Science Under Scarcity

Science Under Scarcity PDF

Author: Julian M. Alston

Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA

Published: 1998

Total Pages: 628

ISBN-13:

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Resources for agricultural science are scarce across the world. Yet even as resources are shrinking, agricultural science has expanded its inquiry into many new areas - such as environmental preservation, food quality, and rural development - without forsaking its more traditional concerns. In a time of tight government budgets, research administrators are faced with the need to provide strong evidence that costs are justified by benefits. Science under Scarcity is an invaluable guide to the theory and methods necessary for evaluating research in agriculture and for setting priorities for resource allocation. Although economists have made significant progress in developing more sophisticated methods for research evaluation and priority setting, many research analysts and administrators do not have a working knowledge of those practices. Without the assistance of formal economic analysis it is particularly difficult to assess the social value of new technologies or to make informed judgements about the trade-offs that are involved in allocation decisions. Addressing that knowledge gap, this book reviews, synthesizes, and extends such methods as economic surplus analysis, econometric techniques, mathematical programming procedures, and scoring models. It discusses these practices in the context of scientific policy, describes their conceptual foundations, and explains how to do them. Originally published in 1995 in hardcover by Cornell University Press, it is now reissued in paperback by CAB INTERNATIONAL.

Scarcity

Scarcity PDF

Author: Sendhil Mullainathan

Publisher: Macmillan

Published: 2013-09-03

Total Pages: 303

ISBN-13: 0805092641

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A surprising and intriguing examination of how scarcity—and our flawed responses to it—shapes our lives, our society, and our culture

Management Of Transboundary Water Resources Under Scarcity: A Multidisciplinary Approach

Management Of Transboundary Water Resources Under Scarcity: A Multidisciplinary Approach PDF

Author: Dinar Ariel

Publisher: World Scientific

Published: 2017-03-17

Total Pages: 396

ISBN-13: 9814740063

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Water scarcity due to climate change, population growth, and economic development is a critical issue in many semi-arid and arid regions around the world. Water scarcity is especially critical in regions where water is shared by several riparian states and used for competing purposes (irrigation, domestic, industry, environment, and hydropower). There is evidence that water scarcity may give rise to conflicts among the riparian states that share water basins. At the same time, there is evidence that proper arrangements among riparian states create a basis for cooperation, which is a necessary condition for economic development, food production, environmental sustainability, and poverty reduction. This book presents a collection of work presented by a group of academics and policy experts dealing with the impact of water scarcity and variability on the ability to jointly manage shared water and the derived welfare of international states and nations sharing international river basins, consisting of economics, technology, law and institutions, geography, and international relations. The book covers theoretical aspects of management of transboundary water as well as case studies from hotspots around the world. The unique aspect of this book is the multidisciplinary nature of the chapters, reflecting a new field of research that will gain popularity as water scarcity will increase over time and across regions. The chapters from the book were presented at the "Management of Transboundary Water Resources under Scarcity: Perspectives on Agriculture and Food Security" workshop held at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel, from June 22 to 23, 2015.

Policy and Choice

Policy and Choice PDF

Author: William J. Congdon

Publisher: Brookings Institution Press

Published: 2011

Total Pages: 260

ISBN-13: 0815704984

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Argues that public finance--the study of the government's role in economics--should incorporate principles from behavior economics and other branches of psychology.

Water Scarcity and Sustainable Agriculture in Semiarid Environment

Water Scarcity and Sustainable Agriculture in Semiarid Environment PDF

Author: Ivan Francisco Garcia Tejero

Publisher: Academic Press

Published: 2018-01-03

Total Pages: 582

ISBN-13: 0128131659

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Water Scarcity and Sustainable Agriculture in Semiarid Environment: Tools, Strategies and Challenges for Woody Crops explores the complex relationship between water scarcity and climate change, agricultural water-use efficiency, crop-water stress management and modeling water scarcity in woody crops. Understanding these cause- and effect relationships and identifying the most appropriate responses are critical for sustainable crop production. The book focuses on Mediterranean environments to explain how to determine the most appropriate strategy and implement an effective plan; however, core concepts are translational to other regions. Informative for those working in agricultural water management, irrigation and drainage, crop physiology and sustainable agriculture. Focuses on semi-arid crops including olive, vine, citrus, almonds, peach, nectarine, plum, subtropical fruits and others Explores crop physiological responses to drought at plant, cellular and/or molecular levels Presents tool options for assessing crop-water status and irrigation scheduling

Brief, Balancing international public goods and accountability

Brief, Balancing international public goods and accountability PDF

Author: Lynam, John K.

Publisher: Intl Food Policy Res Inst

Published: 2016-05-03

Total Pages: 4

ISBN-13:

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As the two case studies suggest, STI impact is highly context-specific, and must often adapt to a changing decision-making milieu. Partner engagement is a critical piece in moving policy research to outcomes, as is reflected in IFPRI’s most recent strategy and increased deployment of personnel to country programs. However, local deployment for impact comes at the expense of critical mass at headquarters and the ability to engage in emerging trends in scientific discovery. And, as the review highlights, such critical mass can only be deployed over a limited number of research themes. As the IFPRI STI team explores the next strategic focus for its research, it faces the difficult question of how to balance the increasing emphasis on accountability, and therefore impact, with the ability of IFPRI to define new research areas and generate IPGs in this critical policy area.

Coping with Water Scarcity

Coping with Water Scarcity PDF

Author: Luis Santos Pereira

Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media

Published: 2009-03-22

Total Pages: 385

ISBN-13: 1402095791

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One of the main problems confronting the world of the 21st Century is a shortage of water. There is already severe scarcity in many regions of the world, causing tremendous problems for local populations and indeed entire societies. There is insufficient water available for the production of food to alleviate poverty and starvation; the lack of water hampers industrial, urban and tourism development, forcing restrictions on other sectors, especially agriculture; health problems arise as the deterioration of ground and surface waters favours water-borne diseases, which flourish in the absence of decent water distribution and sewerage systems. Water conflicts still arise in areas under stress, while water for nature has become a vanishing priority in such zones. This book is a guide to the establishment of regional and/or local guidelines for developing and implementing new ideas for coping with water scarcity. The basic premise underlying the book is that water scarcity will persist, so personal, human and society-wide skills will be needed to cope with it while living in harmony with the necessary environmental constraints. The book provides basic information to assist decision makers, water managers, engineers, agronomists, social scientists and other professions (and their students) in formulating coherent, hopefully harmonious and consolidated views on the issue. Guidelines are also given for introducing the general public to the concept of water scarcity and how to deal with it.

Water Quality Management Under Conditions of Scarcity

Water Quality Management Under Conditions of Scarcity PDF

Author: Hillel Shuval

Publisher: Elsevier

Published: 2012-12-02

Total Pages: 365

ISBN-13: 0323153984

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Water Quality Management under Conditions of Scarcity: Israel as a Case Study focuses on the problems of water quality management under circumstances of severe water resource scarcity, particularly in Israel. This book examines how Israel's engineers and scientists deal with the development and management of its limited water resources. Comprised of 13 chapters, this book starts with an overview of the interrelationships between man's well-being and the water environment. This text then explores the goal of water quality control in protecting human health and well-being from exposure to toxic chemicals and detrimental pathogenic microorganisms. Other chapters discuss the development of science, technology, and administrative practice dealing with water quality control, including hygiene, environmental health, sanitation, sanitary engineering, ecology, and environmental protection. The final chapter deals with the concept of hierarchical and selective water use. Biologists, engineers, chemists, agronomists, public health officers, and water resources authorities will find this book extremely useful.

Scarcity and Growth

Scarcity and Growth PDF

Author: Harold J. Barnett

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2013-10-18

Total Pages: 264

ISBN-13: 1135989176

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In this classic study, the authors assess the importance of technological change and resource substitution in support of their conclusion that resource scarcity did not increase in the Unites States during the period 1870 to 1957. Originally published in 1963