Applied Environmental Economics: A GIS Approach to Cost-Benefit Analysis / Edition 1

by Ian J. Bateman, Andrew A. Lovett, Julii S. Brainard

Overview

The complex real-world interactions between the economy and the environment form both the focus of and main barrier to applied research within the field of environmental economics. However, geographical information systems (GIS) allow economists to tackle such complexity head on by directly incorporating diverse datasets into applied research rather than resorting to simplifying and often unrealistic assumptions. This innovative book applies GIS techniques to spatial cost-benefit analysis of a complex and topical land use change problem—the conversion of agricultural land to multipurpose woodland—looking in detail at issues such as opportunity costs, timber yield, recreation, carbon storage, etc.,

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521671583
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	06/16/2005
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	358
Product dimensions:	6.89(w) x 9.72(h) x 1.10(d)

About the Author

Ian J. Bateman is Professor of Environmental Economics, University of East Anglia and Senior Research Fellow at CSERGE and CEBARD.

Andrew A. Lovett is Senior Lecturer at the School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia.

Julii S. Brainard is Senior Researcher at the Centre for Social and Economic Research on the Global Environment (CSERGE), University of East Anglia.

Table of Contents

Foreword David W. Pearce; 1. Introduction; 2. Recreation: valuation methods; 3. Recreation: predicting values; 4. Recreation: predicting visits; 5. Timber valuation; 6. Modelling and mapping timber yield and its value; 7. Modelling and valuing carbon sequestration in trees, timber products and forest soils; 8. Modelling opportunity cost: agricultural output values; 9. Cost benefit analysis using GIS; 10. Conclusions and future directions.

Editorial Reviews

'A fine example here of economic valuation being put to an imaginative and unique use by some of the most exciting practitioners of the art of economic valuation.' David W. Pearce, from the Foreword

'Researchers in the field of land use and economic valuation will find this study a source of information and inspiration.' Netherlands Economic Review

'This book succeeds in providing a detailed example of the contribution of GIS techniques to cost-benefit analysis and it describes an application of environmental economic analysis to real-world decision making.' Environment and Planning A

From the Publisher