1 1. what is natural resource economics & why is it important? agec 3503 spring 2006 larry d....
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1. WHAT IS NATURAL RESOURCE
ECONOMICS & WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?
AGEC 3503 SPRING 2006
Larry D. Sanders
Dept. of Ag Economics Oklahoma State University
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INTRODUCTION Purpose:
– to understand the concept of natural resource economics and its relevance
Learning Objectives:1. Introduce the course & how it is to be administered
2. Define key terms.
3. Understand the purpose of studying environmental & natural resource economics.
4. Understand the classification of resources.
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INTRODUCTION
Natural Resource Economics Syllabus– Purpose– Evaluation– Schedule
Importance of Student Activity
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Instructor/Philosophy
Personal/Professional Background Teaching Philosophy Student Info
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“Anxiety Test”
“The ultimate test of a set of economic ideas. . . is whether it illuminates the anxieties of the time. Does it explain problems that people find urgent? Does it bear on the current criticism of economic performance? . . . Does it bear upon the issues of political debate? For these, though many have always preferred to believe otherwise, do not ignite spontaneously or emerge maliciously from the mouths of agitators to afflict the comfortable.”--John Kenneth Galbraith, Economics & the Public Purpose,
1973 [bold italics added by instructor]
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Where to get more information
Syllabus Sources
– Hackett– ERS-USDA AH722– Handouts– Supplementary Readings– Govt. Documents--Library – Congress, Legislature, St/Fed Agencies– Electronic sources (note biased vs. objective sources)– “Experts”
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Team Exercise
1. Instructor assigns teams
2. Each team identify top 3 natural resource/environmental issues in 5 years
3. Be prepared to briefly explain each issue
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Key Terms
Natural Resources– Specific attributes of the environment that are valued or
have proven useful to humans [or have the potential to do so]* --G. Johnston
– Aspects of nature that can be used by humans to satisfy human wants--Hite & Mulkey
– key to human use: technology, time, accessibility, appli-cation, perception; conflicts often related to culture
Economics– the study of the production, processing, distribution,
consumption of goods/services in an exchange system
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Key Terms (cont)
Natural Resource Economics– application of economics to manage naturally occurring
resources for human needs/wants with efficiency as the primary goal
– efficiency may be defined in market or nonmarket terms, focused on the short or long run, relative to current or future generations, local or global in scope
– decision choices include maintaining the status quo, altering the status quo, or doing nothing with focus on relevant institutions
– evaluation always includes the costs & benefits of a decision & to whom those costs & benefits accrue
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Key Terms (cont)
Environmental Economics vs. Natural Resources Economics (Hackett)– Environmental Economics: economic basis for pollution
problems & policy alternatives– Natural Resources Economics: problems of managing
common-pool* natural resources, determining optimal rates of extraction, & understanding resource markets
– *common-pool natural resources: difficult to exclude access, but once extracted is no longer available to others (groundwater, rivers, fisheries, public forests)
Scarcity, Opportunity cost, economic rationality
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Special: Break for cartoon!
Sometimes some folks go to extremes to get our attention!
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Why Study Natural Resource Economics?
Natural Sciences lack commonly accepted decision process
Economics may “assume” the problem away Irreversibility Market failure Joint importance of economic and ecological systems Physical-Natural-Economic System Links
– Improves efficient functioning of system
– Improves understanding about the world we live in
Summary: Improved management of natural resources, whether for private, public or natural gain
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Classification of Natural Resources
NATURAL RESOURCES
FLOW RESOURCES
FUND RESOURCES
NONSTORABLE RESOURCES
(ENVIRONMENTALRESOURCES)
STORABLE RESOURCES
RENEWABLE RESOURCES
NONRENEWABLE RESOURCES
NONRECYCLABLE RESOURCES
RECYCLABLE RESOURCES
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Classification of Resources (continued)
1. Flow Resources (nondepletable)
a. Nonstorable (sometimes called “environmental resources”)
»Often indivisible
»Inexhaustible (in human span of time)
»Time & management relevant only to consumption, not supply
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Nonstorable Flow Resources
Sunshine
“Weather”
Ocean Waves
Ecosystems
ScenicViews
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Classification of Resources (cont)
1. Flow Resources (cont)
b. Storable (by nature, as in living matter; by humans with technology)
» May be divisible
» Time & management relevant to both to consumption & supply
» The services are what are significant for humans
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Storable Flow Resources
Solar
Wind
Wave Energy
Geothermal Energy
Hydrogen Energy WaterHydroPower
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Classification (cont.)
2. Fund Resources (stock or depletable resources)
a. Exhaustible & Renewable
»Regenerative within human use time frame
»Assumes use within minimum & maximum thresholds
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Exhaustible & Renewable Fund Resources
Timber & Crops
Animals(human & nonhuman
Fish
GrazingLands
Soil & Water Quality
Forests & someUnique ecosystems
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Classification (cont.)
2.Fund Resources (cont)
b. Exhaustible & Nonrenewable
»Relatively fixed stocks/fund within human use time frame
(1) Nonrecyclable--Examples: fossil-fuel energy resources (oil,
natural gas, coal, peat, many “renewable” resources when thresholds violated)
(2) Recyclable--Examples: some minerals (iron, aluminum, gold, silver)
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Natural Resource Examples
FLOW RESOURCES FUND RESOURCE NONSTORABLE STORABLE RENEWABLE NONRENEWABLE
nonrecyc. recyclable
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
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Framing Natural Resource Issues
Quantity & Quality of: Land, Water, Air, Energy Public vs. Private Management Question Trend of Magnitude of Problem:
– Persistent, Chronic, Cyclical, Declining, Growing? Irreversibility Geographic scope Whose problem & who decides (ethics)? Property rights Time (short vs. long run; current vs. future
generations)
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Optimism vs. Concern for Environment & Natural Resources
Concerns– Global warming & climate impacts– Over-population & biodiversity– Soil/water quality/Mineral/energy cost/availability– Pollution/resource shortage impacts on social &
political institutions Optimism
– Legislative progress– Toxic release rates down– US competitiveness
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References for Lesson 1
Hackett text
Hite, J.C., & W. D. Mulkey. Natural Resource Economics : An Introductory Textbook, draft unpublished text.
Johnston, G.M., D. Freshwater & P. Favero (editors). Natural Resource and Environmental Policy Analysis: Cases in Applied Economics, Westview Press, Boulder, 1988.
Kahn, J.R. The Economic Approach to Environmental and Natural Resources, second edition, 1998.
Sanders, various notes
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L1: Homework
Read Ch. 1, Hackett (10-12 Jan) Do Problem #1, p. 16 (12 Jan) –5 points Refer to “Internet Links” (12 Jan) –5 points
– Select 2 links– Briefly review, including
» Content
» Bias or objectivity
» Likely use of material