Integrated ecological-economic modelling of water pollution abatement management options in the Upper Ems River Basin

This paper presents the results of the FLUMAGIS project, in which we developed a spatial decision support system (SDSS) to support the implementation of the European Water Framework Directive (WFD). The modelling approach is based on the integration of ecological and socio-economic assessment methods, scale-specific and GIS-based data and knowledge modelling and visualization techniques. The project study area is the intensively cropped Upper Ems River Basin in north-western Germany. A method was developed that enables the transfer of scale-specific data and information. Analyses were performed for baseline conditions and specific management and planning scenarios to improve water quantity and quality at micro-, meso- and macro-scale. The results of the study indicate that substantial, expensive water and land management changes at different scales would be necessary to achieve the WFD water quality targets in this basin. Ecological-economic analysis of cost-effectiveness reveals that the costs of achieving certain goals of the WFD can vary more than tenfold depending on which measure is chosen out of the pool of management alternatives. Moreover, the study shows that the differentiation between landscapes and other regional characteristics although considered essential to the successful implementation of WFD measures is very data intensive.     

The control of politicians within a constitutional framework: the case of state-level recall provisions

As previously recognized, the structure of representative democracy is endogenous and the choice of constitutional provisions selected by such organizations is important. The present paper focuses on constitutional choices that work to control the behaviour of elected officials by examining the constitutional ease of recalling elected officials across the 50 states. After developing a numerical measure of the ‘ease’ with which registered voters can recall officials, ordinary logistic, ordered logistic and tobit models are employed to examine the factors of such an endogenous choice across states. The results are quite consistent with the theoretical models developed previously by public choice and constitutional scholars.     

The economics of the adoption of BMPs: the case of mariculture water management

How shrimp mariculture interacts with the natural environment is a topic receiving growing attention from industry members and environmental organizations. The farms’ use of water, and subsequent discharge problems, represent important inter- and intra-industry externalities. The non-point source nature of the pollution problem suggests direct effluent regulation is unfeasible, and voluntary adoption of best management practices is the current approach favored by the industry and international organizations. This paper provides an in-depth analysis of one such management practice, reduced water exchange. Significant reductions in pond pumping diesel costs, alongside possible reductions in pond productivity and shrimp size, are expected from this technique. Social benefits could follow from the reduction of nitrogen and other effluent loadings. But adoption problems are expected due to the current inability to value longer-term private and social benefits of the practice and the risk-creating nature of the technique. Voluntary compliance with sustainable practices could be enhanced by complementary policy tools and a role of governments in coastal zone management.     

Substitution between water and other agricultural inputs: Implications for water conservation in a River Basin context

Substitution of irrigation water with other agricultural inputs could be an important means to conserve water in the face of growing pressures on water resources from both nonagricultural water demands and environmental water requirements. This paper discusses the potential of such substitution through an empirical analysis based on a multiple-input crop production function at the field and farm scales complemented with a numerical modeling exercise at the basin scale. Results from the crop production function analysis show that under both crop yield and net profit maximization, water is a substitute to other crop inputs for high-value crops, and is a complement to water for low-valued crops. At the basin scale, an integrated economic-hydrologic river basin model is used to analyze the role of other factors in crop input substitution, including the spatial connections among water sources and demands, hydro-agronomic conditions, and institutional settings for water allocation. Results show that in the case study area, the Maipo River basin in Chile, where water is very scarce, moving from the current, input-constrained, situation to full optimization of water resources leads to an increase in all crop inputs, including water. In that case, 301 million m³ of additional water use results in additional net profits of USD 11 million. However, if the water fee is raised by a factor of eight while overall basin irrigation profits are maintained at the original, baseline level, a reduction of water withdrawals by 326 million m³ is traded off with costs of USD 43.2 million for other inputs. Irrigation districts with a high share of low-value crops have a low potential for substituting water with other crop inputs. Therefore, investments for water substitution should also be kept low in these areas.     

流域水制度研究的基本框架及其应用——以黑河中游张掖市为例

基于生态经济学理论和方法,从整体性视角出发,对将环境与发展问题结合在一起的IMPACTS等式进行解耦和拓展,即在人地系统中对人文因素进一步解耦.对代表社会资源的S赋予具体的涵义,进而引入"制度"因素,将制度分析与环境资源管理结合在一起.在此基础上,对流域水制度的研究框架进行述评,接着对制度分析与发展(IAD)研究框架进行修正得到水制度分析与发展(WIAD)研究框架.最后,将这一框架应用于典型区黑河流域中游张掖市的甘州区、临泽县和高台县,对水制度和水部门进行绩效评估.通过分析,试图提供进行内陆河流域水制度研究的基本框架.     

Negative externalities on property values resulting from water impairment: The case of the Pigeon River Watershed

The objective of this research was to determine whether willingness to bear the negative externality from water quality impairment differs between those who do and those who do not receive economic benefit from the impairment source. Differences were tested using a hedonic analysis of ambient water quality in two discrete housing markets in the Pigeon River Watershed, which have been polluted by the operation of a paper mill. The results suggest that North Carolina residents residing in subwatersheds with impaired portions of the Pigeon River, who experience economic benefit from the paper mill in addition to its harmful effects on water quality, do perceive the pollution as a negative externality. In contrast, the effects of both the degraded river and its contributing streams on property values are perceived as negative externalities by watershed residents in Tennessee who experience only harmful effects from the pollution. Differences in willingness to bear the water-impairment externality were not indicated by variables representing view of and proximity to impaired water bodies. The results suggest that the perception of water quality to which property owners implicitly apply value should be considered when establishing water-quality regulations.     

Impact of irrigation water quality on human health: A case study in India

Untreated or partially treated wastewater, which is a negative externality of urban water use, is widely used for irrigation in water scarce regions in several countries including India. While the nutrients contained in the wastewater is considered as beneficial to agriculture, the contaminants present in it pose environmental and health risks. This paper examines the morbidity status, its determinants as well as the cost of illness for households living in the areas irrigated with wastewater in comparison with those using normal quality water. Primary data collected from six villages irrigated with wastewater along Musi River which is fed with wastewater and one control village where normal quality water is used for irrigation has been used for the analysis.It is seen that higher rates of morbidity exist in the wastewater irrigated villages when compared to the control village. Specifically, adult and female morbidity rates are significantly higher than child and male morbidity rates. From the logit analysis it is seen that exposure to wastewater and engagement in activities based on it places the households in higher risk groups to report morbidity. Small and marginal farmers incur higher economic cost of illness. However, it has been difficult to ascertain the cause and effect relationship as most of the households have reported more common illnesses like fever, head ache, skin itching, stomach ailments, etc. The study points out the need for a comprehensive risk assessment and adoption of risk management measures including setting standards for treatment and discharge of wastewater and regulations on the type of uses etc. to prevent unplanned use of untreated or partially treated wastewater while taking into account local conditions.     

Learning before the storm: Modeling multiple stakeholder activities in support of crisis management,a practical case

The severe consequences of a Critical Infrastructure (CI) crisis demand continued research directed toward proactive and reactive management strategies. Despite the best efforts of governments and communities, the diversity of stakeholders, conflicting demands for resources, and a lack of trust among organizations create complexities that limit the effectiveness of the response. This paper identifies four specific problems that appear to reoccur when CIs are challenged: heterogeneity, multiple and inconsistent boundaries, resilience building and knowledge transfer and sharing. A combination of collaborative modeling and software simulation methodologies is proposed in order to identify the interrelationships among diverse stakeholders when managing the preparation for and reaction to a CI crisis. This approach allows experts to work together and share experiences through the modeling process which can lead them to a better understanding of how other organizations work and integrate different perspectives. In addition, simulation models enable domain experts to understand the consequences of certain policies in the short and long terms, thus improving the crisis managers' knowledge for future crisis situations. This paper presents a practical case of a hypothetical crisis in the CI sector and the approach used in order to deal with the four problems identified above.     

Market power,private information,and the optimal scale of pollution permit markets with application to North Carolina's Neuse River

We extend the analysis of optimal scale in pollution permit markets by allowing for both market power and private information. We characterize the total costs (abatement costs and damages) under market power and private information and compare them to total costs under competition. It is possible for both market power and private information to lead to lower total costs than competition, but generally the differences between the three market structures will be small. We also conduct an optimal scale analysis of nitrogen pollution from waste water treatment plants (WWTP) into North Carolina's Neuse River System. An economic model of damages and abatement costs is integrated with a hydro-ecological model of nitrogen flow through the Neuse. We determine the optimal number of trading zones and allocate the WWTP into these zones. Under the most likely regulatory scenario, we find cost savings of 1.55 million dollars per year under the optimal market design relative to the typical 303(d) regulation in which the WWTP are not allowed to trade.     

模糊数学在环境资源价值评估中的应用——以海河流域天津段为例

环境资源是社会经济可持续发展的物质基础,而流域环境资源是其中的重要组成部分.以水环境为基础的流域环境对社会、经济、文化的发展至关重要,因此,对流域环境资源的价值进行评估,并把它纳入到国民经济核算体系当中已成为当前的研究热点.本文首先明晰研究环境资源价值的目的、意义和概念,然后分析环境资源价值的构成,提出一套较为完整的流域环境资源价值评估的理论、原则和方法.在此基础上,以海河流域天津段为例,根据上述环境资源价值评估理论与原则,运用模糊数学工具建立流域环境资源价值评估模型,评价海河流域环境资源的总经济价值,并与传统模糊数学方法加以比较.     

Valuing water quality improvement in China: A case study of Lake Puzhehei in Yunnan Province

Even though surface water has been polluted almost everywhere in China, few economic valuation studies have been conducted to value water quality changes. This paper reports an economic valuation study conducted in Yunnan, China, which estimates the total value of a real investment project to improve the water quality of Lake Puzhehei by one grade level. Located in Qiubei County far from big cities, the lake has been experiencing rapid water quality deterioration in past several years. Based on the multiple bounded discrete choice approach, an average household in Qiubei County is estimated to be willing to pay 30 yuan per month continuously for 5 years for the water quality improvement by one grade level, roughly equivalent to 3% of the average household income. The elasticity of willingness-to-pay with respect to income is estimated to be 0.21. The economic rate of return of the proposed project is estimated to be 18%, indicating an economically favorable investment in water quality improvement. This study also demonstrates that the previous knowledge about the water quality changes and about the project can have significant positive impacts on people's willingness to pay, whereas the interviewer effect on valuation can be negative.     

Modeling services liberalization: The case of Kenya

This paper employs a 55 sector small open economy computable general equilibrium model of the Kenyan economy to assess the impact of the liberalization of regulatory barriers against foreign and domestic business service providers in Kenya. The model incorporates foreign direct investment in business services and productivity effects in imperfectly competitive goods and services markets endogenously, through a Dixit–Stiglitz framework. The ad valorem equivalent of barriers to foreign direct investment have been estimated based on detailed questionnaires completed by specialists in Kenya. We estimate very substantial gains to Kenya from regulatory liberalization in business services, and additional gains from uniform tariffs. The estimated gains increase to 50% of consumption in the long run steady state model, where the impact on the accumulation of capital from an improvement in the productivity of capital is taken into account. Decomposition exercises reveal that the largest gains to Kenya will derive from liberalization of costly regulatory barriers that are non-discriminatory in their impacts between Kenyan and multinational service providers.     

Investment decisions and transferable discharge permits: An empirical study of water quality management under policy uncertainty

The problem of investiment decisions for sources participating in transferable discharge permit (TDP) markets has not received much attention. One way TDPs offer potential savings is with their ability to influence development in a region. Static models have assessed the potential savings of TDPs but do not explicitly consider investment decisions; thus they do not capture this long run role nor that of policy uncertainty and tend to understate both the cost saving potential and the difficulty in achieving it. This paper addresses both problems by emphasizing the temporal dimension of TDPs. A two-period investment model investigates the magnitude of these potential savings and the effects of two types of policy uncertainty upon expected gains from permit trading.     

清代皖江流域商品经济发展概况

在清代长江流域东西贸易日渐兴盛这一历史背景下,皖江流域的商品经济有了一定程度的发展,具体表现为商品性农业的发展,商人群体的活跃及城镇经济的发展.但巨大的人口压力、经营观念的落后和农业生产结构调整的缓慢等不利因素也影响了近代皖江流域乃至整个安徽经济的进一步发展.     

对淮河流域工业发展的思考

在市场机制建立与淮河流域经济发展过程中,由于各级政府未能发挥应有的积极职能,致使淮河流域工业结构和工业规模都不尽合理,淮河流域受到严重污染.面对21世纪可持续发展战略,以淮河流域为实证,深刻认识环境保护与经济发展这一矛盾中对立统一的规律,认真吸取教训,以新的思路,正确选择淮河流域工业发展模式.抓住人类刚刚步入知识经济的契机,在不限制经济快速发展、不否定工业化和农业现代化的进程中,分配并利用好环境容量,在淮河流域快速完成工业化进程,最终迈进现代化行列,实现经济、社会与环境的共同发展.     

干旱区内陆河流域城镇化与水资源环境系统耦合分析——以石羊河流域为例

在建立内陆河流域城镇化与水资源环境系统耦合评价指标体系的基础上,以石羊河流域为例,运用灰色关联分析法定量分析流域城镇化与水资源环境系统交互耦合的主要因素,并揭示了耦合度的时空变化规律。结果表明:①流域城镇化与水资源环境系统内部要素间的交互耦合是复杂的。其中,城镇人口增长较快、社会化服务水平较低、产业结构不合理是胁迫水资源环境的主要因素,而总用水规模偏大、水资源管理落后以及水资源匮乏的本底条件是制约流域城镇化的主要原因。②流域城镇化与水资源环境系统耦合度的时序变动表现出明显的阶段性和波动性,其变化曲线呈现出两个连续U型。第一个U型表明2001—2007年期间水资源环境对城镇化的约束力总体上是先变小、后变大的趋势。第二个U型在验证2007年《甘肃省石羊河流域重点治理规划》出台后流域生态恶化趋势有所缓和的同时,警示继续加强流域水资源综合管理以实现耦合协调的必要性。③各县(区)耦合度表现出复杂多样的空间差异,这与各县(区)所处的经济社会发展水平、城镇化进程以及区域自然条件有关。     

流域经济协作区:区域空间重组新模式

流域经济协作区是一个生态系统与经济生产系统、社会文化紧密耦合的生态经济系统。以其作为经济发展的地域单元，能够实现社会、经济的可持续发展，促进不同发展水平的区域的互联，充分发挥资源秉赋优势、克服地区产业结构雷同，获得域际分工效益。本文讨论了设立流域经济协作区的理论基础、流域经济区的功能特性及其实施的现实意义和相关的政策措施。     

浅议高校档案管理人员应具备的素质

高校档案人员是高校档案事业的主体,档案人员素质的高低,关系到高校档案部门的职能发挥,全面提高档案人员的整体素质,是高校档案工作质量提高的重要保证。本文系统地阐述了高校档案管理人员应具备无私奉献精神、优质的服务意识、过硬的业务技能、良好的工作作风和心理素质。