Resources and Environmental Economics

A brief discussion on the coupling principle of positive and negative feedback in the economic system

Runyuan Gan — 2024-10-05

This study clarifies the concepts of “feedback”, “positive feedback”, and “negative feedback” and explains the philosophy of the coupling principle of positive and negative feedback. The evolution process of the system is the organic coupling of positive and negative feedback, and only the reciprocating cycle of positive and negative feedback can ensure the occurrence and existence of heterogeneous new things. In the economic system, the law of increasing returns corresponds to the positive feedback mechanism, whereas the law of diminishing returns corresponds to the negative feedback mechanism. This study briefly expounds on the differences in understanding between the law of increasing returns and diminishing returns, and the equilibrium and disequilibrium of economic operation in the economics circle, based on the histories of economic thoughts and social and economic forms. This study emphasizes that instead of dividing and opposing each other, the idea of static partial equilibrium and dynamic general nonequilibrium in epistemology can be united to solve this difference. Finally, this paper explains the essential relationship and compatibility between the law of diminishing returns and increasing returns from the characteristics, nature, and proportional changes of tangible and intangible factors of production. Applying the positive and negative feedback coupling principle can clarify the essential relationship between the law of diminishing returns and increasing returns. From the philosophical level and epistemological significance, it can bridge the fundamental differences between equilibrium and nonequilibrium theories, which in turn, can help realize the creative synthesis of economic theory.

Energy audit for biodiesel performance

Sanjay Mohite — 2024-07-01

The performance and emission characteristics of the biodiesel -- diesel mix have been assessed using the energy audit method. The goal of this commentary is to get familiar with the examination of the performance characteristics of a diesel engine fuelled with biodiesel blends using energy audit technique. An examination of heat flow, brake-specific energy consumption, friction power, and smoke has been conducted. Efficiency can be enhanced by implementing this strategy, resulting in savings of both time and energy.

Farm digital tools: A systematic review of investments and environmental implications

Maha Ben Jaballah — 2024-05-07

Farm-level investment in digital tools is often viewed as a necessary part of the agroecological transition. However, its actual relevance remains unclear due to currently ambiguous definitions of farm investments in general and equipment investments in particular. We conducted a systematic review of the farm investment literature to characterize the different categories of digital tools investments seen and to determine how often the environment is considered in this field of research. A total of 131 articles met our eligibility criteria and were subject to further analysis. First, we found that research on farm investments has looked at general farm investments, investments in combined factors of production, and investments in specific factors of production. Second, we discovered that there are four main investment categories for farm equipment (including digital tools). Third, we noted that few studies have addressed the environmental implications of investing in digital tools. Our findings emphasize that, to facilitate the agroecological transition, it will be important to promote broader strategies that encourage farmers to invest in digital tools.

The performance of mixed and penalized effects models in predicting the value of the ecological footprint of tourism

Ahmad Roumiani — 2024-03-19

In recent decades, the issue of ecological footprint (EF) in the world has become a serious anxiety among environmental stakeholders. This anxiety is more in top tourism attracting countries. The purpose of this research is the performance of mixed and penalized effects models in predicting the value of the EF of tourism in the top eight countries of tourism destinations. The World Bank and Global Footprint Network databases have been used in this study. Penalized regression and MCMC models have been used to estimate the EF over the past 19 years (2000-2018). The findings of the research showed that the amount of ecological footprint in China, France and Italy is much higher than other countries. In addition, based on the results, a slight improvement in the performance of penalized models to linear regression was observed. The comparison of the models shows that in the Ridge and Elastic Net models, more indicators were selected than Lasso, but Lasso has a better predictive performance than other models on ecological footprint. Therefore, the use of penalized models is only slightly better than linear regression, but they provide the selection of appropriate indices for model parsimoniousness. The results showed that the penalized models are powerful tools that can provide a significant performance in the accuracy and prediction of the EF variable in tourism attracting countries.

Biofuel certification

Sanjay Mohite — 2023-04-14

Scope of biofuel certification is reviewed. It has been found that a biofuel certification is needed in the biofuels industry to authenticate biodiesel and its blends for use in diesel engines.In the world, a standard energy audit method is required to evaluate the feasibility of biodiesel blend as fuel and also harmonise the research of biodiesel as fuel. Leagal measures for biofuel certification is required. There are various obstacles and challenges for biofuel certification. Therefore, this paper addresses the legal measures, obstacles and challenges for biofuel certification.

Legal institutional inefficiency and water pollution problem in Bangladesh

Shuying Wang — 2022-12-19

In recent years the economy of Bangladesh has increased significantly due to rapid industrialization. Despite economic prosperity, it causes serious damage to the environment by polluting water resources. Factors like discharging industrial effluents, urban runoff, and agricultural wastage are primarily responsible for polluting the water bodies in Bangladesh. This kind of pollution not only harms the environment but also severely affects human health, and in Bangladesh, nearly 80 percent of all diseases are related to water pollution, and arsenicosis is one of them. To prevent and control water pollution, the government has primarily enacted various laws and policies, including Environment Conservation Act 1995, Environment Protection Act (EPA) 1995, Environment Court Act 2000, and Bangladesh Water Act 2013. Despite numerous initiatives, legal loopholes, institutional weaknesses and lack of enforcement of Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) are the main obstacles to preventing and controlling water pollution in Bangladesh. Therefore, this paper addresses the legal shortcomings and functions of respective bodies in preventing and controlling water pollution.

Transition of countries to currency and trade sustainable international cooperation on the BRICS platform

Evgeniy Bryndin — 2022-12-01

The transition to monetary and trade sustainable cooperation within the BRICS can be carried out on the basis of the energy economic equivalent of the national currencies of sovereign states. The International Monetary Index will link the existing commodity masses of states with national currencies. The creation of two-circuit national monetary and financial systems will create conditions for the evolutionary transition of budget formation. Double-circuit monetary and financial systems will bind national currencies to energy economic equivalents and goods. An interim measure of the national currency due to the energy economic equivalent and a group of goods with both commodity and monetary properties creates their currency value. This makes it possible to estimate their value in the energy economic equivalent. The energy economic equivalent can become a meter of the intrinsic value of any payment means. The economic reserve base, expanded at the expense of groups of goods, makes it possible to create a stable basis for strengthening national currencies in the system of domestic, regional and international settlements, maintaining their stability. It is possible to connect the financial and real sectors of the international economy of sovereign states through the BRICS investment international bank. This will allow the generation of long and cheap financial resources by issuing securities and digital financial assets secured by a group of goods with foreign exchange value. National currencies will become full-fledged, tied to the amount of those resources that are in the provision of the BRICS investment international bank.

Digitalization of the economy: Social threats

Ashot A. Khachaturyan — 2022-08-03

The article analyzes the hidden threats to society associated with the development of the digital economy. Shown are the main problems that digital can bring to social life and the fate of an individual worker. Chief among these concerns is that with the further digital transformation of the economy, more and more jobs could threatened with extinction. The disappearance of old jobs this time will not accompanied by the emergence of new ones. A situation may arise when the workers released due to digitalization will become not only unemployed, but also generally inoperable. A global question arises - what to do with those, who do not work, and what to support them for?

Mediation model of media determinants of water rates

José Marcos Bustos Aguayo — 2022-08-01

The press, by spreading the availability of resources, shortages linked with preservation. In this sense, the work explores nine briefings from 2019 to 2022 published in national newspapers regarding the lack of supply, quality, benefit, punishment and discomfort as a consequence of the water situation in a demarcation east of Mexico City. This finding was considered as evidence of a moderate degree of media coverage the press regarding the problems arising from water shortages. From the results discussed its implications with other studies conducted in the demarcation.

Socioeconomic and environmental impact of exploitation of hydrocarbons in maritime areas: The case of Greece

Andreas Stergiou — 2022-06-08

The exploration and exploitation of hydrocarbons in a maritime area have considerable social, economic and environmental impact. Despite the relevance of the topic, accurate analyses on the exact social and environmental impact of the extraction of hydrocarbons are sparse. Companies-shareholders are mainly concerned about the profit deriving from such kind of activities, while national leaders are mainly concerned about their national constituencies, since they preside over national economies and pursue national interests. On the other side, NGO’s are mainly focused on the downsides of natural resources development. Taking into account some characteristic examples of extraction and monetisation of hydrocarbons discovered in maritime areas similar to Greece, the paper tries to identify their impact in the specific circumstances of Greece and to contribute the highly topical discussion about the utility of development of hydrocarbons resources in Greece.