The question of how to design efficient environmental policies has become one of the most important questions of our time, but finding the answer it is not easy. Simple models of environmental regulation do not take into account the complexity of real markets. One aspect that is sometimes ignored is the market structure of the regulated industry. This critical review of the literature shows that market structure can both influence and be influenced by environmental regulation and that determining the optimal environmental policy is complicated.

This thesis examines the environmental effect of the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS) in the Czech Republic. Specifically, the impact of the EU ETS on CO2 emissions, carbon-fuel intensity and carbon intensity of production (measured by revenues) is analysed on installation-level financial, environmental and energy data throughout all three phases of the EU ETS over 2005 - 2019. The difference-in-differences approach with propensity score matching is used to infer the causal effect of the regulation. We find no effect of the EU ETS on carbon emissions and carbon intensities in the Czech Republic. This finding holds for various model specifications and different approaches we utilised. In the end, we discuss possible reasons why the EU ETS might not lead to any significant effect in the Czech Republic. JEL Classification O13, F18, Q54, Q58, H23, D22 Keywords EU ETS, environmental regulation, propen- sity score matching, difference-in-differences, the Czech Republic Title The impact of the EU ETS in the Czech Repub- lic

What are ecosystem services, what are the possibilities to use them as a solution to remediate environmental problems, and how can they be increased in an industrial area such as Rönnskärsverken? The aim of this master thesis was to investigate the potential and the incentive for increasing ecosystem services in Rönnskärsverken’s industrial area through green areas and nature based stormwater management solutions on the site.  Ecosystem services is a concept that was put on the political agenda in the UN in 2005 in order to create a common definition and valuation to raise awareness of the values that nature provides to human beings. In recent years it has become an important part when it comes to environmental work and sustainable development in many parts of the world. As cities grow and more areas are exploited it is important to acknowledge what's lost in its place, and find out how we can minimise our impact on the environment and help the ecosystems and biodiversity. The mining company Boliden AB has a smelter located outside Skellefteå in north of Sweden, on an island called Rönnskär. The industrial area has been expanded with artificial means since its inception in 1930 where the focus has then been on industrial function. This has led to few green areas and many impervious surfaces on the site, which in turn has led to problems with stormwater flows, diffuse dusting, noises from the industry, unfavourable wind conditions and a generally less pleasant environment. Boliden AB wants to investigate the possibilities of developing and benefiting ecosystem services of  the industrial site of Rönnskär, and wants knowledge about potential values and benefits. Information has been gathered and compilations and conclusions have been made through literature studies, a survey, a field visit and conversations with employees and expert staff. A digital GIS modelling was planned but not implemented, which is why there is a good basis with criteria in a table in the appendix for further investigation of placement of proposed solutions. In the report, 7 different environmental challenges are identified and addressed; stormwater management, diffuse dusting, noise, biodiversity, lack of green areas, outdoor environment and ground pollution. They have then been linked to 6 different measures using ecosystem services, whereupon stormwater management is further explored in a separate chapter (7). All proposals presented in the report are nature based to demonstrate the use of ecosystem services as tools and aids for the purpose.  The conclusion is that it is possible to use nature based solutions that benefit ecosystem services to remediate the environmental challenges Rönnskär is facing and at the same time also increase other aspects such as well-being, health and environment. For specific implementation further investigations need to be made. Close cooperation with the environmental department on Rönnskär is needed to investigate which measures are most important and to invest in first. Measures need to be taken, and it can clearly be seen that it would benefit the industrial site to invest in maintenance and expansion of green areas to reduce the environmental challenges they face. / Vad är ekosystemtjänster, hur ser möjligheterna ut för att använda dem som lösning för att åtgärda miljöproblem och hur kan de utökas i ett industriområde som Rönnskärsverken? Syftet med detta examensarbete var att undersöka potentialen och incitamentet för att öka ekosystemtjänsterna i Rönnskärsverkens industriområde genom grönområden och naturbaserade dagvattenhanteringslösningar på platsen. Ekosystemtjänster är ett begrepp som sattes upp på den politiska agendan i FN 2005 för att skapa en gemensam definition och värdering för att öka medvetenheten om de värden som naturen ger människor. På senare år har det blivit en viktig del när det gäller miljöarbete och hållbar utveckling på många håll i världen. När städer växer och fler områden exploateras är det viktigt att uppmärksamma vad som har gått förlorat i dess ställe, och ta reda på hur vi kan minimera vår påverkan på miljön, hjälpa ekosystemen och den biologiska mångfalden.  Gruvbolaget Boliden AB har ett smältverk beläget utanför Skellefteå i norra Sverige, på en ö som heter Rönnskär. Industriområdet har byggts ut med konstgjorda medel sedan starten 1930 där fokus legat på industriell funktion. Detta har lett till få grönområden och många ogenomträngliga ytor på platsen, vilket i sin tur lett till problem med dagvattenflöden, diffus damning, buller från industrin, ogynnsamma vindförhållanden och en generellt sett mindre behaglig miljö. Boliden AB vill undersöka möjligheterna att utveckla och dra nytta av ekosystemtjänsterna på industriområdet Rönnskär och vill ha kunskap om potentiella värden och nytta.  Information har samlats och sammanställningar samt slutsatser har gjorts genom litteraturstudier, en enkätundersökning, ett fältbesök och samtal med anställda och sakkunnig personal. En digital GIS-modellering var planerad men ej genomförd, varför det finns en god grund med kriterier i en tabell i appendix för vidare undersökning av placering av föreslagna lösningar.  I rapporten identifieras och behandlas 7 olika miljöutmaningar; dagvattenhantering, diffus damning, buller, biologisk mångfald, brist på grönområden, utemiljö och markföroreningar. De har sedan kopplats till 6 olika åtgärder med hjälp av ekosystemtjänster, varpå dagvattenhanteringen utforskas ytterligare i ett separat kapitel (7). Alla förslag som presenteras i rapporten är naturbaserade för att visa användningen av ekosystemtjänster som verktyg och hjälpmedel för ändamålet.  Slutsatsen är att det är möjligt att använda naturbaserade lösningar som gynnar ekosystemtjänster för att åtgärda de miljöutmaningar Rönnskär står inför och samtidigt också öka andra aspekter som välbefinnande, hälsa och miljö. För specifik implementering behöver ytterligare undersökningar göras. Det behövs ett nära samarbete med miljöavdelningen på Rönnskär för att utreda vilka åtgärder som är viktigast och att satsa på först. Åtgärder behöver vidtas och man kan tydligt se att det skulle gynna industriområdet att investera i underhåll och utbyggnad av grönområden för att minska de miljöutmaningar de står inför.

The resource curse, also known as the “paradox of plenty”, basically states that countries that have natural resources in abundance, particularly in terms of non-renewable resources such as oil and gas and minerals, in the long run tend to have less economic growth and prosperity, than countries with relatively lesser endowments of natural resources. This research investigates the case of the Chilean economy; its erstwhile saltpeter mining industry and current copper mining industry. The study attempts to answer the research question of whether Chile is still under the resource curse. Through the facts of the case study, semi-structured formal and informal interviews and extensive literature review, the researcher identified four main outcomes of the resource curse which are true to the Chilean history and current events; plundering of national wealth by political leaders, weak policy enforcements and military challenges to the government and the subsequent threats to the country’s democracy. The results of the case study suggest that, Chile is indeed still under the resource curse. The researcher draws on economic theory by Joseph Schumpeter in his most celebrated publication, “The theory of Economic Development” to gain understanding into the Chilean reality of economic under development and any other possible factors besides the resource curse, mainly lack of entrepreneurial ambitions by the human capital of the economy. The study contrasts, Schumpeter’s economic theory to Marxist economic theory of total control of nation states’ resources by governments and the Keynesian economic theory of government intervention aimed at supporting growth.

No description available.

This thesis constructs a novel resilience index and a comparative advantage measure of professional skills to enhance our understanding of economic resilience in Appalachian counties that are vulnerable to the transition to a greener economy. The index-based results indicate that resilience is clustered throughout the region and strongly related to local labor market demand for the skills required to complete non-routine cognitive tasks. Resilient labor markets hold a comparative advantage over their less resilient counterparts in twelve skills. These skills are highly prevalent in growing and emerging occupations and strongly related to resilience in the existing literature on regional economic shocks. This thesis also develops a database that enables future researchers, policymakers, and industry leaders to geospatially analyze skill prevalence at a county level and make informed and proactive decisions in the face of a changing economy. / Master of Science / This thesis constructs a novel resilience index and a measure of professional skills to enhance our understanding of economic resilience in Appalachian counties that are exposed to changes to the workforce. The results indicate that resilience is clustered throughout the region and strongly related to the skills required for rapidly growing and emerging occupations. Resilient labor markets hold a comparative advantage over their less resilient counterparts in twelve key skills. These skills are highly prevalent in vital to the literature and closely related to the ability of local economies to withstand recessions and other economic disruptions. My thesis also develops a database that enables future research, policymakers, and industry leaders to easily understand the professional skills found in counties to make informed and proactive decisions in the face of a changing economy.

My dissertation addresses how engineers, scientists, and bureaucrats generated knowledge about pollution, crafted an institution for environmental protection, and constructed a collective identity for themselves. I show an important shift in regulators\' priorities, from stringent health-based standards to flexible technology-based ones through the development of end-of-pipeline pollution control devices, which contributed to the emergence of economic incentives and voluntary management programs. Drawing on findings from archival documents, published sources, and oral history interviews, I examine the first decade of the EPA amid constant organizational changes that shaped the technological and managerial character of environmental policy in the United States. Exploring the EPA\'s internal research and development processes and their relationship with scientific and engineering communities sheds light on how the new fields of environmental engineering and policy were co-produced in the 1970s. I argue that two competing approaches for environmental management, a community health approach and a control technology approach, developed from EPA\'s responses to bureaucratic, geographical, and epistemic challenges. I focus on researchers and managers from the Office of Research and Development at Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, as they were engaged in (1) controversy about integrated aerometry and epidemiology research intended to correlate air pollution and health, (2) intra-agency debate about the government\'s responsibility for introducing catalytic converters for tailpipe emissions reduction and responding to the potential environmental and social consequences, and (3) inter-agency activities for the demonstration of scrubbers for smokestack emissions and further application of the control technology approach in energy-related environmental problems. My principal conceptual contribution is "regulatory engineering." I define regulatory engineering as an approach to sociotechnical problems in which engineering practices are incorporated into regulatory and organizational changes, which in turn influences technical knowledge and identity formation. As EPA activities became closely associated with energy and economic issues toward the end of the 1970s, I argue that engineers took the initiative in demonstrating and evaluating control technologies for pollution abatement and energy development, scientists carefully studied environmental and health effects of these technologies, and regulators set up pollution standards and attainment deadlines accordingly. Studying the co-production of knowledge, institution, and identity through the lens of regulatory engineering helps us to understand technoscientific and managerial aspects of environmental governance beyond the 1970s EPA where technical feasibility considerations, economic incentives, and cooperative management expanded into legislation and regulation. / Ph. D.

Nos últimos anos diversos pesquisadores, instituições e governos têm proposto reformas na regulação ambiental - entendida como o conjunto de requisitos, procedimentos e condicionantes ambientais ao exercício das atividades econômicas, com vistas a reduzir seus potenciais efeitos deletérios no meio. O presente estudo, de caráter exploratório e qualitativo, demonstra que embora existam experiências exitosas de reforma da regulação ambiental industrial no Estado de São Paulo, ainda existe um longo caminho a percorrer, principalmente na garantia de sua realização sistemática. Para tanto, após estabelecer um marco teórico sobre a regulação ambiental, são relacionados os limites de seu modelo tradicional, que podem ser epistemológicos, ou estar em seus objetivos, no grau de solução dos problemas, na eficiência econômica, nos procedimentos administrativos, nas opções tecnológicas, nas relações institucionais, ou na governança internacional. A partir destas limitações e de recomendações de reforma, coligidas da literatura, se afirma que uma regulação ambiental industrial que pretenda superar os desafios socioambientais contemporâneos deva ser: participativa; descentralizada; flexível; simples e clara; preventiva; indutora da inovação; multi-instrumental; rigorosa no enforcement; baseada em desempenho; planejada e gradual; suportada por recursos adequados; mensurada e comunicada; e reflexiva. Este conjunto de características de qualidade regulatória foi aplicado a Estudos de Caso no Estado de São Paulo, referentes aos programas de Fomento à produção mais limpa pela CETESB, Introdução da licença de operação renovável no Estado de São Paulo, e Adoção da responsabilidade pós-consumo na Política Estadual de Resíduos Sólidos. Utilizando pesquisa documental e entrevistas junto a regulados e reguladores, conclui-se que a maior parte destas características já estão de alguma forma presentes nos programas, sendo destacada a melhoria do diálogo entre regulados e reguladores e a maior flexibilidade da regulação. Porém, as evidências demonstram que esta incorporação não garante sua efetivação sistemática, e as características nem sempre são percebidas ou chegam a influenciar o comportamento dos regulados e reguladores, participando de forma ainda marginal nas principais rotinas do órgão regulador. Ao final são apresentadas recomendações para futuras regulações, referentes principalmente à visão, planejamento estratégico e garantia de recursos para a reforma no órgão ambiental, bem como sobre a governança do processo regulatório. / Recently, many researchers, institutions and governments have proposed reforms in environmental regulation defined as the set of rules, procedures and requirements established by the government for economic activities in order to reduce their environmental burdens. The present study, exploratory and qualitative, demonstrates that although there are successful environmental regulatory reform experiences in the State of Sao Paulo, there is a long way to go, especially in ensuring their systematic accomplishment. Therefore, after presenting a theoretical framework on environmental regulation, the limits of their traditional approach are shown, in terms of epistemological aspects, as well related to their goals, degree of problem solving, economic efficiency, administrative procedures, technology options, institutional relationships, and international governance. From these limitations, and recommendations gathered from literature, it is stated that an industrial environmental regulation aiming to overcome the contemporary socio-environmental challenges should be participatory, decentralized, flexible , simple and clear, preventive, innovation inductor, multi-instrumental, strict in enforcement, performance-based, planned and gradual, supported by adequate resources, measured and reported, and reflexive. This set of regulatory quality characteristics was applied to three case studies, regarding to the programs of Cleaner Production Fostering by CETESB, Renewable Operation Permit Introduction is the State of Sao Paulo and Extended Producer Responsibility Adoption at the State Waste Policy. Using document research and interviews with regulators and regulated representatives, it is evidenced that most of those characteristics are presented at the programs design, highlighting the dialog improvements and the adoption of a more flexible regulation. However, evidence shows that their presence at the program does not guarantee its systematic execution into practice, and the characteristics are not always perceived or influence the behavior of regulators or regulated, maintaining the programs as marginal in reference to the central routines of the environmental agency. At the end, there are presented conclusions and recommendations to further regulations, mostly related to the vision, strategic planning and resources guarantee for environmental regulation reform, as well as to regulatory process governance.

Nos últimos anos diversos pesquisadores, instituições e governos têm proposto reformas na regulação ambiental - entendida como o conjunto de requisitos, procedimentos e condicionantes ambientais ao exercício das atividades econômicas, com vistas a reduzir seus potenciais efeitos deletérios no meio. O presente estudo, de caráter exploratório e qualitativo, demonstra que embora existam experiências exitosas de reforma da regulação ambiental industrial no Estado de São Paulo, ainda existe um longo caminho a percorrer, principalmente na garantia de sua realização sistemática. Para tanto, após estabelecer um marco teórico sobre a regulação ambiental, são relacionados os limites de seu modelo tradicional, que podem ser epistemológicos, ou estar em seus objetivos, no grau de solução dos problemas, na eficiência econômica, nos procedimentos administrativos, nas opções tecnológicas, nas relações institucionais, ou na governança internacional. A partir destas limitações e de recomendações de reforma, coligidas da literatura, se afirma que uma regulação ambiental industrial que pretenda superar os desafios socioambientais contemporâneos deva ser: participativa; descentralizada; flexível; simples e clara; preventiva; indutora da inovação; multi-instrumental; rigorosa no enforcement; baseada em desempenho; planejada e gradual; suportada por recursos adequados; mensurada e comunicada; e reflexiva. Este conjunto de características de qualidade regulatória foi aplicado a Estudos de Caso no Estado de São Paulo, referentes aos programas de Fomento à produção mais limpa pela CETESB, Introdução da licença de operação renovável no Estado de São Paulo, e Adoção da responsabilidade pós-consumo na Política Estadual de Resíduos Sólidos. Utilizando pesquisa documental e entrevistas junto a regulados e reguladores, conclui-se que a maior parte destas características já estão de alguma forma presentes nos programas, sendo destacada a melhoria do diálogo entre regulados e reguladores e a maior flexibilidade da regulação. Porém, as evidências demonstram que esta incorporação não garante sua efetivação sistemática, e as características nem sempre são percebidas ou chegam a influenciar o comportamento dos regulados e reguladores, participando de forma ainda marginal nas principais rotinas do órgão regulador. Ao final são apresentadas recomendações para futuras regulações, referentes principalmente à visão, planejamento estratégico e garantia de recursos para a reforma no órgão ambiental, bem como sobre a governança do processo regulatório. / Recently, many researchers, institutions and governments have proposed reforms in environmental regulation defined as the set of rules, procedures and requirements established by the government for economic activities in order to reduce their environmental burdens. The present study, exploratory and qualitative, demonstrates that although there are successful environmental regulatory reform experiences in the State of Sao Paulo, there is a long way to go, especially in ensuring their systematic accomplishment. Therefore, after presenting a theoretical framework on environmental regulation, the limits of their traditional approach are shown, in terms of epistemological aspects, as well related to their goals, degree of problem solving, economic efficiency, administrative procedures, technology options, institutional relationships, and international governance. From these limitations, and recommendations gathered from literature, it is stated that an industrial environmental regulation aiming to overcome the contemporary socio-environmental challenges should be participatory, decentralized, flexible , simple and clear, preventive, innovation inductor, multi-instrumental, strict in enforcement, performance-based, planned and gradual, supported by adequate resources, measured and reported, and reflexive. This set of regulatory quality characteristics was applied to three case studies, regarding to the programs of Cleaner Production Fostering by CETESB, Renewable Operation Permit Introduction is the State of Sao Paulo and Extended Producer Responsibility Adoption at the State Waste Policy. Using document research and interviews with regulators and regulated representatives, it is evidenced that most of those characteristics are presented at the programs design, highlighting the dialog improvements and the adoption of a more flexible regulation. However, evidence shows that their presence at the program does not guarantee its systematic execution into practice, and the characteristics are not always perceived or influence the behavior of regulators or regulated, maintaining the programs as marginal in reference to the central routines of the environmental agency. At the end, there are presented conclusions and recommendations to further regulations, mostly related to the vision, strategic planning and resources guarantee for environmental regulation reform, as well as to regulatory process governance.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Economics / Yang-Ming Chang / Innovation is development of new ideas that leads to better solutions to current problems. From an economic standpoint, innovation is the engine of economic growth. The appearance of innovation is not uniform in the market, and neither are its affects. The development of new products and technology is significant in any industry. As a result, understanding the path of progress within an industry is necessary to maximize the benefit from innovation. The focus of this research is to further understand the relationship between producers, consumers, and the environment, in the context of innovation. Three scenarios are evaluated. First, innovation evaluated in the context technology intensive industries with product differentiation. Using an optimal control approach with product differentiation and firm outlook we examine conditions that maximize social welfare. When firm(s) have the same discount rate regardless of market structure, a monopoly will develop more innovative products. However, it is shown that competition may increase innovation if firms alter their outlook in a duopoly market structure. Next, influence of consumers on producer adoption of clean technology is evaluated. A spatial model is developed to analyze welfare implications of environmental policies in a competitive market with production and consumption heterogeneity. Consumers with heterogeneous preferences choose between non-green and certified green products, while firms with heterogeneous production costs decide whether to engage in green production. In order for green products to be recognized by consumers, firms must join a green club. The number of green firms, environmental standard, and overall welfare under the market solution are all found to be socially sub-optimal. Finally, producer innovation in markets characterized by public policy due to emission concerns is evaluated. Using a dynamic approach, we derive a firm’s optimal R&D investment strategy to develop clean technology. Explicitly allowing for the cumulative nature of R&D shows that emissions per unit of output are lowest when the firms cooperate in R&D, and show that a profit-maximizing merged entity will never choose the most efficient investment strategy in clean technology, which has implications for emission tax policy and environmental innovation to improve overall welfare.