Ethics and farm animal welfare

In this paper the authors argue that ethical considerations are relevant for evaluating animal production systems and that in consequence agrologists should seriously consider the arguments of animal welfare supporters. Furthermore, the authors point out the ethical basis for some (though not all) of the conclusions proposed by supporters of animal welfare. In consequence it is necessary to determine the nature of animal welfare and methods of evaluating the welfare of animals and to recognize when production systems fail to satisfy the needs of animals.     

Measuring the Welfare Cost of Climate Change Policies: A Comparative Assessment Based on the Computable General Equilibrium Model GEMINI-E3

Measuring the welfare cost of climate change policies is a real challenge, raising difficult issues of micro- and macro-economics: cost-benefit analysis on the one hand, foreign trade and international specialization on the second hand. At the domestic level the possible existence of distortions, in particular in the fiscal system, may either increase or alleviate the welfare cost of a climate change policy, as illustrated by the debate on double dividend. Effects on the prices in international markets and distorted competition between countries committed to abate (Annex B) and uncommitted countries affect both the sharing of the burden, in particular through the change in the terms of trade, and the allocation of activities with the frequently waved threat of delocalization. Based on a companion theoretical analysis, the present paper aims at putting order in the welfare analysis of climate change policy and to present and compare various estimations, issuing from macro- or computable general equilibrium models. Beside the global welfare cost, the paper focuses on the marginal abatement cost and its relation to the carbon price.Most present conceptual and applied analysis is based on the case of a single domestic household-consumer. Taking into account several consumers raises new challenges, concerning equity but even more fundamentally the mere definition of fiscal distortion, which have not yet been really addressed.     

高质量发展的关键:创新驱动、绿色发展和民生福祉

高质量发展是对我国经济发展阶段变化和现在所处关口作出的一个重大判断,本文科学阐释了高质量发展的内涵和外延,系统梳理了高质量发展的现实意义和重要基础,提出了高质量发展的关键环节和思路举措,突出强调了创新驱动、绿色发展、民生福祉对于高质量发展的重要性。     

动物伦理学研究

为了构建动物伦理学，笔者考察并概括了西方动物伦理研究的本质和关键问题，认为：动物伦理学是关于人与动物关系的伦理信念、道德态度和行为规范的理论体系，是一门尊重动物的价值和权利的新的伦理学说。它的产生具有坚实的科学基础、伦理基础和现实迫切性。     

Animal Welfare Considerations in Small Ruminant Breeding Specifications

After satisfying their quantitative and qualitative needs as regards nutrition, consumers in developed countries are becoming more involved in the ethical aspects of food production, especially when it relates to animal products. Social demands for respecting animal welfare in housing systems are increasing rapidly, as is social awareness of human responsibility towards farm animals. Many studies have been conducted on animal welfare measurement in different production systems, but the available information for small ruminants remains insufficient. In this study, a 75 criteria-evaluation tool has been set up on the basis of the five freedoms concept. Animal welfare considerations have been analyzed in 25 documents, including labeling schemes, regulations, and recommendations from different European countries. The results show many differences between regular and organic small ruminant farming standards. Emergency measures are generally lacking. A weak representation of psychological aspects of animal welfare, especially by the current European legislation, is highlighted.     

基于EDM的农业节水技术补偿

实现农业节水,必须建立有效的农业节水补偿机制对农民进行补偿。文章采用经典EDM模型,分析了农业节水技术投入对生产者、消费者及社会福利的影响。研究认为,农业节水技术投入使得生产者剩余、消费者剩余以及社会总剩余全面增加;政策实施带来社会福利变化在产品市场上的消费者与生产者之间分配,缺乏弹性的一方受到的影响往往大于富有弹性的一方;根据投入产出及"谁受益、谁补偿"的补偿原则,由消费者剩余变化及生产者剩余变化分别占社会总福利变化的比重,即可制定消费者及生产者对农业节水项目的投资付费标准以及补偿标准;建立水权交易市场,使农民通过出售节约的水资源而获益,可有效地激发其投入节水事业的积极性。     

Health and Welfare in Danish Dairy Cattle in the Transition to Organic Production: Problems, Priorities and Perspectives

During the past few years,organic dairy farming has grown dramatically inDenmark. Consequently, an increasing number ofpeople are encountering this method ofproduction for the first time. Amongst these,many veterinarians have suddenly had to dealwith organic herds in their home district, and,meeting examples of poor animal welfare, theyhave recently started to express some concerns.Against this background, a so-called``Synthesis of Knowledge' project was initiatedto examine the health and welfare of dairycattle and the use of medication in thetransition to organic production. The aim ofthe project was to investigate associatedproblems from the point of view of the dairyherd. Based on qualitative research interviewswith vets and agricultural advisors, as well asfocus group interviews with farmers who hadrecently converted from conventional to organicfarming, an expert panel attempted to identifyproblem areas and possible solutions. Theproblems related to (a) the adjustment to newand unknown practices, (b) poor management ingeneral, and (c) inappropriate legislation fororganic farming.One problem area was the rearing of dairycalves, particularly with regard to theestablishment of post partumrelationships between cow and calf, grouphousing, and the grazing of young animals. A``natural life' was identified as beingfundamental to organic animal husbandry. Interms of animal welfare, this concept can beunderstood as a way of living in which the calfis allowed to express its natural behavior andsatisfy its natural needs. Essentially, theconditions needed for good calf welfare requirethe compatibility and interplay of elementsfrom ``nature' (the natural life; includingopportunities to satisfy natural needs) and``culture' (farmer management skills; exerciseof care). These elements should be balanced toensure animal welfare in organic herds.     

自然资源福利计量的参数模型与表征尺度:理论与应用比较

对自然资源产生的社会福利进行货币化计量是目前资源与环境经济学研究的焦点之一,条件估值法(CVM)在评估自然资源福利的研究方面具有独特的优势。1984年提出的基于线性效用差下福利计量的参数模型及相应的表征尺度在后来的CVM研究中得到了较多的应用,但已有研究多侧重于方法的应用,对模型和尺度的理论有效性缺乏实证性的探讨。基于随机效用最大化原理对消费者偏好函数模型及相应的福利计量尺度进行了较为详细的数学推导(以Logit模型为例)。以上海某城市河流资源CVM福利计量为例,在实证分析过程中结合国外已有研究,将线性模型与基于非线性效用差下的对数模型进行了比较,给出了在CVM研究中对自然资源进行福利计量建议采用的参数模型与表征尺度。     

Holy Cows: A Look at the Influence of Religious Beliefs on Dairy Animal Welfare on Kibbutzim in Israel

The influence of religious beliefs on people's attitudes andactions in the area of animal welfare was examined by interviewing dairyworkers on kibbutzim (communal agricultural settlements) in Israel.Workers on religiously observant kibbutzim were no more consistent intheir attitudes toward and treatment of dairy cows than workers onnon-observant and selectively observant kibbutzim.     

经济波动与最优城镇化水平和速度研究

城镇化对经济波动具有重要影响,过快和过慢均不利于经济的平稳发展。我国经济新常态客观上要求实施新型城镇化战略,关键是积极稳妥推进城镇化,科学控制城镇化水平和速度。以宏观经济稳定为目标,确定最优城镇化规则,诊断当前城镇化水平和速度,可为落实新型城镇化,稳定宏观经济提供决策参考。本文建立了附加城镇化变量的后顾型宏观经济模型,利用最优控制理论求解基于宏观经济波动最小化的最优城镇化水平和速度决定规则,实证结果表明:我国人口城镇化速度主要对宏观总需求产生影响,而土地城镇化速度既影响总需求也影响总供给;最优城镇化速度规则对总产出缺口负反馈,对通胀缺口正反馈。在此基础上,进一步模拟了1990-2013年间最优人口城镇化、土地城镇化水平以及相应的总产出和通胀波动情况,模拟结果显示:最优城镇化水平和速度规则具有逆经济周期的特征,为保持经济平稳发展,经济过度繁荣时城镇化应减速,经济衰退时应加速城镇化,我国历史上城镇化速度和水平存在较大的优化空间;最优城镇化水平和速度规则会小幅度降低城镇化进程和总产出的平滑性,但会大幅度抑制通胀波动,总体来看使总福利损失下降约三分之一;当前我国人口城镇化水平超前速度过快,土地城镇化水平偏低速度过慢。建议"十三五"期间,政府应该根据宏观经济波动情况适当控制人口城镇化速度,加快推进土地城镇化,提高土地城镇化水平和质量,同时应制定相应的财政政策和货币政策以促进最优城镇化规则发挥其降低宏观经济波动功能。