Environmental Economics
Economic Evaluation of Agricultural and Environmental
Policies
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Dr. Philip Wandschneider’s primary research activities involve the economic evaluation of agricultural and environmental policies often employing “non-market valuation” techniques to impute an economic value to environmental “goods.” Recent work has focused on soil conservation and the related problem of reducing particulate pollution from agricultural sources. This work is linked to the multi-disciplinary Columbia Plateau PM-10 Project.
Currently, Dr. Wandschneider is studying soil conservation practices among farmers in eastern Washington. This study follows up on an earlier study of factors that promote adoption of innovative soil conservation practices. An analysis of dust and wind erosion shows that there is net benefit to promoting soil conservation, but that farmers’ private incentives will probably not induce sufficient conservation.
In a related study, Dr. Wandschneider’s group analyzed the benefits and costs of a proposed state rule that would reduce the burning of agricultural fields and hence improve air quality to area residents – however, at some cost in reduced water quality benefits and at heavy cost to farm income. Some stakeholders became quite upset with these research efforts. The research was reviewed and confirmed by a “blue-ribbon” panel, a judicial ruling, and a peer-reviewed paper. As a positive side effect, the controversy surrounding this study led Dr. Wandschneider to investigations of the role and nature of controversial research at land-grant institutions.
Much of his earlier research at Washington State University concerned water resources, including analysis of Columbia River management institutions, Columbia River water use trade-offs (fish and energy), and Washington state water law and institutions. These studies included analysis of water markets to improve efficiency in water use. He is currently working with three graduate students on issues of water scarcity in developing countries.
Forest, climate, and land policy evaluation are new areas of research. Two recent papers of his addressed the issue of carbon sequestration in boreal forests (Russian). Dr. Wandschneider is also collaborating with a number of colleagues at the University of Washington on a proposal concerning the value of forest fire risk reduction to local communities. He is also working with other WSU scholars in proposing a multidisciplinary project to assess, model, and measure what might constitute “climate-friendly farms.”
Contact Information
Philip Wandschneider, Ph.D.
Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics
Washington State University
PO Box 646210
Pullman, WA 99164-6210
Telephone: 509-335-1906
Fax: 509-335-1173
E-mail: pwandsch@mail.wsu.edu
Environmental and Natural Resources
- Markus Flury
- Richard Gill
- Frank Loge
- Mark Stephan
- Philip Wandschneider
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