Economic analysis for the production of four grape cultivars using microcatchment water harvesting systems in Iran

An economic analysis was conducted for temporal yield variations of four local grape cultivars grown in rain-fed microcatchments in the Bajgah area of Fars province, in Islamic Republic of Iran. For this study, four local cultivars of grapes were considered. The cultivars examined were Black Rishbaba, Rotabi, Asgari and Black grapes. The soil type was a gravely loam with an average slope of 5–6%, in microcatchment systems, and in plots without microcatchments. Analysis of yield data with a multiple regression model indicated that a 9 m² (3×3 m) microcatchment area for each individual plant (vine) was the most appropriate area for vineyards in this region. The results also demonstrated that by using this area for each grapevine, yields (kg/ha) were 40% greater than yields obtained for vines in the standard vineyard (without microcatchments) in this area. Economic analysis was performed and the cost and income were compared for a depreciation period (life-span period) of 50 years and interest rate of 14%. The analysis showed that a microcatchment area of 9 m² is economically feasible. The Black Rishbaba rain-fed vines were the most suitable cultivar for this region. The benefit probabilities of rain-fed Black Rishbaba, Rotabi, Asgari and Black grapes with a microcatchment area of 9 m² and without such an area were 63.3% (i.e. two of 3 years), 52.4% (i.e. one of 2 years), 32.9% (i.e. one of 3 years), 13.3% (i.e. one of 8 years), and 59.5% (i.e. two of 3 years), 39.4% (i.e. two of 5 years), 31.8% (i.e. one of 3 years), and 10.7% (i.e. one of 9 years), respectively. Therefore, the Black Rishbaba and Rotabi cultivars are economically more stable in microcatchment system, while only the Black Rishbaba cultivar would be such in the standard vineyard system.     

Economic valuation of policies for managing acidity in remote mountain lakes: Examining validity through scope sensitivity testing

No Abstract. .The following two amendments concern the above mentioned article that appeared electronically Online First on June13, 2005 (this issue, pp. 274–291).1. the first name of the author Cooper is Philip (and not Phillip).2. the correct grant reference number is EVK1-CT-1999-00032 (instead of: EVK1-CT-2002-00121).     

Spatialising the Melanesian Canarium industry: Understanding economic upgrading in an emerging industry among three Pacific small island states

This paper examines economic upgrading in the Canarium indicum (Canarium) nut industry in Vanuatu, the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea. Canarium is a tree that is indigenous to Melanesia, and has been the subject of several commercialisation attempts since 1988. The paper assesses the outcomes to various actors in the Canarium supply chain from attempts to upgrade industry products and processes by: (1) increasing the available resource in suitable locations; (2) improving nut products and processing techniques; (3) increasing actors’ knowledge and supply chain coordination; and (4) establishing product standards. A two-phase data generation process was implemented. Document analysis and participant observations of industry workshops initiated a set of four economic upgrading interventions that were adaptively implemented. A second stage of workshops and 76 interviews enabled outcomes to be assessed at the project’s end. Findings suggest that a small number of urban-based entrepreneurs benefit and subsequently are lead actors in industry development, but at the expense of benefits being distributed to a larger, more spatially disparate group of smallholder and small commercial growers. These economic upgrading outcomes are circumscribed by core-periphery relations in Pacific small island states and the scale of industry in each country. Thus, spatial inequalities are reproduced through the emerging Canarium industries. We argue that different routes to industry development are required in each country. Development initiatives that capitalise on the benefits of micro-enterprise clusters, joint action and regional institutional arrangements are proposed to overcome the impediments imposed by the particular geographies of Pacific island states.     

我国重要矿产资源战略性评价

重要矿产资源尤其是战略性矿产的安全保障历来是世界各国关注的重点之一。关于战略性矿产的研究,欧美等发达国家和地区已经建立了一套比较成熟的理论和方法,并不定期更新战略性矿产目录。而我国对于战略性矿产的研究相对较晚,尚未形成统一的内涵意义、评价体系和方法。为此,本文在重新界定战略性矿产内涵基础上构建供应风险-经济价值二维评价体系,运用定性和定量相结合的评价方法综合评价我国主要矿产资源的战略性。     

Public views on economic growth,the environment and prosperity: Results of a questionnaire survey

The long-standing academic and public debate on economic growth, prosperity and environmental sustainability has recently gained new momentum. It lacks, however, a broad perspective on public opinion. Prior opinion surveys typically offered a simple dichotomous choice between growth and environmental protection. This study examines public beliefs and attitudes about a wider range of aspects of the growth debate. To this end, we conducted an online questionnaire survey including a country-wide, representative sample of 1008 Spanish citizens. Using factor analysis, we identify six distinct dimensions of public attitudes, referred to as: prosperity with growth; environmental limits to growth; general optimism; wrong priority; overrated GDP; and governmental control. We further analyze several specific questions associated with the growth debate, such as those concerning the desired GDP growth rate, the preferred growth-environment position, and beliefs about, as well as reasons for, a possible end or continuation of growth. We find that most respondents favor GDP growth rates of more than 3%. A majority views growth and environmental sustainability as compatible (green growth), while about one-third prefers either ignoring growth as a policy aim (agrowth), or stopping it altogether (degrowth). Only very few people want growth unconditionally (growth-at-all-costs). About one-third of the respondents believe that growth may be never-ending. We examine how support for or disagreement with different statements on growth are related to each other, as well as how they are influenced by socio-demographic, knowledge and ideology/values variables. Overall, our findings can inform public debates about the growth paradigm and its potential alternatives by providing a more nuanced understanding of public opinion. We make suggestions for future research, including modifying poll questions on growth and environment through offering a more diverse set of response options.     

The Economic Contributions of Agricultural Tourism in Michigan

Family farms have long generated income from agricultural tourism including U‐picks, wagon rides, corn mazes and petting zoos, but contemporary agricultural tourism reflects much greater sophistication in terms of product variety, services, activities, and marketing. In Michigan, farm operators have moved beyond classic products and activities and the traditional consumer base. New sources of revenue derive from classes on beer, cider, mead and wine making, yarn spinning, perfume/soap‐making, farm markets, fishing, educational classes, school tours and hospitality including weddings and on‐farm restaurants. This case study of Michigan agricultural tourism reports results from a systematic survey of 154 agritourism operations conducted throughout the state during summer and fall of 2013 with a focus on the economic benefits of the fast‐changing sector. This study summarizes tax revenues, sales and employment trends for the farm operations participating in the survey but also quantitatively assesses the contribution of agricultural tourism to Michigan's economy through an extrapolation of the sample to estimate state‐wide totals. Results from OLS multivariate regression analysis intended to identify relationships between employment, advertising and scale to gross sales per day are also reported. These analyses show the importance of agricultural tourism to rural and peri‐urban places in Michigan and throughout the nation, while raising concerns about a growing division between large and small operators and what this growing gap may mean for the future of the sector.     

The Pedagogical Benefits of SimCity in Urban Geography Education

This article investigated the pedagogical potential of the SimCity simulation game in an urban geography course. University students used SimCity to build their own cities and applied a wide range of theories to support their urban structures. Moreover, the students critically evaluated the logic and functioning of the SimCity simulation compared to real-world contexts and urban geography principles. The students believed the SimCity activity provided them with opportunities to promote their geographic creativity, resulting in diverse, unique, and interesting cities. The findings demonstrate that the use of SimCity can be an effective tool for geography education.     

碳市场顶层设计路线图

中国正面临着低碳减排和保持经济增速的双重挑战。为利用碳排放权交易机制以最低的社会成本实现减排目标,我国自2013年起开始建设碳排放权交易试点,并于2017年12月起宣布正式启动全国碳市场。然而碳市场的顶层设计不可一蹴而就,需要在我国宏观经济改革的大背景下分阶段逐步推进。短期（2020年前）碳市场建设重在强化产权制度建设,完善市场交易基础。中期（2021—2030年）碳市场建设要形成活跃的市场氛围,充分降低我国的温室气体达峰成本。长期（2031—2050年）碳市场建设要形成稳定上升的碳价趋势,为我国的低碳转型提供长期动力。     

废黄河三角洲区域可持续发展的战略选择

废黄河三角洲位于江苏沿海北部,是由历史上黄河夺淮形成的。目前,废黄河三角洲经济发展水平在我国沿海四大三角洲(长江三角洲、珠江三角洲、现代黄河三角洲、废黄河三角洲)中处于下游。在分析了废黄河三角洲资源优势与限制因素以后,提出了区域可持续发展的对策:加强生态修复,提高抗御自然灾害的能力;加大港口开发力度,合理利用岸线资源;调整产业结构,加快发展生态经济;打破行政界限,构建废黄河三角洲经济区。     

长江经济带城市群要素集聚能力差异的比较研究

城市群作为当前区域发展的主要空间载体,在区域发展竞争中扮演着越来越重要的角色。论文结合互联网大数据抓取等手段,以长江经济带5个城市群为研究对象,对城市群间要素集聚能力差异进行比较研究,发现：① 长江经济带城市群间要素集聚能力差异与长江经济带社会经济发展的区域差异相吻合,城市群要素集聚格局呈现出由东向西梯度衰减的分布特征;② 城际层面要素集聚能力差异的两极分化现象显著,以城市群首位城市为中心的要素集聚“核心—边缘”空间结构特征较为鲜明;③ 长江经济带城市群内科技创新、对外开放、金融等要素的集聚格局具有明显的差异分化和集聚分布指向特征;④ 长江经济带城市(群)要素集聚能力等级规模结构分布总体符合位序-规模法则,可分为“均衡型”和“离散型”2种类型,首位城市要素集聚首位度随城市群要素集聚能力高低呈现出“两端高、中间低”的特征。