Modeling Wetland Plant Community Response to Assess Water-Level Regulation Scenarios in the Lake Ontario – St. Lawrence River Basin

The International Joint Commission has recently completed a five-year study (2000–2005) to review the operation of structures controlling the flows and levels of the Lake Ontario – St. Lawrence River system. In addition to addressing the multitude of stakeholder interests, the regulation plan review also considers environmental sustainability and integrity of wetlands and various ecosystem components. The present paper outlines the general approach, scientific methodology and applied management considerations of studies quantifying the relationships between hydrology and wetland plant assemblages (% occurrence, surface area) in Lake Ontario and the Upper and Lower St. Lawrence River. Although similar study designs were used across the study region, different methodologies were required that were specifically adapted to suit the important regional differences between the lake and river systems, range in water-level variations, and confounding factors (geomorphic types, exposure, sediment characteristics, downstream gradient of water quality, origin of water masses in the Lower River). Performance indicators (metrics), such as total area of wetland in meadow marsh vegetation type, that link wetland response to water levels will be used to assess the effects of different regulation plans under current and future (climate change) water-supply scenarios.The Canadian Crown reserves the right to retain a non-exclusive, royalty free licence in and to any copyright.     

Campaign contributions,lobbying and post‐Katrina contracts

This research explores the relationship between political campaign contributions, lobbying and post‐Hurricane Katrina cleanup and reconstruction contracts. Specifically, a case‐control study design is used to determine whether campaign contributions to national candidates in the 2000–04 election cycles and/or the employment of lobbyists and lobbying firms increased a company's probability of receiving a post‐hurricane contract. Results indicate that both a campaign contribution dichotomous variable and the dollar amount of contributions are significantly related to whether a company received a contract, but that lobbying activity was not. These findings are discussed in the context of previous research on the politics of natural disasters, government contracting and governmental and corporate deviance.     

数字经济发展与区域环境质量改善——来自省级面板数据的证据

本文基于2011—2019年我国31个省级行政区的面板数据,探究了数字经济发展对区域环境质量的影响。研究发现,总体来说,数字经济对环境质量具有显著的改善作用;数字经济对环境质量的改善作用在2014—2019年显著,在中部和西部省份显著,在环境污染程度较高的省份显著。传导机制检验表明,经济规模扩张、产业结构优化及绿色技术创新在数字经济对环境质量的作用机制中发挥中介作用。进一步分析表明,政府竞争在数字经济对环境质量的改善作用中起着负向调节作用,制度环境在数字经济对环境质量的作用机制中发挥正向调节作用。因此,应高质量地推动数字经济发展、充分发挥数字经济的环境质量改善作用、匡正地方政府的竞争行为及努力营造良好的制度环境,以改善环境质量。     

地方政府短期行为对环境管理的制约及其对策

经济体制转型期,地方政府的短期行为为给基层环境管理带来一系列负面影响,这是造成目前地方环境问题的重要因素之一。这个问题的存在,有思想、体制、管理、监督诸方面的原困,必须相应采取措施防止和克服地方政府短期行为对环境管理的制约。     

中国低碳城市发展影响因素分析

目前,全国各地都在开展低碳城市建设,但是由于对"低碳城市"认识的不一致,导致了各地建设水平参差不齐。本文根据低碳城市的内涵和特点,识别出19个影响我国低碳城市发展的因素,分别从城市主体水平、发展结构水平和管理水平等角度进行分类说明。通过专家咨询法和建立解释结构模型(ISM),绘制出多级递阶结构图,理顺各因素间的结构关系,阐明了影响因素间内在关联性和层次性。研究结果显示,19个影响因素分为5个层次,其中政府和低碳城市标准位于最高层次,碳排放统计次之,它们是影响我国低碳城市发展的关键因素,并对其余因素产生直接或间接的影响作用。建议现阶段在推进我国低碳城市建设过程中,根据多级递阶结构图所示,采取"自上而下"的模式。当务之急,国家应尽快制定出台《低碳城市标准》,加快开展城市碳排放统计工作,而政府作为城市主体之一,是低碳城市建设的主要推动者和政策供给者,应充分发挥其领导力,使低碳城市建设走上系统化、制度化轨道。     

“后补贴”时代地方政府新能源汽车补贴策略研究

新能源汽车补贴是政府为了发展新能源汽车产业所采取的一项激励政策。现有文献虽在微观层面上研究了政府补贴对新能源汽车推广的影响,但多将补贴政策限定为固定额度的政府补贴,未考虑中国特殊的两级政府补贴政策尤其是地方政府补贴对新能源汽车推广的影响,且在补贴政策的设计上未与新能源汽车的实际推广目标相结合。基于"后补贴"时代的地方政府既要实现新能源汽车推广目标又要保证补贴政策合理退坡的双重现实要求。本文依据当前中央政府为新能源汽车提供固定补贴,地方政府提供配套比例补贴以及制定价格补贴比例上限的现实情形,综合考虑新能源汽车成本、充电桩建设情况、消费者初始效用、中央政府补贴等因素对地方新能源汽车推广的影响,构建了地方政府为实现既定新能源汽车推广目标的最优补贴策略模型。研究表明:(1)对于不同效用水平的消费者,地方政府价格补贴比例上限和配套比例补贴对新能源汽车零售价格所起的作用不同;(2)地方政府补贴政策只有在小于或等于其最优配套比例或价格补贴比例上限时才会对新能源汽车推广产生正向影响。最后,还结合北京新能源汽车推广的实际情况进行了数值模拟,给出了在不同新能源汽车成本、充电桩建设情况、消费者初始效用下北京市政府为实现新能源汽车推广目标的最优补贴策略。数值模拟结果表明,当前北京新能源汽车存在地方配套比例过高、价格补贴比例上限过高等问题。在后补贴时代,北京市政府可依据新能源汽车成本下降、充电设施逐步完善、消费者初始效用提升等因素变化,对补贴进行适当退坡。数值模拟表明,所构造的最优补贴策略模型对后补贴时代地方政府新能源汽车补贴政策的制定具有较高的参考价值。     

The Pattern of Govemment Health Expenditure in China

For a while since the inception of economic system re- form programs in 1980s, China's government investment in health was weakened. This resulted in healthcare provider's increasing re- liance on user...     

蔬菜出口产地农户对食品安全规制的认知及其农药决策行为研究

食品安全与农药残留一直是备受关注的焦点问题。基于此,本文应用山东省蔬菜出口产地安丘市392个农户的调查数据,对农户食品安全规制的认知及其农药使用行为的影响因素进行了分析。研究结果表明,农户的学历层次、农产品国内销售和出口日本的比例、农户对国内外农产品市场的评价及是否接受农药残留检测显著影响其对食品安全规制的认知;而农户的平均生产支出、是否接受农药残留检测、检测标准的严格程度及是否作生产记录影响其农药使用行为。此外,本文发现该制度的实施导致一些农户产生逆向选择,且农户的农药使用因种植结构而不同。针对当前农业生产的特点和食品安全现状,为了促进当地农业生产方式的转变和保护生态环境,政府应加强对农业主体的培训和技术指导,引导当地农户加强与产业组织的联系,有效开展农药残留检测、优化种植结构,提高农产品的质量和国际竞争力。     

THE IMPACT OF FLOODPLAIN REGULATIONS ON RESIDENTIAL LAND VALUES IN OREGON1

ABSTRACT: The impact of floodplain regulations on mean appreciation rates of residential land values was tested at six study areas in five counties in western Oregon. The study hypothesis that such regulations significantly depress appreciation rates of regulated lands relative to those of similar unregulated lands was in most cases rejected. When the hypothesis was accepted circumstances would render conclusions tenuous. The problems and issues facing this type of research are presented in case studies of two of the research study areas. The following factors challenge investigators seeking to resolve questions about the relationship between land use regulations and land values: varying degrees of stringency with which regulations are enforced; unequal assessment procedures between counties; influences external to floodplain regulations that may affect appreciation rates, including denial of permits for septic tanks, flood damages, and amenity values associated with waterfront locations; and the uncertain effect that the availability of flood insurance, which accompanies floodplain regulations, has on land values.     

COMPARATIVE BASES OF INDUSTRY POLLUTION ABATEMENT AND COMMERCIAL INNOVATION: IMPLICATIONS FOR WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT1

ABSTRACT: Adoption, maintenance, and operation of pollution control technology by manufacturing firms is essential to effective water resource management. In this study of 102 industries, we find that company adoption of pollution control technology and practices is primarily associated with two factors: (1) the overall company capacity for innovation in its production technology; and (2) company relationships with state and federal pollution control agencies, local government officials and professionals. Managerial attitudes about pollution and government regulation are not associated with either pollution control or commercial innovation, but are seen as basic to industry-government relationships. The data suggest an important regulatory dilemma, the problem of regulating a large number of small companies with a low capacity for innovation, but which when taken together account for large volumes of toxic effluent.