The calculation of dynamic ecological footprint on the basis of the dynamic input-output model

The Leontief input-output model is widely used to determine the ecological footprint of consumption in a region or a country. It is able to capture spillover environmental effects along the supply change, thus its popularity is increasing in ecology related economic research. These studies are static and the dynamic investigations are neglected. The dynamic Leontief model makes it possible to involve the capital and inventory investment in the footprint calculation that projects future growth of GDP and environmental impacts. We show a new calculation method to determine the effect of capital accumulation on ecological footprint. Keywords: Dynamic Leontief model, Dynamic ecological footprint, Environmental management, Allocation method

A magyar felsőoktatási rendszer válaszai társadalmi-gazdasági kihívásokra. A felsőoktatás input-output elemzése versenykörnyezetben

A magyar felsőoktatás 2004-től számos tekintetben radikális fordulatot él át. Az abszolút tömegesedés időszaka véget ért. Továbbra is beszélhetünk ugyanakkor relatív tömegesedésről. A relatív tömegesedés a negatív demográfiai trenddel párosulva az egyik meghatározó kihívás a kormányzat és a felsőoktatási intézmények számára egyaránt. Az előadás ebből az alaphelyzetből kiindulva sorra veszi a felsőoktatási intézményeket input és output oldalon érő kihívásokat és szembesíti ezeket részben a szabályozási környezettel, másrészt pedig a stakeholderek igényeivel, illetve a felsőoktatási teljesítménnyel. A kihívások és kihívásokra adott válaszok egy tágabb regionális és globális térben is értelmezést nyernek.

A Dynamic Input-Output Model with Renewable Resources

The paper studies a generalisation of the dynamic Leontief input-output model. The standard dynamic Leontief model will be extended with the balance equation of renewable resources. The renewable stocks will increase regenerating and decrease exploiting primary natural resources. In this study the controllability of this extended model is examined by taking the consumption as the control parameter. Assuming balanced growth for both consumption and production, we investigate the exhaustion of renewable resources in dependence on the balanced growth rate and on the rate of natural regeneration. In doing so, classic results from control theory and on eigenvalue problems in linear algebra are applied.

A Dynamic Input-Output Model with Renewable Resources

The paper studies a generalisation of the dynamic Leontief input-output model. The standard dynamic Leontief model will be extended with the balance equation of renewable resources. The renewable stocks will increase regenerating and decrease exploiting primary natural resources. In this study the controllability of this extended model is examined by taking the consumption as the control parameter. Assuming balanced growth for both consumption and production, we investigate the exhaustion of renewable resources in dependence on the balanced growth rate and on the rate of natural regeneration. In doing so, classic results from control theory and on eigenvalue problems in linear algebra are applied.

Carbon emissions locked - in trade

In recent years there has been a growing concern about the emission trade balance of countries. It is due to the fact that countries with an open economy are active players in the international trade, though trade is not only a major factor in forging a country’s economic structure anymore, but it does contribute to the movement of embodied emissions beyond the country borders. This issue is especially relevant from the carbon accounting policy’s point of view, as it is known that the production-based principle is in effect now in the Kyoto agreement. The study aims at revealing the interdependence of countries on international trade and its environmental impacts, and how the carbon accounting method plays a crucial role in evaluating a country’s environmental performance and its role in the climate mitigation processes. The input-output models are used in the methodology, as they provide an appropriate framework for this kind of environmental accounting; the analysis shows an international comparison of four European countries (Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Hungary) with extended trading activities and carbon emissions. Moving from the production-based approach in the climate policy, to the consumptionperspective principle and allocation [15], it would also help increasing the efficiency of emission reduction targets and the evaluation of the sustainability dimension and its impacts of international trade. The results of the study have shown that there is an importance of distinction between the two emission allocation approaches, both from global and local level point of view.

A Consumption-Based Approach to Carbon Emission Accounting – Sectoral Differences and Environmental Benefits

In recent years there has been growing concern about the emission trade balances of countries. This is due to the fact that countries with an open economy are active players in international trade. Trade is not only a major factor in forging a country’s economic structure, but contributes to the movement of embodied emissions beyond country borders. This issue is especially relevant from the carbon accounting policy and domestic production perspective, as it is known that the production-based principle is employed in the Kyoto agreement. The research described herein was designed to reveal the interdependence of countries on international trade and the corresponding embodied emissions both on national and on sectoral level and to illustrate the significance of the consumption-based emission accounting. It is presented here to what extent a consumption-based accounting would change the present system based on production-based accounting and allocation. The relationship of CO2 emission embodied in exports and embodied in imports is analysed here. International trade can blur the responsibility for the ecological effects of production and consumption and it can lengthen the link between consumption and its consequences. Input-output models are used in the methodology as they provide an appropriate framework for climate change accounting. The analysis comprises an international comparative study of four European countries (Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Hungary) with extended trading activities and carbon emissions. Moving from a production-based approach in climate policy to a consumption-based principle and allocation approach would help to increase the efficiency of emission reductions and would force countries to rethink their trading activities in order to decrease the environmental load of production activities. The results of this study show that it is important to distinguish between the two emission accounting approaches, both on the global and the local level.

Viability Theory and Economic Modeling

A brief introduction into the theory of differential inclusions, viability theory and selections of set valued mappings is presented. As an application the implicit scheme of the Leontief dynamic input-output model is considered.

The Closed Loop Model by Regional Economics or How Big is the Ants’ Footprint?

The economy is communication between Man and Nature. It is an interaction-network between our outside and inside Nature, that is, the external Nature surrounding us and the internal nature expressing our human essence. Money is an institution of the society, an infrastructure that ensures division of labour, enables the flow of information and material between the participants. The concept of regional material and financial circular flow will be more important with the oncoming peak-oil and post-carbon era. We should describe in time the outlines of closed or semi-closed loops economy. The fundamentals of Input-Output will flourish once again; it could help us formulate the link between the efficiency and resiliency of a regional complex system.

Applying consumer responsibility principle in evaluating environmental load of carbon emissions

There is a need for a proper indicator in order to assess the environmental impact of international trade, therefore using the carbon footprint as an indicator can be relevant and useful. The aim of this study is to show from a methodological perspective how the carbon footprint, combined with input- output models can be used for analysing the impacts of international trade on the sustainable use of national resources in a country. The use of the input-output approach has the essential advantage of being able to track the transformation of goods through the economy. The study examines the environmental impact of consumption related to international trade, using the consumer responsibility principle. In this study the use of the carbon footprint and input-output methodology is shown on the example of the Hungarian consumption and the impact of international trade. Moving from a production- based approach in climate policy to a consumption-perspective principle and allocation, would also help to increase the efficiency of emission reduction targets and the evaluation of the ecological impacts of international trade.

A nemzetközi kereskedelem környezeti hatásainak vizsgálata a karbon lábnyom segítségével

Napjainkban már köztudott tény az, hogy az antropogén szén-dioxid kibocsátás nagymértékben hozzájárul a klímaváltozáshoz. Ahhoz, hogy ténylegesen értékelni tudjuk a kibocsátás környezeti hatását, szükség van egy olyan indikátorra, ami figyelembe veszi a természeti erőforrások és a természet megújuló-képessége által szabott korlátokat. A karbon lábnyom, ilyen módon egy releváns indikátor erre, és segítségével kimutatható, hogy mennyire felel meg egy ország termelése, életmódja, fogyasztási szerkezete a fenntarthatóság kritériumainak. Ennek a tanulmánynak a célja, hogy megvizsgálja a magyarországi fogyasztás környezetterhelésének szerkezetét a karbon lábnyom indikátorának segítségével, középpontba helyezve a nemzetközi kereskedelem hazai hatásainak vizsgálatát. A nemzetközi kereskedelemben elfoglalt pozíció, nemcsak egy ország gazdasági szerkezetét és versenyképességét határozza meg, hanem erőteljes hatással van a fogyasztói szokásokra és a fogyasztás környezetterhelésére is. A karbon lábnyom tartalmazza annak a környezetterhelésnek az értékeit is, amely az importált termékek és szolgáltatások elfogyasztásából származik. Fontos megvizsgálni azt, hogy mely szektorokban van nagy jelentősége az importált termékek környezetterhelésének és ez hogyan járul hozzá a hazai fogyasztási mintákhoz. A tanulmány a fogyasztás környezetterhelését a fogyasztói felelősségi elvet alkalmazva vizsgálja. A karbon lábnyom fogyasztói szempontból való vizsgálata azért jelentős, mert ezáltal képes felhívni a döntéshozók figyelmét, hogy mely szektorokban és fogyasztási kategóriákban jelenik meg nem fenntartható fogyasztás. Így, felszínre kerülnek azok a területek, ahol erőteljes beavatkozásra van szükség a kibocsátások csökkentése érdekében, mindez nemcsak a termelői oldal, hanem a fogyasztói magatartás befolyásolása, jobb informálása, oktatása által. A tanulmány módszertanában kombináltan alkalmazza az ökológiai lábnyom számításból származó karbon lábnyom számítás módszertanát, kiegészítve az ágazati kapcsolatok mérlegének (input-output táblázatok) módszertanával. Ez a kombinált módszertan, a szoros ágazati összefüggéseket és kölcsönhatásokat is kezelni tudja, megjelenítve mind a direkt és indirekt környezeti hatásokat is.

Applying consumer responsibility principle in evaluating environmental load of carbon emissions

There is a need for a proper indicator in order to assess the environmental impact of international trade, therefore using the carbon footprint as an indicator can be relevant and useful. The aim of this study is to show from a methodological perspective how the carbon footprint, combined with input- output models can be used for analysing the impacts of international trade on the sustainable use of national resources in a country. The use of the input-output approach has the essential advantage of being able to track the transformation of goods through the economy. The study examines the environmental impact of consumption related to international trade, using the consumer responsibility principle. In this study the use of the carbon footprint and input-output methodology is shown on the example of the Hungarian consumption and the impact of international trade. Moving from a production- based approach in climate policy to a consumption-perspective principle and allocation, would also help to increase the efficiency of emission reduction targets and the evaluation of the ecological impacts of international trade.