An integrated decision-support approach in prioritizing risks of non-indigenous species in the face of high uncertainty

When evaluating the risks of future invasions, we often have sparse information on the likelihood that a species will arrive, establish and spread in a new environment, and on the potential impacts should this occur. Conventional risk assessment, therefore, is limited in providing guidance in managing the risk of non-indigenous species (NIS). However, risk management decisions must be made facing these uncertainties to avoid high and irreversible impacts.We develop an integrated ecological economic modeling and deliberative multi-criteria evaluation (DMCE) approach to support group decision-making in risk prioritization, using an example of ten NIS that could potentially impact Australian plant industries. This innovative approach seeks to combine the advantages of dynamic modeling with the benefits of DMCE in assessing and communicating uncertainty. The model unveils the complexity of the socio-ecological system of biological invasion, with a scenario analysis designed to interactively communicate scientific uncertainty to decision-makers. The DMCE provides a structured approach to identifying stakeholders' key concerns in addressing economic, social, and environmental dimensions of NIS risk explicitly. Functioning as a platform for risk communication, the DMCE also offers an opportunity for diverse views to enter the decision-making process and for the negotiation of consensus consensuses.     

A choice experiment on fuel taxation and earmarking in Norway

Pigouvian taxes are efficient — but unpopular among voters — and hence often politically infeasible. Earmarking of revenues has been widely reported to increase public support for taxes, but earmarking is generally not the most efficient use of the revenues. This trade-off between efficiency and political feasibility is the motivation for our primary research objective: to quantify the effect of earmarking on support for fuel tax rises. Our secondary research objective is to investigate why earmarking increases support. Using data from a representative sample of the Norwegian voter population (N = 1147), we estimate models of voter preferences for fuel taxes using logistic regression models. Our results show that, in the absence of earmarking, the majority of voters would like to reduce fuel taxes, but earmarking the revenues for environmental measures has a substantial effect on voter support for fuel tax increases, garnering a majority for increases of up to 15% above present levels. Further analysis indicates that a prime reason why earmarking for environmental measures is popular is that it increases the perceived environmental effectiveness of the tax, and hence its legitimacy as an environmental rather than a fiscal policy instrument.     

基于广义梯度理论的雷州半岛发展研究

构建了城市广义梯度分布评价指标体系,利用主成分分析法求得广州及粤西-北部湾区域6城市的广义梯度分布综合指标,经比较得到如下结论：首先,在发达地区与欠发达地区之间,梯度推移是多维双向的;其次,在泛珠三角区域中,粤西-北部湾属于塌陷区域;第三,在粤西-北部湾区域6城市中,湛江又属于高梯度城市。湛江市具备了带动雷州半岛实施广义梯度发展的基础,有望成为粤西-北部湾乃至广东省的新经济增长极。在对雷州半岛经济崛起动力条件分析的基础上,提出了“东联西融、蓝色崛起”的发展战略及相关对策。     

区域生态风险管理研究热点展望

区域生态风险研究兴起于20世纪80年代,对科学引文索引数据库生态风险研究相关的2 347篇文献进行分析,从文献类型、出版年份、所属国家或地区、学科类别、发表作者和研究热点进行分析,简要描述国内的研究现状,基于国内外的相关研究,提出区域生态风险管理的研究展望。     

草原牧区生态移民的贫困风险研究——以内蒙古苏尼特右旗为例

进入20世纪90年代中后期,由于草原退化带来的严重生态问题,政府组织了一系列生态移民,但在移民搬迁过程中出现了大量贫困现象。文章以迈克尔(Michael M.Cernea)的贫困风险理论为基础,运用层次分析法,从物质资本、人力资本和社会资本三个方面因素对牧区生态移民可能面临的贫困风险进行研究,通过研究为草原牧区生态移民贫困风险规避提供有益的建议。     

高校财务风险的形成机理及防范机制分析

大量举债、资金运营以及学费拖欠等给高校财务管理带来极大风险。构建高校财务风险防范机制必须发挥政府主导作用,在加大教育经费投入的基础上规范高校办学规模;引导社会力量进入办学领域,在营造社会办学环境的基础上拓宽筹资渠道;建立现代大学制度,在规范管理的基础上强化内部监督;提高银行向高校贷款的门槛,在严格控制贷款规模的基础上落实还款渠道。     

岗位廉政教育的几个问题探讨

构建惩治和预防腐败岗位廉政教育体系的基础工程,是新的历史条件下反腐倡廉教育的创新和拓展。通过对岗位廉政教育的基本原则、关键环节和基本特点的探讨,旨在探索党员干部岗位廉政教育的途径,建立一种针对不同岗位、不同对象开展廉政教育的新型教育模式,增强教育的针对性和有效性。     

Alternate signs of life: The growth of biotechnology industries in Shanghai and Bangalore

This paper explores the emergence of biotechnology centers in Shanghai and Bangalore by comparing their development to best practices in the literature for biotechnology cluster growth and development. Interviews with over fifty biotech companies and related institutions in China and India indicate that these regions are developing alternate models of low cost manufacturing and services that build on the current local base of knowledge and expertise. The ability to convert research into successful commercial activity was identified in both regions. The strong research capacity, private sector funding, and entrepreneurial environment deemed critical best practices were limited. New growth theory is used to explain these alternate approaches to technological and social change.     

外部性的本质与分类

外部性概念至今仍模糊不清,其原因就在于研究的外部性对象并不一致。从系统论出发,以行为方为核心,通过其影响范围的延伸,将外部性划分为科斯外部性、马歇尔外部性和庇古外部性三种类型,进一步明晰了外部性的轮廓,区分了简单外部性和复杂外部性。在此基础上,揭示了外部性的本质,即受影响方的决策非参与性和缺乏有效的反馈机制。明确了外部性的定义,同时引入外部性系数,将外部性研究从定性研究引向定量研究。     

煤炭价格指数的理论设计与应用研究

论证了在当前煤炭价格风险凸现的情况下,推出煤炭价格指数是运用煤炭期货、期权及互换等金融衍生工具的重要前提,并借鉴国外煤炭价格指数应用与研究的经验,提出我国煤炭价格指数的基本体系及编制的基本原则和基本方法.