Each member has their own personal webpage where you can find information on their own specific research; see Members & Research
The research in progress at the Environmental Economics Unit deals with many central aspects of environmental and natural resource economics. We use a wide range of methodologies, including theoretical/deductive, empirical/econometric, experimental and survey-based methods. Besides fundamental research and purely methodological work, we apply these methods to many important problems, including global climate change, overfishing, soil degradation, deforestation and pollution from industry and transportation. Particular emphasis is given to environmental and natural resource problems in developing countries.
Management of natural resources and ecosystems
Our research into natural resource economics concerns the use of renewable resources such as land, forests and various aquatic resources. Our studies deal with various issues such as regulatory compliance, trade-offs between various resources and degradation, collective action behaviour and efficiency. The ultimate purpose is to improve management of natural resources in order to facilitate pro-poor growth. In the case of fisheries, we have a number of local projects in Sweden working together with biologists, and we find that this provides a good platform for complementary work in other countries.
Energy and climate change
Climate change is one of the most pressing environmental issues that we face today. Research at the EEU into the economics of climate change focuses on the cost of mitigation and policy design. The interaction between climate change and development is critical, and issues related to adaptation and bioenergy will grow in importance. Not only are the poor vulnerable to climate change, they also contribute to greenhouse gas emissions through deforestation and vegetative degradation. The EEU has extensive research regarding the choice of, and changes in, domestic energy sources and factors affecting afforestation.
Clipore, Mistra´s Climate Climate Policy Research Program
Climate change Policy - Links
There is a need for increased application of environmental policy instruments to address the great gap between environmental objectives and implementation. Our research into policy design has both theoretical and applied elements. Both aim ultimately to design policy instruments to better address real environmental and resource problems and thus to provide for better policy making. Examples include policy instruments for management of energy and climate issues, fisheries and industrial pollution. To enhance our understanding of factors that impede implementation of environmental policy instruments, we have initiated research into strategic environmental assessment and into how environmental concerns can be integrated in strategic planning and decision making.
Behaviour, welfare and the environment
Our research into behavioural economics and the environment deals with deviations from the conventional microeconomic model, suggesting that people are neither perfectly rational nor completely selfish. The overall aim is to use more realistic models of human behaviour so as to be able better to explain human behaviour and to be able to provide more relevant policy recommendations. Examples include research into trust and social capital, social norms, identity and self image concerns, risk perception and risk regulation, social comparisons and relative income concerns, discrimination, the demand for green goods and health, and the influence of gender relations.