Economic and environmental objectives are traditionally seen as mutually exclusive, especially in terms of higher economic growth rates that are coupled with higher greenhouse gas emissions. The first aim of this study is to find a possible creative solution, in which higher economic growth can be coupled with lower greenhouse gas emissions, also known as low-carbon growth. The literature review shows that the economic growth aspect of low-carbon growth can be achieved by increasing exports. The other part of low-carbon growth, namely lower greenhouse gas intensity, can be achieved by diffusing low-carbon technologies (or environmental goods). The World Trade Organisation also encouraged the liberalisation of environmental goods. Therefore, low-carbon growth could be achieved by promoting the production and exports of low-carbon environmental goods. Although the World Trade Organisations has encouraged the liberation of environmental goods, there is no official list of environmental goods. Therefore, the second aim of this study is to derive a list of low-carbon environmental goods from existing lists of environmental goods. Thirty-nine lowcarbon environmental goods are identified for the purpose of this study. The Decision Support Model (DSM) is used to identify realistic export opportunities for these environmental goods. These low-carbon environmental goods were ranked based on three criteria: i) their potential environmental benefits, ii) South Africa’s capacity to produce these goods, and iii) their potential economic benefits. The five low-carbon environmental goods that ranked the highest are photosensitive semiconductors (HS-6: 854140), towers and lattice masts (HS-6: 730820), electrical control and distribution boards smaller than 1kV (HS-6: 853710), gearing, ball screws, speed changers, torque converter (HS-6: 848340), and static converters (HS-6: 850440). The exact environmental uses, producers, intensive and extensive export opportunities of the top five goods were discussed. The best overall intensive export opportunities according to potential export value are HS-6: 854140; photosensitive semiconductors (USD 922,362,000) to Germany and HS-6: 853710; electrical control and distribution boards smaller than 1kV, to the United States (USD 838,671,000). The best overall extensive export opportunities according to their potential export value are HS-6: 854140; photosensitive semiconductors to China (USD 953,255,000) and HS-6: 854140; photosensitive semiconductors to Hong Kong (USD 363,505,000). The results of this study will enable policy-makers to make optimal decisions regarding which environmental goods to produce and export. / Thesis (MCom (Economics))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

Economic and environmental objectives are traditionally seen as mutually exclusive, especially in terms of higher economic growth rates that are coupled with higher greenhouse gas emissions. The first aim of this study is to find a possible creative solution, in which higher economic growth can be coupled with lower greenhouse gas emissions, also known as low-carbon growth. The literature review shows that the economic growth aspect of low-carbon growth can be achieved by increasing exports. The other part of low-carbon growth, namely lower greenhouse gas intensity, can be achieved by diffusing low-carbon technologies (or environmental goods). The World Trade Organisation also encouraged the liberalisation of environmental goods. Therefore, low-carbon growth could be achieved by promoting the production and exports of low-carbon environmental goods. Although the World Trade Organisations has encouraged the liberation of environmental goods, there is no official list of environmental goods. Therefore, the second aim of this study is to derive a list of low-carbon environmental goods from existing lists of environmental goods. Thirty-nine lowcarbon environmental goods are identified for the purpose of this study. The Decision Support Model (DSM) is used to identify realistic export opportunities for these environmental goods. These low-carbon environmental goods were ranked based on three criteria: i) their potential environmental benefits, ii) South Africa’s capacity to produce these goods, and iii) their potential economic benefits. The five low-carbon environmental goods that ranked the highest are photosensitive semiconductors (HS-6: 854140), towers and lattice masts (HS-6: 730820), electrical control and distribution boards smaller than 1kV (HS-6: 853710), gearing, ball screws, speed changers, torque converter (HS-6: 848340), and static converters (HS-6: 850440). The exact environmental uses, producers, intensive and extensive export opportunities of the top five goods were discussed. The best overall intensive export opportunities according to potential export value are HS-6: 854140; photosensitive semiconductors (USD 922,362,000) to Germany and HS-6: 853710; electrical control and distribution boards smaller than 1kV, to the United States (USD 838,671,000). The best overall extensive export opportunities according to their potential export value are HS-6: 854140; photosensitive semiconductors to China (USD 953,255,000) and HS-6: 854140; photosensitive semiconductors to Hong Kong (USD 363,505,000). The results of this study will enable policy-makers to make optimal decisions regarding which environmental goods to produce and export. / Thesis (MCom (Economics))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

The aim of this diploma thesis is application of non market evaluation on particular example of public green in Prague 15 and considering the possibility of using this method by public sector. Decisions of public sector aren't often transparent and systematic, in this study is proposed, how such a decision would be going on, if it was based on economic theory. First part of this study is concentrated on typology of goods, theory of non market evaluation and choice of the method applied on a particular example of a public green. Analytical part of this study contains description of application of contingent evaluation that estimates willingness to pay for a preservation and improvement of a public green. The last part of the study contains discussion of possibility of using this method by public sector.

The main purpose of the diploma thesis is to determine the willingness of people visiting the Eastern Slovak dam Ružín to pay for improving water quality, namely for the environmental good. Willingness to pay is determined by questionnaire investigation the contingent valuation method. Dam is a public good, which has no owner. We all use it without someone to care for it. This use is not positive, but negative in terms of pollution, clogging of toxic sediments. The theoretical part is devoted to construction and the need to build dam as well as environmental problems, which occur at the dam. This is related to the problem of public good and "the tragedy of the commons." There are the contingent valuation method and development of the questionnaire described at the end of theoretical part. The practical part consists of the evaluation questionnaire investigation and the linear regression model in terms of the parameters under which they were created identifiers variables and point estimates. Finally, it is converted by statistical analysis of the impact of variables on the amount that people are willing to pay.