Climate Information as an Object of Economic Research: State and Perspectives

45 Pages Posted: 12 Apr 2014

See all articles by Paschen von Flotow

Paschen von Flotow

Sustainable Business Institute (SBI)

Marco Ludolph

Sustainable Business Institute (SBI)

Date Written: November 1, 2013

Abstract

The availability of decision-oriented information on climate change, specific regional climate impacts and the extent to which different socio-economic systems are affected, as well as the development of continuous information systems, are essential requirements for an effective and efficient adaptation to climate change. The development of such information systems requires climate models and research on ecological, economic and other impacts of climate change. Furthermore, questions regarding institutional economics and information economics arise. The generation and dissemination of such information, the utilization of private competencies, and the conception of value-added chains for providing relevant climate (impact) information constitute questions of deep economic significance.

This paper analyses and reflects the current state of research on climate information from an information economics viewpoint. First of all, it shows a conceptual information-economical perspective, to illustrate why and in which ways issues of generating and disseminating climate information pertain to economics, among other fields, and it points to the potentially high value of economic research on these subjects. Beyond this framework, a literature study offers insights on to what extent such economic questions are currently being addressed, and which roles climate information plays within different economic and interdisciplinary research contributions. Based on the conceptual information-economical considerations and on the results of the literature study, research gaps and directions for future economic research on climate information systems are derived.

Keywords: climate change, climate information, climate services, adaptation, information economics

Suggested Citation

von Flotow, Paschen and Ludolph, Marco, Climate Information as an Object of Economic Research: State and Perspectives (November 1, 2013). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2423337 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2423337

Paschen Von Flotow

Sustainable Business Institute (SBI) ( email )

Burgstr. 4
Oestrich-Winkel, 65375
Germany

Marco Ludolph (Contact Author)

Sustainable Business Institute (SBI) ( email )

Burgstr. 4
Oestrich-Winkel, 65375
Germany

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