Understanding Risks and Uncertainties in Energy and Climate Policy


Book Description

This open access book analyzes and seeks to consolidate the use of robust quantitative tools and qualitative methods for the design and assessment of energy and climate policies. In particular, it examines energy and climate policy performance and associated risks, as well as public acceptance and portfolio analysis in climate policy, and presents methods for evaluating the costs and benefits of flexible policy implementation as well as new framings for business and market actors. In turn, it discusses the development of alternative policy pathways and the identification of optimal switching points, drawing on concrete examples to do so. Lastly, it discusses climate change mitigation policies’ implications for the agricultural, food, building, transportation, service and manufacturing sectors.




Business Models for the Circular Economy Opportunities and Challenges for Policy


Book Description

Natural resources, and the materials derived from them, represent the physical basis for the economic system. Recent decades have witnessed an unprecedented growth in demand for these resources, which has triggered interest from policy makers in transitioning to a more resource efficient and ...




Mathematical Modeling in Economics, Ecology and the Environment


Book Description

The problems of interrelation between human economics and natural environment include scientific, technical, economic, demographic, social, political and other aspects that are studied by scientists of many specialities. One of the important aspects in scientific study of environmental and ecological problems is the development of mathematical and computer tools for rational management of economics and environment. This book introduces a wide range of mathematical models in economics, ecology and environmental sciences to a general mathematical audience with no in-depth experience in this specific area. Areas covered are: controlled economic growth and technological development, world dynamics, environmental impact, resource extraction, air and water pollution propagation, ecological population dynamics and exploitation. A variety of known models are considered, from classical ones (Cobb Douglass production function, Leontief input-output analysis, Solow models of economic dynamics, Verhulst-Pearl and Lotka-Volterra models of population dynamics, and others) to the models of world dynamics and the models of water contamination propagation used after Chemobyl nuclear catastrophe. Special attention is given to modelling of hierarchical regional economic-ecological interaction and technological change in the context of environmental impact. Xlll XIV Construction of Mathematical Models ...




Long-Term Macroeconomic Effects of Climate Change: A Cross-Country Analysis


Book Description

We study the long-term impact of climate change on economic activity across countries, using a stochastic growth model where labor productivity is affected by country-specific climate variables—defined as deviations of temperature and precipitation from their historical norms. Using a panel data set of 174 countries over the years 1960 to 2014, we find that per-capita real output growth is adversely affected by persistent changes in the temperature above or below its historical norm, but we do not obtain any statistically significant effects for changes in precipitation. Our counterfactual analysis suggests that a persistent increase in average global temperature by 0.04°C per year, in the absence of mitigation policies, reduces world real GDP per capita by more than 7 percent by 2100. On the other hand, abiding by the Paris Agreement, thereby limiting the temperature increase to 0.01°C per annum, reduces the loss substantially to about 1 percent. These effects vary significantly across countries depending on the pace of temperature increases and variability of climate conditions. We also provide supplementary evidence using data on a sample of 48 U.S. states between 1963 and 2016, and show that climate change has a long-lasting adverse impact on real output in various states and economic sectors, and on labor productivity and employment.




Macroeconomics of Climate Change in a Dualistic Economy


Book Description

Macroeconomics of Climate Change in a Dualistic Economy: A Regional General Equilibrium Analysis generates significant, genuinely novel insights about dual economies and sustainable economic growth. These insights are generalize-able and applicable worldwide. The authors overcome existing limitations in general equilibrium modeling. By concentrating on tensions between green growth and dualism, they consider the global efforts against climate change and opposition by specific countries based on economic development needs. Using Turkey as their primary example, they address these two most discussed and difficult issues related to policy setting, blazing a path for those seeking an applied economic research framework to study such economic considerations. - Couples a CGE climate change mitigation policy analysis with a dual economy approach - Presents methods to model and assess policy instruments for mitigating climate change - Provides data sets and models on a freely-accessible companion website - Offers a path for those seeking an applied economic research framework to study economic considerations




Modelling the Economy and the Environment


Book Description

This book is based upon contributions to a Scandinavian conference on Transport, Agriculture and the Environment in a Regional and National Development Per spective: Quantitative and Modelling Approaches, organised by AKF, the Institute of Local Government Studies, Denmark, which was held on the Danish island of Bornholm in December 1993. The chapters represent leading edge research in Scandinavia at the end of 1993 into modelling relationships between the economy and the environment, embracing both regional and sectoral perspectives. The publication of this volume will hopefully contribute to dissemination of knowledge about the very active Scandinavian research tradition in this field, a research tradition which is related to a long-standing engagement of Scandinavian countries with environmental issues. The contributors come from Denmark, Norway and Sweden and the collection is prefaced by two chapters from well-known Dutch researchers, traditionally re garded by Scandinavians as close neighbours to the Scandinavian modelling tradition. The support of S0M (Society, Economy and Environment), an open research centre financed by the Danish Environmental Research Programme, and of AKF in the organisation of the original conference and the preparation of this book is gratefully acknowledged. It was with great sadness that the editors learned of the death of one of the contri butors, Poul Erik Stryg, during the preparation of the book.




Global Plastics Outlook Economic Drivers, Environmental Impacts and Policy Options


Book Description

While plastics are extremely useful materials for modern society, plastics production and waste generation continue to increase with worsening environmental impacts despite international, national and local policy responses, as well as industry commitments. The first of two reports, this Outlook intends to inform and support policy efforts to combat plastic leakage.




Economic Analysis Of Environmental Problems


Book Description

This book introduces the basic tools of dynamic optimization in economics to study environmental problems, applies econometric methods to estimate and test the models derived by dynamic optimization, and discusses environmental problems in a broad perspective, including the design and implementation of environmental policies. Although the coverage is selective, it represents what the author has to offer from his perspective and experience gained in research in dynamic optimization, econometrics and policy analysis, especially for China. The volume is self-contained for readers with mathematical background of first-year graduate students in the analytical fields of science and engineering but only limited training in economics, while an economics text presumes more knowledge of economics. Once the tools are mastered, the reader can pursue his own research on the topic if he is interested, or simply become a more mature citizen in the global economy.




Economic Models of Tropical Deforestation: A Review


Book Description

Types of economic deforestation models. Household and firm-level models. Regional-level models. National and macro-level models. Priority areas for future research.




The Economics of Artificial Intelligence


Book Description

A timely investigation of the potential economic effects, both realized and unrealized, of artificial intelligence within the United States healthcare system. In sweeping conversations about the impact of artificial intelligence on many sectors of the economy, healthcare has received relatively little attention. Yet it seems unlikely that an industry that represents nearly one-fifth of the economy could escape the efficiency and cost-driven disruptions of AI. The Economics of Artificial Intelligence: Health Care Challenges brings together contributions from health economists, physicians, philosophers, and scholars in law, public health, and machine learning to identify the primary barriers to entry of AI in the healthcare sector. Across original papers and in wide-ranging responses, the contributors analyze barriers of four types: incentives, management, data availability, and regulation. They also suggest that AI has the potential to improve outcomes and lower costs. Understanding both the benefits of and barriers to AI adoption is essential for designing policies that will affect the evolution of the healthcare system.