Economics and Policy

Our core capabilities

Carefully managed markets are increasingly being used as a mechanism to preserve and deliver important ecosystem goods and services.  This places environmental economics and legal research at the cutting edge of environmental protection.  In this context, our experts deliver leading research in the environmental policy arena, and offer practical decision support to policy makers on natural resources management.  

We have been delivering high quality research in the field of environmental economics and policy for over 30 years, working for local and central Government, industry, Research Councils, and Regulatory Agencies (both nationally and internationally) across a range of policy areas. Examples of core contributions include those where we have:

  • Used economic theory to value natural capital in land and water resources, to aid management decisions and help ensure the capacity for ecosystem services is optimised.
  • Forecast future natural resource scarcity and consequent resource security risks.   
  • Appraised economic and financial investments in renewable energy infrastructure.
  • Evaluated the requirements, implications, and impact of legal frameworks (including regulatory and governance systems) using stakeholder analysis. 

 

Staff expertise

  • Andrew Angus: environmental and natural resource economics
  • Peter Howsam: environmental law
  • Anil Graves: economics of ecosystem services and land use policy, stakeholder analysis
  • Paul Burgess: production and energy economics and policy
  • Monica Rivas Casado: applied econometrics
  • Joe Morris: professor emeritus, environmental and natural resource economics, stakeholder analysis
  • Simon Pollard: professor of environmental risk management, government, policy, strategic risk

 

Defining projects

What is effective Regulation? 2008- ongoing 

Emma Gibson, Peter Howsam, Mark Kibblewhite, Simon Pollard, Yvonne Rees

This research area has delivered a number of projects all focussed on ensuring effectiveness in environmental regulation. A literature review and analysis for the Environment (in addition to a review of regulatory challenges in local authorities) have helped define regulatory good practice. Benchmarking work had further investigated UK environmental regulators’ capacity to improve compliance and environmental outcomes with limited resources (SNIFFER project ER21). Adding to this, PhD research is now investigating the merits of different regulatory options for Defra  (Chris Taylor), agent-based approaches to risk and regulation (Gareth Davies), and risk governance in the water utility sector (Richard Allan).

 

Assessing the environmental impacts of 'healthier' diets: 2011 - ongoing

Adrian Williams, Andrew Angus, Joe Morris

This project investigates the likely environmental impacts of widespread uptake of government dietary recommendations in the UK (Defra).

 

The total cost of soil degradation in England & Wales: 2010 - ongoing

Anil Graves, Joe Morris

This project will estimate the total economic cost of soil degradation in England and Wales (Defra). 

 

Energyscapes and ecosystem services: 2009 - ongoing

Paul Burgess, Monica Rivas Casado

Focuses on the interaction between renewable energy, food production, carbon sequestration and habitat provision within Bedfordshire (ESRC).

 

Economic and environmental impacts of livestock production in the UK: 2008 - 2011

Anil Graves, Joe Morris, Eric Audsley, Julia Chatterton

This project assessed the economic, social and environmental performance of livestock production in the UK, particularly with respect to UK government objectives for the sector (Defra).

 

The effect of changes in UK food consumption on land requirements and greenhouse gas emissions: 2009 - 2010

Eric Audsley, Julia Chatterton, Anil Graves, Joe Morris, Andrew Angus, Kerry Pearn, Daniel Sandars, Adrian Williams

Assessment of the greenhouse gasses and environmental impacts of different food consumption scenarios in the UK (CCC).