The Use of Markets to Increase Private Investment in Environmental Stewardship

77 Pages Posted: 14 Mar 2009

See all articles by Marc Ribaudo

Marc Ribaudo

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) - Economic Research Service (ERS)

LeRoy Hansen

(Former) U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) - Economic Research Service (ERS) -- retired

Daniel Hellerstein

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) - Economic Research Service (ERS), Resource and Rural Economics Division

Catherine Greene

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) - Economic Research Service (ERS)

Date Written: September 1, 2008

Abstract

U.S. farmers and ranchers produce a wide variety of commodities for food, fuel, and fiber in response to market signals. Farms also contain significant amounts of natural resources that can provide a host of environmental services, including cleaner air and water, flood control, and improved wildlife habitat. Environmental services are often valued by society, but because they are a public good - that is, people can obtain them without paying for them - farmers and ranchers may not benefit financially from producing them. As a result, farmers and ranchers underprovide these services. This report explores the use of market mechanisms, such as emissions trading and eco-labels, to increase private investment in environmental stewardship. Such investments could complement or even replace public investments in traditional conservation programs. The report also defines roles for government in the creation and function of markets for environmental services.

Keywords: Eco-labeling, environmental service, emissions trading, market, public good,supply and demand,transaction cost

Suggested Citation

Ribaudo, Marc and Hansen, LeRoy and Hellerstein, Daniel and Greene, Catherine, The Use of Markets to Increase Private Investment in Environmental Stewardship (September 1, 2008). Economic Research Report No. 64, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1356857 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1356857

Marc Ribaudo (Contact Author)

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) - Economic Research Service (ERS) ( email )

355 E Street, SW
Washington, DC 20024-3221
United States
202-694-5488 (Phone)
202-502-6174 (Fax)

LeRoy Hansen

(Former) U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) - Economic Research Service (ERS) -- retired ( email )

1214 N. Dinwiddie St.
Arlington, VA 22205-2533
United States
703 527 1926 (Phone)

Daniel Hellerstein

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) - Economic Research Service (ERS), Resource and Rural Economics Division ( email )

Washington, DC 20024-3221
United States

Catherine Greene

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) - Economic Research Service (ERS) ( email )

355 E Street, SW
Washington, DC 20024-3221
United States
202-694-5541 (Phone)

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