An environmental life cycle optimization model for the European pulp and paper industry

Will paper recycling reduce the environmental impact of the European pulp and paper sector? If so, is maximal paper recycling the best policy to optimize the life cycle of the pulp and paper sector? We explore these questions using an approach that combines materials accounting methods and optimization techniques. Environmental impact data are inputs for a linear programming network flow model to find optimal configurations for the sector. These configurations consist of a mix of different pulping technologies, a geographical distribution of pulp and paper production, and a level of recycling consistent with the lowest environmental impacts. We use the model to analyse scenarios with different recycling strategies. Recycling offers a reduction in environmental impact in regions with a high population and a large production of paper and board products. Regions with a large production of graphic products should focus on cleaner virgin pulp production with energy recovery. We conclude that relocation of paper production also offers a reduction in environmental impact. However, the severe effects on the economy make this policy less attractive than a combination of recycling, cleaner pulp production and energy recovery.     

主要排放部门的减排责任分担研究:基于全局成本有效的分析

运用中国能源与环境政策分析模型(CEEPA),从经济全局成本有效的角度,分析了一定减排约束下中国主要排放部门宜分担的减排责任及其减排行为。研究发现,基于排放量进行减排责任部门分担是有助于整体成本的,但对煤炭和运输仓储部门宜做出调整;随着减排目标的增加,应增添运输仓储部门的减排配额比例,减少煤炭部门的减排配额比例;短期内不宜对各部门尤其是煤炭部门设置较高的减排目标。     

实施建筑节能标准的宏观经济和环境影响测算模型研究

本文首先对实施建筑节能标准的主要经济和环境影响方面进行系统分析,然后对投入产出局部闭模型进行了改进,并结合数量经济和静态比较的方法,创建了实施建筑节能标准的宏观经济和环境影响测算模型。该模型可以从6个主要方面详细测算实施建筑节能标准对各个产业部门的直接经济影响、直接环境影响、完全经济影响和对GDP的总影响。模型测算结果表明,建筑节能的节能和减排效果显著,同时对GDP有小幅的拉动作用,随着建筑节能标准实施率的增加,它对GDP的拉动强度呈先增后减的趋势。最后根据对测算结果的分析,提出推广实施建筑节能标准的具体方法建议。     

Corporate Social Responsibility through Cross‐sector Partnerships: Implications for Civil Society,the State,and the Corporate Sector in India

Corporations are increasingly forced to widen their agendas to include social and environmental concerns, or corporate social responsibility (CSR). This development has been recorded in the current academic debate, and the views regarding its implications for business, the state, and civil society diverge. However, there is agreement within the CSR and corporate governance literatures that there is a lack of thorough empirical studies of these effects. Based on a case study of the multinational wind energy company Suzlon Energy's CSR projects in rural India, this article contends that CSR projects implemented through cross‐sector partnerships can help to build the capacities of civil society organizations (CSOs). Although the risk of corporate steering of the civil society agenda is reduced when CSR prioritizes community needs over business imperatives, CSOs tend to bear the highest costs in partnerships, through credibility losses and insecurity concerning project terms and funding, reinforcing the importance of critical cooperation and complementary core competencies in cross‐sector partnerships. The results have implications for the strategies of corporations, CSOs, and governments as well as for the planning of national and international development aid.     

Does a combined strategy outperform independent policies? Impact of incentive policies on renewable power generation

Incentives for renewable energy based on feed-in-tariffs (FITs) and the renewable portfolio standard (RPS) have succeeded in reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the power generation sector. Although numerous countries have adopted a strategy combining both approaches, few studies compare its performance with either the individual FITs or RPS approach. To evaluate the effects of these three policy instruments, this study takes market transactions into account, such as net transfers to the renewable and non-renewable sectors, RPS allocation, and renewable certificate/credit (RECs) exchange. It proposes central planning, bi-level regulation, and regulation under screening as the three market structure scenarios to construct its cases and includes social welfare in the incentive performance index. Further, this study extends to cases of asymmetric information by means of optimal control to reflect market reality for comparison. The numerical examples and counterfactual analyses reach the following conclusions. First, a combined incentive policy performs best when renewable power is in its early stage of development. Second, an integrated incentive policy may neutralize the drastic volatility of FITs or the RPS. Third, the RPS is a favorable approach when the levelized cost of renewable energy is lower than that of non-renewable, while FITs do well when the costs of renewable and non-renewable energy differ slightly. The key policy implication is that along with the reduction in renewable energy generation costs, an RPS and RECs exchange mechanism or combined strategy might be adopted for social welfare benefits, the benefit of the power plants or the TSOs, respectively.     

The pros and cons of drug testing in the business sector

The public policy issues of whether society should permit the business sector to test for the presence of illegal drug use by the employees is one in which seemingly convincing arguments can be advanced to support self-policing in this area as well as equally cogent arguments erected against the concept of empowering the corporate sector, to investigate the presumably enact sanctions against employee illegal drug usage.In this paper the authors will attempt to explore the controversy from several different scholarly perspectives, analyzing the most important arguments both for and against permitting the corporate sector to engage in employee drug testing. In criticizing each argument we will attempt to explicate the salient public policy implications, business effects and unique ethical issues that will have profound ramifications upon the larger society. In addition, we will analyze the current legal status of this controversy, citing the applicable controlling cases at the Federal level. Finally, the authors will give their policy recommendations based upon their analysis of the discussion in this paper.The authors believe it would be most advantageous to facilitate this discussion by first considering the arguments for permitting the corporate sector to engage in drug-testing employees for illegal substances, and then consider the arguments against permitting corporate drug-testing.     

电力消耗、经济增长与CO2排放量的实证分析——基于中国面板数据

本文运用计量经济学方法,如协整检验和格兰杰因果关系检验、脉冲响应函数等,深入研究了中国在1990-2013期间电力消耗、经济增长与二氧化碳排放量之间的关系。研究结果表明,电力消耗、经济增长与二氧化碳排放量之间存在协整关系,即长期均衡关系;经济增长与电力消耗之间存在双向的格兰杰因果关系,但不存在电力消耗与二氧化碳排放量,经济增长与二氧化碳排放量之间的格兰杰因果关系。与此同时,VAR模型估计结果显示,滞后一期的电力消耗对当期经济增长和二氧化碳排放量产生正向的作用,滞后一期的电力消耗促进当期的电力消耗,同时也促进当期经济增长和CO₂排放量增加;经济增长的滞后期对当期电力消耗和二氧化碳排放量产生负向的作用,而二氧化碳排放量的滞后期对当期经济增长没有显著影响。基于此,实证分析结果表明经济增长在短期内会造成二氧化碳排放量的增加,但正如环境库兹涅茨曲线描述的结论一样,从长期来看,经济增长促进了技术的进步和能源效率的提高,进而导致二氧化碳排放量的减少。该发现对于中国发展低碳经济和电力部门能源政策的制定都将有着重要现实意义。     

多市场协同下的可再生能源电力竞价策略研究

为了实现电力行业低碳转型，我国正逐步建立和完善全国碳配额与交易市场和绿色电力证书市场。如何设计和协调市场政策目标以推动可再生能源电力平价上网是我国电力系统绿色低碳化转型的关键。本文构建了多市场协同下的电力企业竞价模型，研究碳市场、绿证市场与电力市场的价格形成和市场之间的价格传导路径，分析多市场协同作用下电力企业竞价策略的差异。研究结果表明：多市场协同对减少碳排放和促进可再生能源发展有显著效果，收紧碳配额供应和提高绿证配额的市场协同机制能够为可再生能源发电企业创造新的利润增长点，增加传统能源发电成本，缩小可再生能源电力和传统能源电力的价格差异。本文揭示了多个市场之间内在的协同机理，有助于政策制定者充分考虑到市场间的协同关系，从而制定更加高效的减排和可再生能源发展政策。     

The corporate energy policy: A management planning perspective

The energy problems facing the world have been receiving increasing attention in the press and in business journals. This article examines the attitudes of 224 U.S. business executives toward the energy crisis and examines the role of a corporate energy policy in minimizing the economic impact of future energy price increases and/or shortages. A plan for a corporate energy policy is proposed.     

我国可耗竭能源资源最优开采模型研究

可耗竭能源资源是我国经济社会可持续发展和国家安全的重要保障。综合考虑资源储量、技术进步、资源价格、开发成本、市场结构、政策等不确定性因素,以最终产品生产部门和资源供给部门收益最大化以及消费者效用最大化为目标,构建了考虑各部门同时最优的一体化模型,求解出稳态下可耗竭和可再生能源资源价格和产量的增长率,进行了数值模拟和敏感性分析。结果表明：技术进步是影响可耗竭和可再生能源资源价格和产量增长率变化的关键因素;最终产品生产部门规模报酬和跨期替代弹性影响可耗竭和可再生能源资源产量增长率;最终产品生产部门规模报酬不变,则可耗竭和可再生能源资源产量均无增长。据此,提出政策建议为：规范我国可耗竭能源资源价格和开采路径,应突破可耗竭能源资源勘探和开采技术;为实现节能目标,应提高我国最终产品生产部门的规模报酬;未来一段时间内,可耗竭能源资源价格会继续下跌,政府应提前做好战略部署,合理配置能源资源,推进企业转型升级速度。     

Learning in Public Sector Organizations: A Theory of Action Approach

The importance of learning has since long been acknowledged for both business and public sector organizations. However, learning theory and research have tended to neglect the differences between these organizations, and to develop in separate and unrelated directions. To address these developments, this paper purports, first, to develop a theoretical framework that integrates various concepts from the fields of public policy learning and organizational learning, and that is specifically directed at public sector organizations. Second, the paper purports to illustrate the utility of this framework by applying it to policy-making in a Dutch municipality, the Pegasustown prostitution case.     

能源补贴改革对资源效率和环境污染治理影响研究——基于动态CGE模型的分析

本文构建动态CGE模型,以化石和可再生能源补贴政策为对象,模拟不同类型能源补贴政策改革对经济发展、资源效率、碳排放及雾霾治理的差异性影响。研究表明：总体而言,能源补贴政策对宏观经济具有积极的促进作用,但在一定程度上会提高能源消费强度;不同类型的能源补贴政策方案影响的差异性较大,化石能源在促进经济增长的同时,对环境改善和碳排放目标实现产生不利影响,特别是煤炭补贴能有效降低能源使用成本,极大促进产业总产出和经济增长,但会不利于环境改善,对可再生能源补贴有利于能源利用效率提高和人均资源盈余改善,降低污染物和雾霾排放增速;因此,必须注重不同类型能源补贴政策协调性和差异性,短期内以化石能源补贴为主,长期而言,应逐步加大可再生能源补贴,更加有利于低碳转型和环境改善。     

信贷扭曲下系统性风险形成和“双支柱”政策协调问题研究——基于异质性企业的视角

我国国有企业和私营企业在信贷获取和生产效率上的差异性会扭曲信贷资源配置,进而抬高宏观杠杆率,增加系统性风险。本文基于抵押约束机制构建了包含异质性企业的动态随机一般均衡模型,从理论上分析了由企业信贷扭曲引起的系统性风险形成机制,并探讨了货币政策和宏观审慎政策"双支柱"调控的协调问题。研究发现：在异质性企业环境下,宏观审慎政策通过减缓信贷市场顺周期行为,抑制信贷规模过度膨胀,起到降低宏观杠杆率、防范系统性风险的作用,并显著改善社会福利损失,为货币政策制定创造更多空间;货币政策与宏观审慎政策"双支柱"的调控框架仅减缓了抵押约束机制对经济周期的放大效应,未解决异质性企业对经济结构的扭曲问题。因此,深化供给侧结构性改革,提高国有企业市场竞争力和自负盈亏能力,充分发挥市场对资源的配置作用,是建立"去杠杆"长效机制、提高金融韧性以形成能够内生消化风险的市场环境的关键所在。     

我国R&D强度的影响因素——基于局部调整模型的实证检验

采用1991～2007年时间序列数据实证研究了影响我国R&D强度的因素。首先从理论上分析了影响R&D强度的5个因素:企业因素、政策因素、公共R&D部门、投资因素、经济因素;根据数据的可获得性设计了企业R&D经费投入强度、企业R&D人员投入强度、行业结构、政府直接R&D补贴、知识产权保护、公共研发部门R&D支出的力度、固定资产投资、人力资本投资、人均GDP、GDP增长率、外贸依存度、外商直接投资12个变量。以局部调整模型为基础设计了实证模型,通过分析实证结果,发现企业R&D经费投入强度、行业结构、知识产权保护和固定资产投资等因素对R&D强度具有显著的正向影响。     

The Origin and Role of Trust in Local Policy Elites’ Perceptions of High‐Voltage Power Line Installations in the State of Arkansas

The debate over an installation of high‐voltage power lines (HVPLs) has been intense, particularly in northwest Arkansas. Detractors claim that the installation will negatively affect both the natural environment and the local economy, which contains a large tourism component. By contrast, those in favor of installing HVPLs claim that the installation is necessary in order to reliably support the increasing demand for electric power. Using original data collected from a recent statewide Internet survey of 420 local policy elites in Arkansas, this article focuses on two key aspects. First, we examine how local policy elites’ perceptions of risks versus benefits of HVPL installation in their communities are influenced by their levels of trust toward information provided by various sources (e.g., energy industry, environmental groups, and government). Second, we utilize cultural theory to explain how the cultural worldviews of policy elites––specifically, egalitarianism, individualism, hierarchism, and fatalism––shape these levels of trust and HVPL benefit‐risk perceptions, while controlling for other factors claimed by previous literature, including levels of knowledge on energy‐related issues and demographic characteristics. In general, our analysis indicates that policy elites’ value‐oriented formation of HVPL benefit‐risk perceptions is partially due to the influence cultural values have on trust in information sources. We conclude this article by discussing broader implications for the origin and role of trust in policy elites’ decisions throughout the policy‐making process.     

Re-distributed manufacturing and the food-water-energy nexus: opportunities and challenges

Abstract

Addressing the intersection of two important emerging research areas, re-distributed manufacturing (RDM) and the food-energy-water (FEW) nexus, this work combines insights from engineering, business and policy perspectives and explores opportunities and challenges towards a more localized and sustainable food system. Analysis centred on two specific food products, namely bread and tomato paste reveals that the feasibility and potential of RDM vary with the type of food product and the supply chain (SC) components. Physically, energy efficiency, water consumption and reduction of waste and carbon footprint may be affected by scale and location of production activities and potentials of industrial symbiosis. From the business perspective, novel products, new markets and new business models are expected in order for food RDM to penetrate within the established food industry. Studies on policies, through the lens of public procurement, call for solid evidence of envisioned environmental, social and economic benefits of a more localized food system. An initial integrated framework is proposed for understanding and assessing food RDM and the FEW nexus.     

The Role of Organizational Identities for Policy Integration Processes – Managing Sustainable Transport Development

Sustainable transport development is a complex, but necessary issue to manage if the use of fossil energy will decrease and transportation become more energy-efficient and environmental friendly. The contemporary public organization is organized into policy sectors and tiers of government, but the issue of sustainability is not confined to one single sector or level, it transcends all these traditional boundaries. To address this complexity policy integration has been suggested as a way for public organizations to open up the sectoral and vertical boundaries in policymaking. This paper discusses a case study of a political committee on the regional level in Sweden, which has been formed for integrated policymaking between sectors and local and regional authorities to manage sustainable transport development. The analysis of the case shows that vertical and sectoral integration are dependent processes and that the relation between different organizational identities either strengthens or undermine them. Vertical integration is not resulting in sectoral integration, rather it works prohibiting against sectoral integration.     

Exploring Strategic Positioning in the UK Charitable Sector: Emerging Evidence from Charitable Organizations that Provide Public Services

The UK voluntary sector operates in an arguably enabling policy context. Yet, other external environmental influences have posed major challenges for charitable organizations within the wider voluntary sector. This paper aims to rectify the current lack of empirical research on how charitable organizations have responded in terms of their strategic positioning to the changing external operating environment and policy context. It both explores the positioning strategies adopted by two contrasting British charities that deliver public services in different ways, and investigates the factors that have influenced their choice of positioning strategies. The cases studied extend our knowledge of strategic positioning in organizations other than commercial (for-profit) ones. The findings provide new evidence that charities have begun to strategically position themselves in response to both internal organizational factors and external environmental influences. Emerging lessons from the experiences of the case study organizations provide guidance to charity managers in planning and implementing strategic positioning in their organizations. The findings also underscore the need to develop theoretical and conceptual management models specific to non-profit organizations, such as charities.     

Valuing corporate environmental performance: Innovest's evaluation of the electric utilities industry

Investment analysts are often skeptical of any link between a company's environmental performance and business performance. However, a study of twenty-six electric utilities by Innovest shows a striking difference in share value between the best and worst environmental performers. Deregulations of the U.S. electric power industry has little noticed implications for environmental performance and risk. Add to that increasing regulatory pressure and public awareness, and environmental strategy emerges as a pivotal factor underlying success—or failure—in the industry. In the article, the authors show how forward-thinking companies are turning environmental threats into business opportunities, with shareholders pocketing the returns.     

Environmental leadership in business education: Where's the innovation and how should we support it?

General managers have the power to shape environmental performance through the strategic decisions they make about products, markets and investments. Yet, often times managers fail to fully recognize the link between improved environmental performance and business performance. Over the past ten years, many business schools have added environmental content to their classes and research to help future business leaders recognize and act on these links. Ironically, although business leaders articulate ambitious environmental goals, corporate recruiting demands have not kept pace with the growing supply of these graduates. The following recap of the World Resources Institute's recent study, Grey Pinstripes with Green Ties: MBA Programs Where the Environment Matters, helps identify information barriers firms encounter in seeking new managers with a combination of business training and technical competence.