Environmental Economics

I'm a scientician ...

... that reads The Simpsons' Neologisms. Here is one that is semi-cromulent for env-econ (at least during a holiday week):

Nuclear Panner Plant

Homer's mistaken name for his place of employment (nuclear power plant), from the episode "Homer's Enemy."

Lenny: Yeah, me and Carl both have our Master's. 'Course, ol' Homer, he didn't need a degree. He just showed up the day they opened the plant.

Homer: I didn't even know what a Nuclear Panner Plant was!

During the month of December I'll be blogging under the pseudonym: John Thrillhouse (aka, Thrillho).

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Made-up_words_in_The_Simpsons

Well at least those who benefit like the idea...

As I sit at home having coffee with the family after a day of gluttony, I notice this gem of locally bad economics.

More Green vs. Green: Biodiesel and Deforestation

Substitution, opportunity costs, trade-offs --however you say it, economic decisions have consequences.  Take, for example, the case of biodiesel fuels.

Tidbits from the Southern Economics Association Meetings

As I scramble to catch up from a weekend in Washington D.C., here are quick summaries of things I found interesting, odd or both at the SEA meetings (and before you get all worked up, I am grossly oversimplifying these on purpose and they are only based on stuff I saw being presented). 

Happy Thanksgiving

I'm out of town until the end of the week and taking a few days off from www.env-econ.net (unless the world stops spinning on its axis as a result ... or our sitemeter average plunges). Happy Thanksgiving!

And, by the way, Tim and I both had the swordfish on Saturday night. Yummy and loaded with mercury and overfished.

Interesting/Aggravating travel note

Again, obtaining internet service at a "business" hotel, the Grand Hyatt on H St, is a challenge. Between sessions at the SEA meeting I'm catching up on email, trying to figure out which papers I've been sent to discuss and which presenters have canceled, and paying $3.95/hour. At the same time the Grand Hyatt asks me to "think globally, act locally" and not insist that towels be washed everyday. I'm using the towels to blow my nose. I'll save the environment another day.

I'm moving to the Hotel Monaco (exotic!) tonight, funded by my spouse and the American Sociological Association, where, I'm told, they have "free" internet (i.e., included in the room cost). This is much more palatable.

Note: The title of this post is stolen from SI's MMQer Peter King

SEA Annual Meeting

Freakonomics-style, I'd like to announce that Tim and John will be appearing at the Grand Hyatt in Washington, DC Friday, Saturday and Sunday to discuss environmental economics at the Southern Economics Association Annual Meeting. Some highlights:

• Ten environmental econ sessions sponsored by AERE
• Two ecological economics sessions sponsored by USSEE
• Distinguished guest lecturer (and CVM critic): Daniel Kahneman
• Paper presenations by Tim, John and guest blogger Dan Phaneuf (did I miss anybody?)

The social highlights are sure to be the UK cocktail party and ECU expat reunion.

Freakonomics-style, we'll be happy to talk with any env-econ readers, especially if you're buying.

Pants on fire

Now that the oil executives lied to Congress (does anyone tell the truth anymore?) I'm kinda glad that they might get stuck with a windfall profits tax. Call it a liars tax. I know that this is a silly thing to think and say, especially after arguing against a profits tax, but sometimes efficiency isn't everything. Can I say that here?

Actually, a windfall profits tax is still a bad idea.

Stavins on climate change

Rob Stavins' fourth The Environmental Forum column considers climate change:

A credible international approach is required for this global problem. Support for the unilateral, domestic program in the McCain-Lieberman legislation is not sufficient, and the claim that research and voluntary action are sufficient is not credible. Rather, the United States should work to develop the architecture of an international agreement that is acceptable to the president, the Senate, and the international community. There is no silver bullet, but an economic perspective suggests three key elements.

The three required elements are:

• the involvement of developing countries
• long-term emissions reductions targets
• market-based policy instruments

Read all of it here: A Better Climate Agreement.

More Oil, Less Carbon

I don't know much about oil extraction technologies but any technology that promises to reduce the cost of extraction, allow for more oil recovery AND reduce total carbon dioxide sounds like a win-win-win-win-win-...-win to me--sorry, got carried away.