Chad Settle

Possible Responses to Global Climate Change: Integrating Mitigation and Adaptation

Abstract How do we as cities, nations, and global communities best respond to global climate change? Mitigation+urtailing greenhouse gas emissions- dominated initial discussions of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and international conferences on global climate change. Now that climate change has become a clear and present danger, however, adaptation-lessening the harm and maximizing the benefits of climate change-has received more attention. Analysis reveals that integrating the two responses, though challenging, may be the most effective approach.

Modeling Native-Exotic Species within Yellowstone Lake

Exotic species become a problem when they involve significant harm, either to humans or the natural environment. Many experts believe that these exotic invaders contribute to the extinction of native species around the globe (Wilcove et al.). Exotic species disrupt both natural and human functions in many ecological systems, including terrestrial, freshwater and marine, animal, plant, and microbe (Williamson). Rational choice theory provides one framework to better understand the complex interactions and feedbacks between human behavior and natural processes, and to assess the efficiency of alternative policy options aimed at eliminating exotics. Economics helps us understand the human drivers of the problem of native-exotic species, and the potential risks these conflicts impose on society (Perrings, Williamson, and Dalmazzone). This paper discusses the necessary components for an integrated economic-biological assessment of an ecosystem with an exotic species. Our work combines the economic approach of constrained optimization in which the biological constraints of the ecosystem are used both to create a fully functioning model and to constrain the productivity in the economic model; humans maximize total benefits of the ecosystem, including ecological products, given budget limitations and biological constraints of the ecosystem (see Crocker and Tschirhart). We first take the reader through a generic economic system-ecosystem model highlighting the research process for economists. We discuss a predator-prey model with an exotic predator, ecological services

On the joint determination of biological and economic systems

Abstract Scarce natural resources and our choices to protect or develop them make ecological and economic systems jointly determined—human choices affect nature; nature affects human choices. This essay considers whether a dynamic model that integrates details of an economic system and an ecosystem with explicit feedback links between them yields significantly different results than does ignoring these links. We focus on the case of exotic invaders that put native species at risk in Yellowstone National Park. The results suggest that integration does matter—in each scenario, cutthroat trout populations differ in both magnitude and survival rates, depending on whether feedback is allowed between the two systems.

Integrating economics and ecology to protect nature on private lands: models, methods, and mindsets

Protecting nature on private lands presents both a challenge and an opportunity. The challenge is to protect both private landowner concerns and the biological needs of the environment; the opportunity is the need to better integrate the disciplines of ecology and economics. Such integration offers scientists the prospect of gaining more understanding about the complexities that arise in the protection of human-dominated environments. Integration also can help policy-makers make more informed decisions about how to manage private lands by adding insight into the efficacy and efficiency of alternative choices that try to balance private rights with the public gains. Integration occurs at several different levels, ranging from accounting for feedbacks between both economics and ecology within formal models to incorporating diverse methods of control to link the multiple objectives of various interest groups and people. In this paper, we discuss three illustrative examples of integration—models, methods, and mindsets—that show how one can combine economics and ecology to address the challenge of protecting nature on private lands. We explore how the explicit process of connecting disciplines can help create and refine economic incentive mechanisms that satisfy the goals set by biological needs, landowner choices, and political realities.

Integration-valuation nexus in invasive species policy

This paper reviews recent work examining two topics of economic research vital for invasive species policy—integration and valuation. Integration requires bioeconomic models that blend invasive biology with economic circumstances and the feedback loops between the two systems. Valuation requires nonmarket valuation associated with human and environmental damages posed by invasive species. We argue for a second-level of integration in invasive species economics—valuation based on integration models. Policy prescriptions based on integration models need valuation work; valuation surveys need integration models—the two are complements. Valuation could be enhanced with integration in mind; integration could be made better with valuation in mind. An example from blending the two research areas is presented and its merits demonstrated.

Engaging game design students using peer evaluation

Many information technology educators have worked in recent years to develop courses to attract students to the field. As faculty achieve success with technical courses designed to be appeal to a broad audience, it can be hard to maintain the initial excitement particularly as multiple sections of the courses are taught on a continuing basis. In this article we describe a project that added peer evaluation to an assessment in a game design course with a large non-major audience. While controversial, peer evaluation has shown some promise in motivating students to work harder and in improving certain key skills. Consistent with other studies in areas outside of game design, the introduction of peer evaluation showed significant improvement in student engagement.

Environmental conflicts with SLAPP reputations

Firms use the strategic lawsuit against public participation (SLAPP) against citizens who complain about poor compliance with environmental rules and regulations. As a consequence, lawmakers have proposed banning SLAPPs in public debate. Theory suggests, however, that a SLAPP ban might be inefficient because it eliminates the efficient signaling equilibrium. This study extends the conflict model to include reputation effects. Our results suggest that a SLAPP ban can increase efficiency but only under a restrictive set of assumptions. One such assumption is that a ban makes sense when firms do not use the SLAPP to build a reputation, which contradicts the spirit of why firms use it in the first place. A SLAPP ban might increase efficiency, however, if it reduces the efficiency losses of chills during the interim periods when a firm builds its reputation.