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Proxy Variables from Pollution Control
Author(s) -
Daines David R.,
Heady Earl O.
Publication year - 1983
Publication title -
journal of environmental quality
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.888
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1537-2537
pISSN - 0047-2425
DOI - 10.2134/jeq1983.00472425001200020011x
Subject(s) - proxy (statistics) , pollution , environmental science , agriculture , soil loss , control variable , natural resource economics , econometrics , economics , mathematics , statistics , geography , ecology , biology , archaeology , surface runoff
Where the level of pollution from one farm cannot be reliably measured or estimated, environmental policies may be difficult to formulate and enforce. For this situation, a policy approach is suggested, which focuses on variables other than direct output of pollution. The use of proxy variables is illustrated in an analysis of alternative policies for controlling agricultural soil loss in the United States. An interregional programming model of U.S. agriculture is used to analyze and compare the proxy variable approach to direct limits and taxes on gross soil loss, with soil management practices employed as proxy variables. In achieving targeted soil loss reductions, the soil management practice policy would be less costly to society than a direct limit of 12.5 t/ha of soil loss, but a tax on each t of soil loss would be the least costly approach, assuming that soil loss could be easily quantified.