• Media type: E-Article
  • Title: Cost-effective provision of environmental services: the role of relaxing market constraints
  • Contributor: GROOM, BEN; PALMER, CHARLES
  • Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP), 2010
  • Published in: Environment and Development Economics, 15 (2010) 2, Seite 219-240
  • Language: English
  • DOI: 10.1017/s1355770x09990167
  • ISSN: 1355-770X; 1469-4395
  • Origination:
  • Footnote:
  • Description: ABSTRACTFerraro and Simpson (2002) argue that when markets are competitive, payments for environmental services (PES) are more cost-effective in achieving environmental goals than more indirect approaches such as subsidies to capital. However, when eco-entrepreneurs face non-price rationing in input or output markets, as is typical for credit in developing countries for example, we show that interventions which relax constraints can be more cost-effective than PES. One corollary of this is that such indirect approaches are preferred to PES by interveners (e.g., donors) and eco-entrepreneurs alike. Both of these outcomes are more likely when constraints are severe. This has implications for schemes with dual environment and poverty alleviation objectives.