Environmental
Economics
Philip
Wandschneider
Economic Evaluation of Agricultural
and Environmental Policies
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
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