Valuation Methods And Policy Making In Environmental Economics

This volume considers, in depth, some valuation methods and aspects of cost benefit analysis, and policy making in environmental economics. Part I contains a number of contingent valuation studies for non-market assets. Part II consists of contributions on the valuation of health and life, and deals with the benefits of reduced morbidity from air pollution control. In Part III, cost benefit analysis for environmental policy-making is discussed in a disequilibrium setting, and in a macroeconomic context. Finally, Part IV deals with aspects of policy-making, particularly benefit estimation for complex policies, and the international aspects of transboundary air pollution in Europe. The book should not only appeal to students and researchers in university departments of economics and ``environmental sciences'' but also to those working in public organisations and associated advisory institutes which are concerned with environmental problems.

This companion volume to Economic Instruments for Environmental Management presents essential information on the applications of economic valuation to environment and development. It draws on a three-year collaborative effort by research institutions around the world. Authoritative studies review the range of valuation methods used in developing economies, their purposes, the problems encountered and the quality of the results. Topics covered include the value of wildlife viewing, the conservation of rainforests, mangroves and coral reefs, supplying rural water, and controlling urban air pollution. The analysis reveals important methodological and contextual factors, highlighting key lessons and ways of strengthening future valuations. Written to be accessible to non-economists, the book provides source material for students and academics, and for policy-makers and professionals, using valuation methods to frame policy.

Environmental Valuation in Developed Countries will be of interest to policy makers and economist in search of a variety of methodologies related to environmental valuation. Political Studies Review This is the second of two volumes of case studies that illustrate how environmental economists place values on environmental assets and on the flows of goods and services generated by those assets. The first volume, Valuing the Environment in Developing Countries, illustrates methodologies and applications of valuation techniques in the developing world; this volume concentrates on developed or wealthy nations where the first examples of economic valuation of the environment were carried out. This important book assembles studies that discuss broad areas of application of economic valuation from amenity and pollution through to water and health risks, from forestry to green urban space. In this, his last book, the late David Pearce brought together leading European experts, contributors to some two dozen case studies exploring the frontiers of economic valuation of natural resources and environmental amenity in the developed world. Essays on the role of valuation in environmental policy, environmental justice and green accounts are presented, and case study topics include: valuing forestry benefits GM crops water use and quality externalities in the electricity sector renewable energy benefits electricity transmission line disamenity urban greenspace chemical risks noise pollution. Economic valuation has undoubtedly made an important contribution to the environmental debate, and the contributors illustrate how sophisticated techniques have become, and how powerful their application can be. As such, this significant volume will prove essential reading for academics, researchers, students and practitioners in the field of environmental economics.

The Economic Valuation of the Environment and Public Policy fills an important gap in economic literature by providing a comprehensive account of hedonic pricing and its use in valuation of environmental amenities. . . . It should be invaluable to anyone contemplating undertaking a hedonic pricing study of an environmental amenity, as it contains practical advice on a myriad of modeling issues. Likewise, it should be of value to anyone wishing to thoroughly understand and critique the results of a hedonic pricing exercise. Richard T. Carson, Environment I appreciate this book s blend between theory and applications. It contains an informative review of the development of the theory of the hedonic price technique as well as an insightful analysis of the econometrics of the approach. Noboru Hidano has a gift for breaking down the difficult theoretical and econometric problems into simple and manageable proportions. Per-Olov Johansson, Stockholm School of Economics, Sweden The importance of the hedonic valuation approach in public policy evaluation and environmental value estimation is now widely accepted. This book is especially designed to illustrate the basic assumptions of the hedonic approach and highlight the strengths and weaknesses associated with it. Combining rigorous theoretical analysis, detailed empirical studies and an extensive history of hedonic valuation, the book is both a good introductory text to the field and a precise yet comprehensive aid for professionals and practitioners alike. Some of the book s special features include: a comprehensive explanation of the basic theorem extensive discussions on the utility of the approach in the evaluation of both small-scale and large-scale projects detailed explanations of how the approach can best be applied to cost benefit analysis an examination of the applicability of the hedonic method by comparing estimated values for various environmental and public services an illustration of public policy and environmental valuation using readily-understood examples. The Economic Valuation of the Environment and Public Policy will be essential reading for students of environmental and ecological economics, environmental science and technology specialists, and all those who are interested in the evaluation of public sector projects.

The primary aim of this reference volume is to provide an accessible and comprehensive review of current methods used to address resource evaluation and environmental as well as climate issues, and in a manner easily understood by decision-makers and the non-economists interested in environmental policy matters. Theoretical insight and empirical observations from various countries will be presented and recommendations on sustainable environmental decision-making will be given. Natural resource managers, environmental and climate decision-makers, government policy makers, and economics scholars will all find this volume to be an essential reference.

The questionnaire-based Contingent Valuation Method (CVM) asks people what would they be willing to pay for an environmental good or attribute, or willing to accept for its loss. These papers consider the real value of such surveys.