Multi-pollutant, Multi-effect Modelling of European Air Pollution Control Strategies – an Integrated Approach (MERLIN)

Contact:  Roger Salmons

Researchers: Roger Salmons, Stephen Smith

Programme:  MERLIN is an interdisciplinary research project, co-ordinated by IER at the University of Stuttgart.  The aim of the project is to develop a computer-based simulation model that can be used to identify a combination of pollution control measures in EU and CEEC countries that will result in the attainment of air quality objectives for a range of air pollutants at least cost to society. The model will explicitly allow the comparison of technical, non-technical and fiscal measures on a consistent basis.  Where possible the benefits of reduced air pollution levels will be evaluated in monetary terms (using ECOSENSE); allowing cost-benefit analysis of the proposed strategies to be performed.  In addition, the macroeconomic effects of the strategies will be assessed, and the distribution of costs and benefits between different socio-economic groups will be analysed. Further information can be found on the MERLIN website (see links), which also provides details of the institutions involved in the project.

Publications: None to date

Sponsors: European Commission DG Research – EU 5th Framework Programme

Links: http://www.ier.uni-stuttgart.de/extern/merlin/

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Concerted Action for Tradable Emissions Permits (CATEP)

Contact:  Roger Salmons

Researchers: Roger Salmons, Stephen Smith

Programme:  CATEP is a European research network, co-ordinated by the Environmental Institute at University College Dublin. The network will operate through a series of six workshops that will bring together academics, NGOs, and practitioners in government and industry. The objectives of the workshops are to provide a forum for: state of the art research on permit trading issues; linkage of research to the policy process, including presentation of emerging practice; networking of researchers and the generation of new research ideas.  Each workshop will generate a policy brief, that will highlight the key findings and conclusions for the policy process.  While the network will focus on greenhouse gas emissions trading, it will also address the application of permit trading in other policy areas.  The CATEP website (see links) provides further information about the network, together with details of the workshop programme.

Publications: None to date

Sponsors: European Commission DG Research – EU 5th Framework Programme

Linkshttp://www.emissionstradingnetwork.com

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Individual Preferences for Cultural Heritage Conservation

Contact:   Dr. Marilena Pollicino

Programme: Historical heritage is being damaged by economic activities and air pollution. Finding appropriate management tools to better preserve it for future generations is an important task. It is not sufficient to quantify only the costs of repairing the damage: the socio-economic benefits related to cultural heritage conservation must be explored. Valuation techniques can be valid tools for decision making with regards to the preservation and sustainable development of historic towns.

Publications

Pollicino, M. and Maddison, D. (2001) Valuing the Benefits of Cleaning Lincoln Cathedral. The Journal of Cultural Economics Vol. 25, pp131-148.

Sponsors: Funded by the European Community under the Marie Curie Post-Doctoral Fellowships, Imperial College London

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 BIOdiversity and Economics for CONservation (BIOECON)

Contact: Prof. Timothy Swanson

Researchers:  Timothy Swanson, Andreas Kontoleon and Ekin Birol

Programme: BioEcon is initiated and co-ordinated by CSERGE with the goal of reconciling the conservation of biodiversity with economic development.  The project incorporates major European economics departments that are involved in biodiversity management and economic development and international NGOs that are concerned with the conservation of biodiversity on a global basis.  The main aims of BioEcon are (i) to advance economic theory on incentive mechanism design specifically for provision of biodiversity; (ii) to apply economic analysis to biodiversity conservation case studies on forestry, wildlife and agriculture; and (iii) to asses case studies for policy implications.

Sponsors: European Commission Framework Programme V: Energy, Environment and Sustainable Development, Sub-Programme Sustainable Development.

Publications:  None to date

Links: www.bioecon.ucl.ac.uk

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The Centre for Cultural Economics and Management (CCEM)

Contact:  Dr. David Maddison

Researchers:  David Maddison, David Pearce, Susana Mourato, Marilena Pollicino and Julie Brown.

Programme:  CCEM is a new centre of excellence specialising in the economics of cultural heritage. The particular focus is on three aspects of heritage issues. Valuation refers to the process of estimating the economic value of cultural assets by finding out individuals’ willingness to pay to conserve them. Capture refers to the mechanisms for ensuring that this willingness to pay is transformed into cash or other resource flows. Management goes beyond capture to the more general design of incentives and institutions that will favour the conservation of our cultural heritage. Members of the CCEM have already undertaken a number of projects and plan many more. For details of these projects and downloadable papers visit the CCEM web site

News/Events: On February 2nd 2001 the Centre for Cultural Economics and Management organised a one-day seminar on the economic valuation of cultural heritage. With reference to diverse studies undertaken by members of the centre the seminar addressed the following questions: Should society attach economic values to cultural heritage? If so by what means should this be done? How can so doing improve decision-making? How can we place values on non-marketable goods (like the appearance of a building) or intangible assets (like authenticity)? How may damage to historical heritage be valued and how can projects aimed at repairing restoring or renovating cultural heritage be appraised? What insights does economic valuation bring to the question of charging for entry to museums and galleries? Downloads of the papers given at the presentation are available from the CCEM web site.

Publications

Maddison, D. and Foster, T. (2001) Valuing Congestion in the British Museum

Pollicino, M. and Maddison, D. (2001) Valuing the Benefits of Cleaning Lincoln Cathedral. The Journal of Cultural Economics Vol. 25, pp131-148.

Linkshttp://www.ccem.org

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