Caterina De Lucia

On the Regulation of Spatial Externalities: Coexistence Between GM and Conventional Crops in the EU and the Newcomer Principle

Pollen-mediated gene flow is one of the main concerns associated with the introduction of genetically modified (GM) crops. Should a premium for non-GM varieties emerge on the market, ‘contamination’ by GM pollen would generate a revenue loss for growers of non-GM varieties. This paper analyses the problem of pollen-mediated gene flow as a particular type of production externality. The model, although simple, provides useful insights into coexistence policies. Following on from this and taking GM herbicide-tolerant oilseed rape (Brassica napus) as a model crop, a Monte Carlo simulation is used to generate data and then estimate the effect of several important policy variables (including width of buffer zones and spatial aggregation) on the magnitude of the externality associated with pollen-mediated gene flow.

The Effect of Agricultural and Energy Prices on Biomass Production: The Case of Triticale in the OECD Area

Through the use of the econometric technique of panel data, this work mainly investigates the relationships between agricultural and energy prices and the land use for triticale, which is nowadays seen as one of the most important biomass crops. This is done with the aim of assessing the land use implications potentially associated to the existence of policies implementing forms of incentive for renewable energy production. The analysis is developed while considering 22 selected OECD countries observed over a period of 17 years, between 1995 and 2011. The analysis results suggest that the estimated functional shape of the land use for triticale mainly depends upon variations in the yield, producer and electricity prices. The policy implications, which might be derived from these findings, highlight how farmers would not be willing to substantially increase the area devoted to triticale unless the adoption of some forms of economic incentives to enhance bio-energy production is taken into consideration.

Environmental Taxation in an Enlarged Europe: A Regional Perspective

Questo articolo esamina gli effetti di determinate misure di policy per anticipare e prevenire un aumento di inquinamento attraverso l’introduzione di una tassa, armonizzata a livello Comunitario, sull’NOx ed SO2. Con l’uso di un modello CGE, questo studio esamina gli effetti che vari livelli di tassazione ambientale comportano sulle industrie dei paesi studiati. I nostri risultati suggeriscono implicazioni di welfare diverse tra politiche ambientali e commerciali. Il caso di studio considera inoltre i possibili effetti a livello regionale (Puglia) delle medesime politiche. Una diminuzione della produzione e dell’occupazione nel contesto nazionale aggraverebbero ulteriormente l’industria pugliese.

Chapter 6:Modelling Stakeholders’ Interplay and Policy Scenarios for Biorefinery Implementation

This chapter is structured in two parts dealing with the very same problem – that is, assessing and modelling stakeholder interplay and policy scenarios forthe development of biorefineries and biodiesel production. They target, however, the problem from two distinct perspectives: micro and macro. nThe first part of the chapter presents the micro-economic perspective, assessing the methodological approach for policy modelling and policy evaluation. This investigation builds on the multi-level approach (MLA) for the study of technological trajectories. MLA should be conceived as a nested framework formed by linked levels: socio-technical regime, socio-technical landscape and innovation niches. Within such a framework, we focus our attention on the innovation niche and its emerging process. This is done by a three-step methodology. The first step aims at assessing the niche development status and makes use of Social Network Analysis and Fuzzy Cognitive Maps. In the second step we employ agent-based analysis for the development of an archetype model to investigating the key internal dynamics of the niche. The third step focuses on the evaluation of policy actions using a well-known criterion, that is the efficiency of the actions studied by means of the Data Envelopment Analysis. nIn the second part of this chapter we turn to the macro-perspective, presenting a computable general equilibrium model. Here, we use counterfactual simulations to assess how consumer welfare is affected in the following cases: (1) a change in technology to comply with the European Union commitment to renewable energy use; (2) the implementation of different tax (or subsidy) rates on energy inputs and emissions, at either national or EU level; (3) a change in land-use, if biorefineries and biodiesel are considered as inputs to production. nBoth the micro- and the macro-economic approaches are designed to respond to two key policy objectives: (1) to develop policy scenarios for biodiesel and biorefinery production through the analysis of social network interactions across stakeholders and consumer welfare; (2) to understand the evolution of various environmental, economic and policy constraints within a sustainable development framework for biofuel and biorefinery energy sectors.