Climate policy targets in emerging and industrialized economies: the influence of technological differences, environmental preferences and propensity to save

Although emerging economies claim that industrialized countries need to reduce their carbon emissions first, stabilization of the future global climate system requires immediate action by all countries. In a stylized two-country intertemporal general equilibrium model, we derive welfare maximizing emission caps in emerging and industrialized countries, taking account of country differences in technology, environmental preferences and propensity to save. Simultaneous target setting is compared to a sequential one in which the industrialized country commits itself to binding targets first. In the latter case, when the industrialized economy has stronger environmental preferences and a lower relative pollution production share, the industrialized economy can increase its joint economic and environmental welfare by setting a laxer target. On the other hand, when the emerging economy has considerably higher environmental preferences, our results suggest that the industrialized economy will choose a more restrictive target in a sequential setting than in a simultaneous one, contrary to first thought that a first mover is always pursuing a ‘symbolic’ policy with a lax target.     

Optimal Dynamic Control of Visitors and Endangered Species in a National Park

To enable visitors to enjoy nature while protecting endangered species is the key challenge for national parks around the world. In our optimal dynamic control model, a park management maximizes tourism revenues and conservation benefits net of control costs by choosing optimal dynamic levels of conservation and visitor management. The optimization is constrained by an extended food chain model representing species-habitat-visitor interactions. We illustrate for a game bird in an Alpine national park that ecotourism can indeed lead to ecosystem degradation when the park management is more concerned about increasing tourism revenues than about achieving the conservation target and if the endangered species is unknown to most visitors. If, however, the park management is well aware of the potentially negative consequences of ecotourism and hence cares for species conservation, limited ecotourism can provide funding for species conservation which ensures population levels above the uncontrolled steady state.     

Hohe Sterblichkeit

Diagnostik und Therapie der Lungenentzündung - Verschiedene Erreger wie Viren, Bakterien oder Pilze k?nnen das Lungengewebe angreifen und urs?chlich für eine Pneumonie sein. Daraus resultiert, dass es für die verschiedenen Formen der Pneumonie und auch verschiedene Behandlungsans?tze gibt.     

Consistency and asymptotic normality of maximum likelihood estimation for Gaussian Markov processes from discrete observations

In this paper we prove the weak consistency and the asymptotic normality of the maximum likelihood estimation based on discrete observations ofn independent Gaussian Markov processes. The Ornstein Uhlenbeck process is a special Gaussian Markov process. We derive asymptotic simultaneous confidence regions for the parameters of the Ornstein Uhlenbeck process as an application.     

Demografische Alterung führt zu einem stark sinkenden Erwerbspersonenpotenzial

Wirtschaftsdienst - The demographic development in Germany will lead to a declining number of people of working age and thus potentially in the labour force. The age structure is shifting towards...     

Die Auswirkungen des EEG auf das Energiesystem Deutschlands – Eine Betrachtung mit dem Energiesystemmodell TIMES-D

In Germany, the electricity generation from renewable energy has been promoted since the year 2000 by a feed-in tariff system, the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG). This article evaluates the long-term impact of the German feed-in tariffs on the development of the German energy system with the help of the energy system model TIMES-D. In the model-based analysis, both the payment side (i.e. the tariffs) and the cost side (i.e. the EEG apportionment) are taken into consideration. Through the promotion of the feed-in tariff system—in combination with the European Emission Trading Scheme (ETS)—the use of renewable energies in electricity generation in Germany rises considerably such that renewable energy sources account for almost 40% of total gross electricity consumption in 2030. Accordingly, until 2020 total EEG fee payments as well as the EEG apportionment increase significantly. The impact of the feed-in tariff system on final electricity demand is, however, relatively small. Alternative scenario settings show that the expansion of the renewable electricity generation through the feed-in tariff system clearly exceeds the development which would occur when trying to reach the reduction targets of the ETS in a cost-efficient way.     

A test of the HRM model: good for employers and employees

Some of the assumptions made by the proponents of the strong version of HRM are tested, using social identity theory and group processes. In particular, the author explores the proposed link between the HRM characteristics integration, commitment, quality and flexibility and examines their relationships to employee satisfaction, intention to stay and organisational performance. Based on a survey conducted among bank employees, correlational and multiple regression analysis, both at individual and at branch level, confirm the connection between integration, commitment, quality and flexibility. Commitment emerges as the central variable. It is closely related to work satisfaction and intention to stay and, most importantly, makes a significant contribution to branch performance.     

A model of task demands,social structure,and leader–member exchange and their relationship to job satisfaction

In the present study, we examine task demands, leader–member exchange, and social structure in their relationship to job satisfaction. Based on the reflections of Seers and Graen in their dual attachment model, in the present study we combined task demands, leader–member exchange, and social structure in a model of antecedents of job satisfaction. The resulting model was tested using structural equation modelling. While task demands and leader–member exchange are related to their respective equivalents in job satisfaction, social structure is positively related to a latent factor job satisfaction, indicating that the social structure of a job has an impact on different facets of job satisfaction. The results are discussed with respect to sample characteristics.     

Carry-overs or leftovers? Tackling year-end spend-downs at the central government level

ABSTRACT

Year-end spend-downs have received a lot of attention in public policy and public administration, and a number of budgeting and accounting reforms have been made to tackle this issue. While carry-overs have been thought to be a remedy, their effect remains empirically under-investigated. This paper applies a mixed-method approach to provide empirical evidence for year-end spending surges, and to analyse the effect of changing carry-over rules in Austria. The authors uncover the reasons behind spend-downs: uncertainty about carry-overs and their use, and the risk of losing unspent appropriations and efficiency savings seem to explain year-end spend-downs. The findings offer support for prior calls in the academic literature to take time and volume limitations into account when designing and implementing carry-over rules. The evidence presented here has important implications for policy-makers and managers.