Cost-benefit Approach Research Articles

Carbon Pricing and Intergenerational Fairness

Abstract John Broome and Duncan Foley have proposed an ingenious way to transfer benefits backwards in time, from people who are not here yet to people who will not be here in the future. Present people can crowd out conventional, and often brown, investments by issuing global climate bonds (GCBs). The debate about GCBs has focused on whether it is justified to use this financial instrument to allow future people to buy off present people for climate mitigation. In this article, I ask whether it is fair to use GCBs to share the cost of a global carbon price between present and future people. My answer is that it depends on the approach used to calculate the carbon price and, of course, on the normative claims underlying the different approaches. Specifically, I argue that the internalisation principle underlying the cost-benefit approach does not justify intergenerational cost-shifting if, as in most cases, the social cost of carbon is determined using, inter alia, a social discount rate. Instead, the conservative justifications underlying a cost-effective carbon price consistent with the Paris mitigation target allow for intergenerational cost-shifting, but only to the extent of the difference (if any) between the Paris-consistent and the Pareto-efficient carbon price.

Prevalence, characteristics, and risk factors of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in North East of Iran: a population-based study

BackgroundNonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common dietary disorder caused by fatty changes in the liver parenchyma and hepatocytes without alcohol consumption. The present study aimed to investigate the prevalence, characteristics, and risk factors of NAFLD in the Mashhad Persian Cohort Study population.MethodThe present population-based cross-sectional study included all PERSIAN Organizational Cohort study in Mashhad University of Medical Sciences (POCM), Mashhad, Iran by census sampling method. Eligible participants were divided into two groups due to their NAFLD condition (NAFLD positive or NAFLD negative). All enrolled participants were evaluated based on their clinical aspects, anthropometric measures, laboratory tests, and ultrasound features. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS software version 16 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, USA –version 16). A P-value less than 0.05 was considered as the significance level.ResultsA total of 1198 individuals were included in the study, of which 638 (53.3%) were male and the rest were female. The mean age of the participants was 46.89 ± 8.98 years. A total of 246 patients (20.53%) were NAFLD positive, of which 122 (49.59%) were in grade 1, 112 (45.52%) were in grade 2, and 12 (4.87%) were in grade 3. The prevalence of fatty liver was significantly higher in males than in females (p < 0.001). There were significant differences between NAFLD positive and NAFLD negative participants in terms of having a history of hypertension (P = 0.044), body mass index (P < 0.001), body fat percentage (P = 0.001), waist circumference (P < 0.001), liver craniocaudal length (P = 0.012), fasting blood sugar (FBS) (P = 0.047), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (P = 0.007), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (P = 0.001). Further analysis revealed a strong significant association between BMI, previous history of hypertension, higher levels of serum ALT, and NAFLD (P < 0.05).ConclusionIt can be concluded that ultrasound findings accompanied by laboratory AST and ALT level enzymes could be a cost-benefit approach for NAFLD early diagnosis. The craniocaudal size of the liver could be a beneficent marker for estimating the severity of the disease; however, more studies are recommended to evaluate this variable for future practice against the issue.

Evaluation of constraints for investment in NOx emission technologies: case study on Greek bulk carrier owners

PurposeThe maritime industry is the transport mode that contributes most to air pollution. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) identified the reduction of air pollution by ships as a crucial issue. Since 1 January 2020, ships have had to adopt strategies and new technologies to eliminate air pollution. However, ship compliance with nitrate oxide (NOx) emission restrictions is more challenging. This paper aims to identify shipowners' challenges in investing in new technologies.Design/methodology/approachThis paper applied a hybrid methodology combining a survey, a balanced scorecard and fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (F-AHP) to identify and evaluate constraints and weights in investment decision-making for NOx technologies. A survey was carried out to validate constraints.FindingsA survey was carried out, representing 5.1% of Greek-owned ships by deadweight capacity. The findings provide a weighted list of seven crucial technical and economic constraints faced by ship operators. The constraints vary from ship retrofit expenditure to crew training and waste management. Additionally, NOx emission technologies were compared. It was found that liquefied natural gas is the preferred investment option for the survey participants compared with selective catalytic reduction, exhaust gas recirculation and batteries.Originality/valueSeveral studies have dealt with the individual technical feasibility of NOx reduction technologies. However, apart from technical feasibility for a shipowner, the selection of a NOx technology has several managerial and safety risks. Therefore, the originality of this paper is to reveal those constraints that have a higher weight on shipowners. With this cost-benefit approach, investment challenges for ship operators are revealed. Policymakers can benefit from the results of the employed methodology.

Data Mining-driven Multiple Regression Analysis of Cultural Identity in International Students’ Perceptions of Chinese Culture

A multiple regression fitting analysis was conducted to investigate the level of cultural identification of 222 international students studying in China with respect to Chinese culture. The dependent variables are the Chinese Culture Integration Will (CCIW) and the Chinese Culture Integration Degree (CCID). A number of independent variables are taken into account, including gender, age, and religion. A cost-benefit approach is employed, with management convergence (MC) on the cost side, and the intention to work in China (IWC) on the benefit side. Based on data mining and regression model fitting, we use the software program of SPSS to compute the KMO of the questionnaire data, make factor analysis, and then utilize the econometrics software package to make stepwise ordinary least squares estimation. The results indicate that active involvement in school cultural clubs, as well as aspirations for employment within China, significantly influence students’ willingness to comprehend Chinese culture. In contrast, personal characteristics such as gender, age, and nationality appear to have a negligible impact. In order to significantly strengthen students’ cultural identities, they need to become proficient in Chinese language, interact more frequently with Chinese peers, participate in cultural activities at school, and develop effective assimilation strategies. The desire to work in China does not significantly contribute to the integration of cultures. It should be noted that the quality of instruction in courses related to Chinese culture as well as participation in extracurricular activities off-campus do not significantly enhance the level of cultural identification among students. By analyzing big data on international students in China, it is possible to gain insight into international student education and Sino-foreign exchanges.

ПОДХОДЫ К РАЗРАБОТКЕ, ДОВОДКЕ И РЕАЛИЗАЦИИ СТРАТЕГИИ ПО ПОВЫШЕНИЮ ДОХОДНОСТИ БИЗНЕСА

The article presents modern approaches to considering the concept of “business profitability”. The components of business profitability management strategy have been identified. Key business processes that directly and indirectly affect the company's profitability are specified. Basic approaches to managing business profitability have been identified, starting from the “value chain concept”, the Ansoff matrix and ending with the “cost benefit” approach. The economic indicators used in the cost benefit approach are clarified, as well as the stages of the process approach in managing business profitability.

A Cost-benefit Approach to Optimizing Security Control Adoption

A Cost-benefit Approach to Optimizing Security Control Adoption

Enabling the uptake of circular water solutions

Abstract This study advances the discourse on the transition from a linear to a circular water paradigm, within which water is reused and resources such as nutrients and energy can be recovered. The research provides an empirical evidence from demonstrative cases, identifying the technological, economic, socio-cultural, and regulatory factors that facilitate or impede the broader adoption of circular solutions in the water sector. It proposes an integrated system approach, which encompasses a comprehensive set of enabling instruments, including (a) the demonstration of the sustainability of circular water technologies at a system level, thereby providing a robust proof of concept; (b) a shift from a conventional financial cost-benefit approach to a business model predicated on circular value chains, underscoring the economic feasibility of these solutions; (c) the enhancement of social acceptance through active stakeholder engagement, thereby fostering a supportive community for these transformative changes; and (d) the adaptation of the regulatory framework to incentivise circular water solutions, such as the establishment of dedicated end-of-waste criteria to facilitate market access for recovered resources. The study concludes that a concerted effort is required to reconceptualise our water systems as circular systems, and to legitimise the role of circular water within our society and economy.

A Cost–Benefit Approach to Assess the Physical and Economic Feasibility of Sand Bypassing Systems

The artificial sand bypassing systems are coastal interventions designed to transfer sediments from areas of accretion to areas where erosion is observed. The goal of these systems is to reduce the littoral drift gradients where sediment transport is interrupted (vicinity of river mouths or port structures) and maintain a balanced sediment distribution along the shoreline. However, these systems present high initial investment costs as well as ongoing expenses for operation and maintenance. To assess the feasibility of sand bypassing systems in mitigating coastal erosion from a long-term perspective (decades), a comprehensive understanding of their performance is necessary, considering both physical and economic aspects. Thus, a cost–benefit assessment numerical tool, COAST, is applied to evaluate and discuss the effectiveness of bypassing systems during their life cycle. First, a comprehensive analysis is conducted for a generic study area, and then, the feasibility of the systems is discussed for two real study areas of the Portuguese West coast (Barra-Vagueira and Figueira da Foz-Leirosa). The generic results demonstrate as the importance of systems location or transposed flow volumes. On the other hand, the analysis of the two real case studies revealed that, under similar conditions, the results of the cost–benefit analysis can be contradictory. For the Barra-Vagueira stretch, the work indicates that the bypass system is not economically viable, whereas for Figueira da Foz-Leirosa, it is cost-effective. The study shows the importance of the site-specific conditions to evaluate the best option for a medium to long-term planned coast, highlighting the relevance of the proposed approach to assess the physical and economic feasibility of sand bypassing systems.

Cost-benefit analysis of migration in the context of environmental change in Ben Tre Province of Viet Nam

Changes in the natural environment and the socio-economic environment have had both direct and indirect impacts on agricultural production and farmer’s life in three coastal districts of Ben Tre Province of Viet Nam, including Binh Dai, Ba Tri, and Thanh Phu. Natural environment changes are drought, saline intrusion, and landslides while the socio-economic environment changes consist of agricultural market fluctuation, rising labor and agricultural input price, decreasing output price, diseases, etc. One of the solutions that households take to cope with these changes is migration. In this article, the authors examine factors that affected households’ migrating decisions and behaviors using cost-benefit approach. Two research methods used in this study are social surveys and in-depth interviews. The survey was conducted with 79 households that have migrants in 3 coastal districts. The research suggests that migrants themselves made the migration decision in most cases (85%). Three main reasons for migration among farmers in the area have been identified as (1) solving the immediate difficulties of the household, (2) being part of the family’s long-term plan, and (3) being the family’s livelihood strategy in the short term (solving difficulties) and long-term (transforming livelihoods). The costs that migrants and their families can face are direct costs (packing, travel costs, rental housing, etc.) and indirect costs (change in living environment and social relations, anxiety of family members, and social evils at the destination, etc.). The benefits of migration can be immediate benefits (economic and non-economic) as well as long-term effects that have a great impact on household life and the migrants themselves. The research finds that migration provided more benefits related to the living conditions of households. It also points out that migration has become a feasible long-term adaptation strategy for farmers, those who stayed behind, in the context of environmental change.

A cost-benefit approach of consumers’ intentions to participate in highly co-creative tourism activities during and after COVID-19: Evidence from wine tourism

From a provider perspective, co-creation has contributed to design more personalized, authentic and memorable destinations and experiences. However, the COVID-19 outbreak may have changed consumers' interest in high-contact and interactive activities, related to long-demonized behaviors (touching and close interplay). In a wine tourism context and based on a cost-benefit approach, the here proposed model explains consumers’ intentions to participate in high co-creation tourism activities (HCCTA) during and after the pandemic, contrasting perceived risks (costs) with expected enjoyment (benefit). Activity setting (indoor or outdoor) and two individual characteristics (age and fear of COVID-19) are analyzed as antecedents of physical risk perception. The “antecedents – costs-benefit – intentions” model was tested using PLS-SEM, with data extracted from scenario-based surveys (1299 responses) applied during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results show that perceived risks and expected enjoyment affect intentions to participate in HCCTA, while participation avoidance may be coming to an end with the alleviation of the pandemic. However, additional personal and external conditions may reinforce perceived risks. The study provides new insights regarding these dynamics for HCCTA, relevant to both theory and practice, particularly in times of health risk related to person-to-person interaction.

Understanding organic food consumption in the European Union: the interaction between health and environmental consumer's goals

PurposeBased on goal-directed behavior, this study explores the direct effects and the interaction between health and environmental concerns as the main drivers of organic food consumption. Consumer's economic problems are proposed as the main barrier for such behavior from a cost-benefit approach theoretically grounded on decision theory.Design/methodology/approachData were collected using the 26,669 European 95.1 wave participants of the Eurobarometer survey. Logistic regression estimates are used to analyze the hypotheses postulated.FindingsThe results indicated the significant association of both health and environmental concerns with organic food consumption, as well as the existence of an interactive effect between both consumer goals. As a novel finding, health concern weakens the influence of environmental concern on organic food consumption. Consumer's economic problems harms the expansion of organic food consumption as well as other socio-demographic factors included as control variables.Originality/valueFor the first time, this research explores the interaction effect between health and environmental concerns as antecedents of organic food consumption. The study argues that these consumer goals present differential features in terms of individual importance, feasibility, abstractness and outcome demonstrability, resulting in a prevalence of health over environmental goals for some consumers. The research provides not only novel insights for understanding organic food consumption but also provides additional evidence for practitioners to develop sales strategies and policymakers to formulate policies to guide the promotion of this so desired example of sustainable consumption.

Cost–benefit analysis of partnership working between fire and rescue and health services across England and Wales during the COVID-19 pandemic

ObjectivesFire and rescue services undertook a range of additional activities to support the National Health Service (NHS) in managing extreme service demand during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aims to...

Analisis Kelayakan Finansial Usaha Tani Lada Masyarakat Perkebunan di Kabupaten Kolaka

Abstract. Pepper farming has an important and strategic role in increasing the income of the pepper plantation community in East Kolaka Regency, however, smallholder pepper plantations are still characterized by various weaknesses such as relatively narrow farming land, conventionally cultivated with low productivity and quality, and a weak position in product marketing. This study aims to examine the financial feasibility and sensitivity of pepper farming in East Kolaka District, Southeast Sulawesi Province. The designated research location is Tirawuta District as a pepper production center in the pepper plantation community in East Kolaka Regency. Sampling was carried out purposively based on the age of the plants, ie 1 to 17 years old. The data were analyzed using a quantitative descriptive analysis method using a feasibility analysis through the Benefit-Cost approach in PAM and sensitivity analysis. The results showed that financially, the pepper farming of plantation communities in East Kolaka Regency was feasible and profitable as evidenced by a B/C value of 1.10 and an NPV value of IDR 48,429,250.00.-. The results of the sensitivity analysis with the scenario if inorganic fertilizers are not subsidized by the government show a decrease in farmers' profits by 17,4 %, but smallholder pepper farming is still feasible to cultivate

Use the Cost-Benefit Approach to Achieve Competitiveness of Renewable Energy in Order To Achieve Sustainable Development and Vision 2030

Use the Cost-Benefit Approach to Achieve Competitiveness of Renewable Energy in Order To Achieve Sustainable Development and Vision 2030

A Balanced Prescription for More Effective Environmental Regulations

Government agencies increasingly base the structure and approval of environmental regulations on a benefit-cost test. For regulations that pass this test, total benefits exceed total costs. Under a benefit-cost framework, the degree of regulatory stringency is set at an economically efficient level whereby the tightness of the regulation is increased up to the point where the incremental benefits equal the incremental costs. Setting regulatory standards to achieve the efficient degree of pollution control does not fully discourage entry into polluting industries, provide compensation to those harmed by pollution, or establish meaningful incentives for effective enforcement. This article proposes that the benefit-cost approach be retained as the guiding principle for regulatory policy, but that sanctions for regulatory violations be greatly enhanced. A different, more ambitious proposal by Elliott and Esty advocates pollution control to the lowest level that is technologically feasible, coupled with compensation for those injured by pollution. The unbounded regulatory framework advocated by Elliott and Esty sets aside benefit-cost balancing, generating the prospect of inordinate costs with few environmental dividends from the highest levels of stringency. Their more promising proposal is to establish a compensation system for environmental harms. Compensation for those harmed by pollution has some parallels with successful workers’ compensation programs, but to be successful it must address challenges not faced in the employment context. More stringent regulation of long-term risks may be more welfare-enhancing for future generations than their proposed environmental damages compensation fund. Protection may yield greater dividends for more affluent future generations than compensation.

The biotic and abiotic drivers of timing of breeding and the consequences of breeding early in a changing world

Abstract The decision of when to breed is an important determinant of individual fitness. However, despite a multitude of studies investigating the intraspecific relationship between timing of breeding and reproductive performance, less is known about why the strength of this relationship varies between species. Furthermore, environmental change has the potential to alter the relationship between lay date and fitness, but there is still a limited understanding of what mechanisms drive these differential responses to change environmental conditions. We propose that the potential effects of environmental change on the relationship between timing of breeding and fitness are dependent on 2 primary factors: (1) the potential constraints imposed by breeding early and (2) the drivers of higher fitness of early breeders. We first summarize multiple hypotheses proposed to explain why breeding early, either based on absolute date or relative to conspecifics, increases fitness. We then summarize the factors that may constrain when individuals initiate breeding, including limits on the ability to advance their lay date or extend the length of their breeding season under favorable conditions. Understanding constraints on the timing of breeding allows for the identification of obligate (single-brooded species that do not attempt to breed after a specific date) and facultative (predominantly multi-brooding species that have long breeding seasons) early breeding species that are likely differently affected by climate change. Finally, we propose a simple mathematical formula that incorporates the costs and benefits associated with early breeding to quantify how climate change could influence the benefits of early breeding and either mitigate or exacerbate the costs. Our cost-benefit approach provides a clear framework to predict how species may shift the timing of their breeding to maximize fitness in a changing world.

Successful nest defence of Eurasian reed warblers Acrocephalus scirpaceus against the little bittern Ixobrychus minutus

The cost–benefit approach to nest defence behaviour is based on an assumption that parents are able to distract potential predators away from their nest. However, this assumption has received little support from direct observations as predator-prey encounters near nests are rarely recorded, especially in small passerines. Here, we describe two observations of little bitterns appearing near nests of Eurasian reed warblers containing nestlings and eggs, respectively. In both cases parental birds showed anti-predatory behaviour, which was much more vigorous at the nestling stage than at the egg stage. During both observations, the heron finally flew away and did not attack the nest content, indicating that nest defence behaviour of small passerines may be effective.

Sandy beach bioindicators: How each benthic taxon tells its own story

The use of biological indicators is one of the main strategies for monitoring anthropogenic impacts on sandy beaches. However, most studies performed so far have focused only on a few groups, mostly supralittoral and intertidal taxa, and did not consider how the environmental variability influences the performance of bioindicators, nor if these organisms can act as proxies of biodiversity or assemblage-level responses. The goal of this study was to evaluate the performance of several popular and under-evaluated sandy beach bioindicators from distinct groups to act as indicators of urbanization impacts, but controlling for and disentangling the effects of natural variability. We sampled a large set of sandy beach sites (n = 90) with distinct morphodynamic conditions and urbanization degrees to encompass a wide variability of natural and anthropogenic conditions. Almost all taxa affected by urbanization were also affected by morphodynamics. Natural variability explained a higher variance than urbanization in most cases, including for species such as the ghost crab O. quadrata and the polychaete Scolelepis spp. Although rarely included in environmental impact assessments, species inhabiting the sandy beach lower zones, such as polychaetes, showed good prospective as bioindicators. The potential of species to act as biodiversity surrogates was limited, and only the polychaete Scoloplos treadwelli was associated with a higher local diversity, an important measure of ecosystem ecological integrity. Overall, our results show that the use of bioindicators may provide a good cost-benefit approach in beach monitoring; however, management should consider beach morphodynamic type as individual units when choosing the adequate bioindicator. When the scale of management comprises multiple beaches with distinct morphodynamic characteristics, different bioindicators should be used to untangle the effects of beach type and anthropogenic activities. To expand the array of suitable bioindicators, our results indicate that sublittoral taxa should be better evaluated. The potential of benthic bioindicators to act as biodiversity surrogates was limited, and alternatives, such as biotic indices, may be more appropriate to uncover effects at the assemblage-level.

Using the Cost-Benefit Approach in HR Consulting For small businesses to improve the working environment

Using the Cost-Benefit Approach in HR Consulting For small businesses to improve the working environment

A win or a flop? Measuring mass protest successfulness in authoritarian settings

Previously rare events, mass protest movements have become popular vehicles for those seeking political, economic, and social change. How do we evaluate movement success? Most studies addressing movement outcomes are grounded in the goal attainment approach, where movement success is dependent upon fulfilling one’s stated demands. The models derived from this approach heavily rely on visibility and transparency in the policymaking process. These offer limited analytical utility for scholars studying movements in authoritarian states, where policymaking is shrouded and media is state-controlled. Evaluating movements solely on their fulfillment of mission goals is highly problematic, as movements produce more outcomes than their intended goals. Movements also produce unintended benefits: concessions unrelated to the movement’s mission. These include negative consequences, or societal costs. Since movements produce both positive and negative unintended outcomes, any evaluation of a movement should also incorporate the costs associated with new gains. I argue a cost–benefit approach improves scholarly conceptualization and measurement of protest success. I conceptualize protest success as multidimensional and comprised of protest gains and societal costs. I develop a 21-point scale of protest success using Mokken Scale Analysis. AISP diagnostics indicate gains and costs comprise separate subscales, which are collapsed to produce total sum scores. I score 34 nonviolent movements in authoritarian states between 2002 and 2013 on an additive scale. Protests in authoritarian settings attain considerable accomplishments; however, those gains come with significant cost. Most total success scores are negative, indicating considerable backlash is common during and immediately after the demobilization of movements in authoritarian states. Success scores improve upon the canonical binary measure by: (1) offering improved discrimination between movements, (2) identifying cases of regime ‘ignoring’, and (3) pinpointing misclassified cases. By incorporating negative consequences into our evaluations, we advance our understanding why movements deemed successful by scholars are disappointments to their home publics.