Compromising sustainable mobility? The case of the Gothenburg congestion tax

Congestion charging is widely considered an effective policy measure to regulate and reduce car traffic demand and associated environmental and health problems in cities. However, introducing restrictive measures to constrain individual choice and behaviour for the common good has often proven difficult. Using a specific case, the Gothenburg congestion tax introduced in 2013, we study the policy process behind the introduction of the tax and assess to what extent green values were compromised along the way. The tax was made possible by co-financing infrastructure investments, including roads, which seemingly contradicts stated goals of reducing car traffic and emissions. We show how the tax was ‘muddled through’ in a top-down political compromise by a grand coalition where different interests could legitimate their support in relation to the achievement of partially conflicting objectives and projects. However, to declare the regulatory goals fully neutralised would be to underestimate the scheme's direct environmental effects and restrictive potential. Finding a compromise with powerful political and economic interests was necessary to get it off the ground. Once launched, however, it can over time regain its restrictive properties and lead to more profound long-term effects.     

台风灾害债券设计——基于广东省数据的实证研究

台风作为全球发生频率最高,影响最严重的一种自然灾害,对我国的影响也非常严重。在巨灾风险证券化、巨灾债券已成为巨灾保险业大趋势的背景下,发展我国台风灾害债券具有重要的现实意义。以我国受台风灾害影响最严重的省份——广东省为研究对象,收集了其近30年相关台风损失数据,利用非寿险精算技术分析其台风的损失分布和次数分布,在此基础上利用CAMP模型和现金流分析对广东省的台风灾害债券做了初步设计。     

小水电资源区域开发环境影响回顾性评价案例分析——以海南省为例

在小水电资源区域开发规划环境影响报告书编制中应设置小水电资源区域开发环境影响回顾性评价专题,对规划区域小水电资源开发过程产生的环境问题进行调查和回顾性评价,从中发现小水电资源开发存在的环境问题,并提出规避的对策。海南省小水电资源开发规划环境影响报告书小水电资源区域开发环境影响回顾性评价专题案例。通过遥感影像判读及现场调查发现,选址不当、断流、减水、沙化、景观破坏、植被覆盖率降低及外来物种入侵、水土流失、用水矛盾、影响渔业资源等环境问题普遍存在,主要原因是环境行政管理虚位。主要对策有：在小水电资源开发规划及项目可行性研究报告中,应将环境法规符合性及环保投资列为重要内容;实施工程环境监理;加强竣工环保验收;将水电站下泄生态流量等环保措施执行情况的现场检查纳入常态工作范畴。     

船舶油污损害民事责任若干问题研究

船舶油污侵权是民事侵权行为的一种,针对该种侵权的民事赔偿责任,国际上制订了专门的国际公约,一些国家也制定了自己的有关船舶油污损害的赔偿体系。在船舶油污损害责任制度下,一个核心问题就是责任主体问题,只有明确了责任主体,才能使油污损害赔偿得以顺利进行。但是调整国际油污损害赔偿的冲突规则比较匮乏,各国国内法的规定也不尽相同,如何适用法律,各国司法实践多有不同。立足于中国现行的法律体系,首先明确了各种船舶油污损害应当适用的法律,然后依据所适用的法律具体分析责任主体的确定问题。     

Management of two competitive closed-loop supply chains

The two competitive closed-loop supply chains under our study include three members: two manufacturers and one retailer. In this paper, we focus on the management of the wholesale prices, the retail prices and the collecting prices for the two competitive closed-loop supply chains. On the assumption that the return rate of the used-products is an increasing function of the collecting price, we obtain the optimal wholesale prices, the optimal retail prices and the optimal collecting prices based on the following models: Model MMC (two manufacturers for collecting), Model MRC (manufacturer one and retailer for collecting) and Model RRC (retailer for collecting). Furthermore, by comparing the optimal results, we find that the retailer for collecting is the best channel for the two competitive closed-loop supply chains if the two manufacturers would like to transfer all of their cost savings from remanufacturing to the retailer. At the end, we illustrate a numerical example to analyse the impacts of the market share ratio and the substitute ratio of the two products on the optimal results.     

安全科学学科的确立与安全系统学派的形成

经对史实的研究发现,安全科学学科的发展需经历二个不同的历史阶段。第一阶段是学科创立、理论形成和初步发展阶段,“以任务带学科”是这个阶段特点．期间形成了安全系统学派。第二阶段是学科理论丰富、完善和发展阶段．“以理论促事业”是这个阶段特点,向完善发展的标志是理论上形成各种学派．如已形成的“安全系统学派”那样．形成不同学术观点的各种学派,表明安全学科即将进入一个成熟的“百花齐放、百家争鸣”的新阶段．使其理论真正走上“百家争鸣——科学发展必由之路”。     

A “RATIONAL” POLICY FOR THE ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL CRISES1

ABSTRACT: The present energy and environmental crises are due to increasing per capita demands as well as increasing populations. The role that traditional pricing policies have played in promoting these demands is discussed. The reduction or stabilizing of per capita demands is advocated through the use of Conservational Pricing mechanisms which charge higher average prices for high consumption. An example of the effect of Conservational Pricing in the water supply industry is given.     

EVALUATING INTERDEPENDENT WATERSHED CONSERVATION AND GROUND WATER MANAGEMENT REFORMS1

Abstract: Conserving the watershed can help to preserve ground water recharge. Preventing overuse of available water through pricing reforms can also substantially increase the value of an aquifer. Inasmuch as users are accustomed to low prices, efficiency pricing may be politically infeasible, and watershed conservation may be considered as an alternative. We estimate and compare welfare gains from pricing reform and watershed conservation for a water management district in Oahu that obtains its water supply from the Pearl Harbor aquifer. We find that pricing reform is welfare superior to watershed conservation unless the latter is able to prevent very large recharge losses. Watershed conservation that yields net gains in combination with pricing reform may cause net losses without the pricing reform. If adoption of watershed conservation delays the implementation of pricing reform, the benefits of the latter are significantly reduced.     

Developing of a pricing model for Turkish lignite used in thermal plants

The objective of this paper is to develop a general pricing model for Turkish Lignite, which is mainly sold to thermal plants. This model will contribute to the development of coal mining within the scope of privatization efforts of the Turkish energy market. The paper consists of two stages. First, data of 10 thermal plants have been evaluated by using hedonic pricing analysis to determine influential price parameters. The results of hedonic regression analysis indicate the effect and importance of calorific value and electricity price on lignite prices. Second, a general coal-pricing model has been developed by taking into account the results of hedonic analysis. Comparison of the coal prices estimated by the developed pricing model and the coal prices obtained from thermal plants indicates an acceptable relation.     

Assessing instruments for mixed household solid waste collection services in the Flemish region of Belgium

Instruments to reduce waste can be divided into three groups: first, pecuniary incentives; second, service level; finally, measurements stimulating prevention and waste reduction. Also specific characteristics of the community determine the amount of waste generated. We evaluate whether findings in literature on effectiveness of policy measures are valid for Belgium, specifically for the Flemish region. The policy mix instituted by the Flemish authorities in the ‘implementation plan household waste 2003–2007’ and implemented by local authorities, is assessed. Multiple regression analysis identifies those measurements having the greatest impact on household solid waste.We found an income elasticity of 0.326. Also the provided service level has a significant impact. Pecuniary incentives are effective instruments in reducing waste, with a price elasticity of −0.139. Furthermore, a higher percentage of direct costs, directly attributable to waste services, borne by households, reduces waste. A consequent implementation of the ‘polluter pays’ principle proves to be effective.