spatially identified localized assets; using a broader range of policy tools; basing recommendations on the levels of public and private net benefits; anticipating the adoptability of sustainable land-management practices; and formally integrating relevant scientific, economic and social information with community values. The differences between current action and recommendations were significant in both regions, particularly in Victoria. As a result of our work both regions have decided to implementing a similar asset-based approach covering various environmental threats in addition to dryland salinity. The research indicates that it is feasible to use decision frameworks such as SIF3 to improve the rigour of decision making by community-based environmental management organizations. A broader range of policy tools are needed for dryland salinity, with less reliance on extension and small grants, and more emphasis on intervention around key assets and investment in technology development. We have influenced policy makers to some extent at state level and nationally through discussion of SIF3 in a national inquiry, preparation of a policy paper for peak multi-government policy committees, briefings and provision of advice on policy design. Despite this, achieving significant policy change at the state and national levels remains difficult for a number of reasons. Governments give limited signals to environmental managers to achieve environmental outcomes, being more concerned with community participation objectives and political considerations. We hope for significant policy change with increased scrutiny about sound decision making and public accountability.     

欧洲渔业政策、社会科学研究：21世纪面临的挑战

本文为英国赫尔大学地理学院David Symes发表在Maine Policy2010年第34卷268—275页文章的中泽文。在扩展欧洲渔业政策的科学基础过程中,尽管生态系统方法和经济建模得到显著运用,社会科学对于政策有关的研究作用仍不甚明显。在有关体制结构和渔业管理理论的理解方面虽有进展,但对欧盟第六次研发与技术发展架构（2002～2006年）的分析指出,在多学科项目领域以外,社会科学的运用仍然不足。渔业社会科学的流散性和渔业政策明显缺乏社会目标的特点合理解释了社会科学难以运用到渔业政策的原因。CFP（共同渔业政策）改革预计将在2012年展开,包括中央和区域机构之间责任的重新分配,为跨学科和专业领域的政策相关研究提供更多的机会。为应对这一挑战,将需要在社会科学和跨自然和经济科学界限构建强大的网络建设。     

The literature on the economic causes of and policy responses to obesity

This paper discusses economic perspectives on obesity, summarizes the economic literature and outlines potential policy responses. The paper provides the most up-to-date review of the literature. The literature illustrates the potential role of informational market failures and the dichotomy between the private and social costs of obesity. Market failures can act to provide a rationale for government intervention. Suggested factors for explaining the increase in the prevalence of obesity are discussed as relating to imperfect information, lifestyle changes and technology changes. Some of the potential remedial policies that are being debated in the literature include applying Pigouvian taxes, labelling regulation and advertising limitations.     

基于GIS技术的辽宁省经济社会发展综合评价及各区域所承担的经济功能

辽宁省主体功能区分为优化开发、重点开发、限制开发和禁止开发4类主体功能区,划分这4类主体功能区需通过省级区划的指标体系来确定;主体功能区规划包括10个指标项。其中,经济发展水平（EDL）指标项是刻画一个地区经济发展现状和增长活力的一个综合性指标;该指标项由人均地区GDP和地区GDP的增长比率两个要素构成,具体通过县域人均GDP规模和GDP增长率来反映。将辽宁省58个县级行政区作为省级区划的基本单元,运用地理信息系统技术,分析评价辽宁省社会经济综合发展水平及其成因,刻画处于不同经济发展水平的地区在全省承载的经济功能。     

India's economic reforms: Progress,problems, prospects

Abstract

This paper is a review of India's progress in the 50 years of Independence, which is regarded as a mixture of the impressive and the disappointing. The country has managed to protect national unity, preserve democracy and dilute traditional social hierarchies. There has been economic growth and a reduction in the proportion of people falling below a standard poverty line. But the main requirement now is a sustained increase in the growth rate of national income that also increases the demand for labour. The relative failures of past decades are considered, and ways in which the reform programme begun in July 1991 could be strengthened are suggested.     

区域经济协调发展视角下的科技创新路径探讨——以蓝黄两区为例

区域科技与经济系统的协调发展是实现区域集约型高质量经济增长的突破口,是社会、经济、生态三者获得高效协调统一的重要途径,是区域在不断变化的竞争格局中率先振兴的关键,更是区域凸显比较优势、实现可持续发展的前提条件和基础保障。科技创新在蓝黄统筹发展过程中同样发挥着重要的作用。一方面,科技进步对发展蓝黄统筹新型经济、提高海陆开发和综合管理能力具有重要的支撑引领作用;另一方面,蓝黄经济的统筹发展也能够产生强大的反哺效应,为科技创新奠定雄厚的物质基础。科技创新与蓝黄区域融合发展存在着较强的互动关系,两者相互影响、彼此制衡,其在高效互动状态下能够产生强大合力,推动区域经济社会健康快速发展。     

Multifunctional agriculture, policy measures and the WTO: the Norwegian case

One of the questions debated in the ongoing WTO agricultural negotiations is whether 'trade-distorting' subsidies, or subsidies outside the 'green box', are needed in order to pursue non-trade concerns. The term 'multifunctional agriculture' is increasingly applied to describe non-trade concerns. This article focuses on how to achieve the multifunctional goals that nations may have with minimal trade-distortion. In the first part of the article, this is done by a literature review and a theoretical analysis. The findings are then converted into an analysis of possible policy formulations in a Norwegian context using a partial equilibrium model. The article argues that multifunctionality hardly can justify the use of market support, while it may justify production-related budget support if the positive externalities or public goods are produced jointly with or complementary to agricultural production. The article concludes with suggestions for WTO trade rules to prevent such policies from becoming a form of protectionism.     

Zionism and agricultural land: National narratives,environmental objectives,and land policy in Israel

The 1990s saw two different and even contradictory trends in Israel. On the one hand, there was a substantial increase in environmental awareness, on the part of both the general public and decision-makers, that led to a change in the land use planning policy at the national level. On the other hand, the Israel Lands Council (ILC), the body empowered by law to shape the national land policy, made a series of decisions that severely violated the principle of preserving agricultural land and led to massive conversion of agricultural land and open space for commercial, industrial, and residential development. Thus the national land policy became incompatible with the land use planning policy and the rise in environmental awareness it reflected.     

转变渔业增长方式必须加强渔业经济与政策研究

增长方式转变是当前现代农业建设的重要任务,转变渔业增长方式必须加强渔业经济与政策研究。本文从准确把握现代农业建设的时代背景,明确当前渔业经济政策研究的重点领域,深刻认识政策和科技支撑渔业发展的重大作用等三个方面,阐述了加强渔业经济与政策研究的着眼点,以便为推动我国渔业增长方式转变提供具体的途径。     

Food aid,food policy and the Uruguay round: implications for Bangladesh

The relationship between the effects of food aid and those of the completion of the Uruguay Round of the GATT are studied in this paper, focusing upon the food aid recipient countries, and taking Bangladesh as an illustrative example. It is argued that, among other factors, the magnitudes of these effects depend crucially on the policy environment within the food aid recipient country itself, particularly the government's policy with respect to commercial food imports. It is shown that when the quantity of Bangladesh's commercial food imports is controlled by the government, the benefits derived from food aid are smaller than when these imports are liberalised. Likewise, the negative effects that the Uruguay Round may be expected to have on Bangladesh will also he larger if commercial food imports are subject to quantitative controls than if they are liberalised. The effects the Uruguay Round will have on Bangladesh will also depend on the way food aid donors respond to the Round. If donors reduce the volumes of food aid, either because of reduced food surpluses resulting from lower agricultural subsidies, or in response to increased international food prices resulting from the Round, the losses incurred by Bangladesh will be magnified. But these effects will also depend heavily on whether Bangladesh itself participates in the liberalisations that are central to the Round itself. If it were to participate fully, the negative effects that the Uruguay Round would otherwise have on Bangladesh may be entirely offset by the gains Bangladesh would derive from its own liberalisation.     

Conflicts in land use in Zimbabwe: Political, economic and environmental perspectives

Major conflicts have developed between and within the two main farming systems in Zimbabwe, especially over the past thirty or so years. Since independence in 1980 policies have favoured expropriation of land from commercial farms to resettle peasant farmers as a means of relieving ‘land hunger’ in the peasant sector. This article argues that that is a very simplistic view of current land-use problems, and that resettlement programmes are only a partial solution to the immense problems within the peasant sector. These are the product of a complex history of development incorporating political, economic and environmental issues. The article outlines the main features of this development so that a more balanced perspective on current problems can be achieved and so that more appropriate strategies to tackle the problems can be devised.     

河北省京津风沙源区生态经济社会发展水平评价研究

本研究采用层次分析法,对2000年和2008年河北省京津风沙源区21个县的生态、经济和社会发展水平进行定量评价分析。从分析结果来看,河北省京津风沙源区生态、经济、社会发展水平整体上呈上升趋势,但发展水平还不高,各县之间差距较大;生态环境整体恶化的趋势逐步变缓、局部生态环境明显好转,该区生态建设进入了治理大于破坏的阶段;协调发展能力有了较大提高,经济发展的速度明显快于生态和社会的发展速度。     

Nutrition, health and economic policies in Europe

This article explores the economic issues associated with diet choices and nutrition policies in Europe. A review of the current and potential policy measures is provided and the issues associated with the development of a common nutritional policy in Europe discussed, with a special focus on the collection of appropriate data for benchmarking. We propose a classification for the wide range of nutrition policy tools and the most recent developments are discussed with reference to policy actions in France, Italy and the United Kingdom.     

Credibility of institutions: Forestry, social conflict and titling in China

In the reform of a forestry sector governed by centralist, socialist principles towards a sector suited to the challenges of the market economy, the Chinese government needs to establish institutions that can be perceived as credible by social actors. In other words, the creation of institutions that rally sufficient social and political support in order to be effective. Against this backdrop, this article consciously opts to refer to institutional “credibility” instead of the more fashionable concept of institutional “trust”. Whereas scholarly discussions about trust focus more on the relation of trust between social actors, credibility puts more emphasis on the institution itself, and the role of government in its successful creation or failure. Failure to effectively undertake institutional reform might put the social acceptability or credibility of institutions at risk, and can lead to the emergence of “empty institutions” with little, or even, a negative effect on social and political actors. Applying this concept to China's forestry sector, this article identifies three critical areas that call for careful rethinking how to “get institutions right”: the titling of forest holdings; the restructuring of the forest administration; and the design of forest laws and policies with particular reference to lease and ownership.