Suchergebnisse

Based on a multilevel and quantile hedonic analysis regarding the local public bus system and the prices of residential properties in Cardiff, Wales, we find strong evidence to support two research hypotheses: a) the number of bus stops within walking distance (300 – 1,500m) to a property is positively associated with the property's observed sale price, and b) properties of higher market prices, compared with their cheaper counterparts, tend to benefit more from spatial proximity to the bus stop locations. Given these statistical findings, we argue that, land value tax (LVT), albeit a classic political idea dating back to the early 20th century, does have contemporary relevance and, with modern geographic information technologies, can be rigorously analysed and empirically justified with a view to actual implementation. Levying LVT will not only generate additional fiscal revenues to help finance the development and maintenance of local public infrastructures, but will also ensure a more just distribution of the economic welfare yielded by public investment.

Crop residue burning influences human health and global climate change. In China—the world's largest crop residue producer—farmers burn almost one quarter of their crop residues in the field after harvest, despite the government providing financial incentives such as subsidies to retain crop residues. This study combined economic analyses with simulations of soil carbon accumulation and carbon emission reduction associated with different residue management practices to determine the minimum level of incentives needed for Chinese farmers to shift from burning to retaining crop residues for generating carbon benefits. Simulation results showed that (Ahmed et al., 2015) the density of topsoil organic carbon in China's croplands would have increased from about 21.8 t ha−1 in 2000 to 23.9 t ha−1 in 2010, and soil organic carbon sequestration would have reached 24.4 Tg C yr−1 if farmers had shifted from burning to retaining crop residues on croplands during this period; and (Auffhammer and Gong, 2015) retaining crop residues would have avoided about 149.9 Tg of CO2 emission per year. Economic analyses showed that (Ahmed et al., 2015) existing subsidies in all regions of China, except Northeast China, only accounted for 18–82% of the incentives required for farmers to shift from burning to crop residue retention; (Auffhammer and Gong, 2015) Northeast China required the lowest incentive (287 CNY ha−1), while eastern China required the highest (837 CNY ha−1); and (Balkovič et al., 2014) the prevailing market prices (1.4–60.2 CNY tCO2e−1) in China's seven pilot carbon markets seem to be below the required incentives (39.6–189.1 CNY tCO2e−1). Our study suggests that the Chinese government should increase subsidies or seek innovative incentive schemes to encourage farmers to change their crop residue management practices for global climate change mitigation and health benefits.

Crop residue burning influences human health and global climate change. In China—the world's largest crop residue producer—farmers burn almost one quarter of their crop residues in the field after harvest, despite the government providing financial incentives such as subsidies to retain crop residues. This study combined economic analyses with simulations of soil carbon accumulation and carbon emission reduction associated with different residue management practices to determine the minimum level of incentives needed for Chinese farmers to shift from burning to retaining crop residues for generating carbon benefits. Simulation results showed that (Ahmed et al., 2015) the density of topsoil organic carbon in China's croplands would have increased from about 21.8 t ha−1 in 2000 to 23.9 t ha−1 in 2010, and soil organic carbon sequestration would have reached 24.4 Tg C yr−1 if farmers had shifted from burning to retaining crop residues on croplands during this period; and (Auffhammer and Gong, 2015) retaining crop residues would have avoided about 149.9 Tg of CO2 emission per year. Economic analyses showed that (Ahmed et al., 2015) existing subsidies in all regions of China, except Northeast China, only accounted for 18–82% of the incentives required for farmers to shift from burning to crop residue retention; (Auffhammer and Gong, 2015) Northeast China required the lowest incentive (287 CNY ha−1), while eastern China required the highest (837 CNY ha−1); and (Balkovič et al., 2014) the prevailing market prices (1.4–60.2 CNY tCO2e−1) in China's seven pilot carbon markets seem to be below the required incentives (39.6–189.1 CNY tCO2e−1). Our study suggests that the Chinese government should increase subsidies or seek innovative incentive schemes to encourage farmers to change their crop residue management practices for global climate change mitigation and health benefits.

Since a 1981 review of health status and health services in Shanghai County, there have been considerable social and economic changes in the People's Republic of China. A major question currently is the impact of the new economic "responsibility system," which was introduced in 1982, on the cooperative health structure and the "barefoot doctors" (BFDs). Investigators in other areas of China have reported the collapse of the cooperative systems and a shift in the role of the BFDs as a result of incentives for them to spend more time in agricultural production. In Shanghai County, however, BFDs continue essentially full time as before, salaried by the brigade, with fee-for-service charges prohibited. Recent evidence from Shanghai County shows that the health care system and those who direct it can remain flexible and respond positively to changes in the social, economic, and political structures.

Genome sequencing, assembly and annotation were conducted by the Novogene Bioinformatics Institute, Beijing, China; mutual contracts were No. NHT140016 and NVT140016004. This work was supported by funding from the Scientific Project of Shenzhen Urban Administration (201519) and a Major Technical Research Project of the Innovation of Science and Technology Commission of Shenzhen (JSGG20140515164852417). Additional funding was provided in particular by the Scientific Research Program of Sino-Africa Joint Research Center (SAJL201607). We thank X.Q. Wang, G.W. Hu, Z.D. Chen and Y.H. Guo for comments on gnetophyte phylogenetic relationships and ecological issues; H. Wu and X.P. Ning for discussion of related organ development; K.K. Wan and S. Sun for additional help on the analysis of repeats. We also thank X.Y. for support of funding coordination. Y.V.d.P. acknowledges the Multidisciplinary Research Partnership 'Bioinformatics: from nucleotides to networks' Project (no. 01MR0310W) of Ghent University, and funding from the European Union Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013) under European Research Council Advanced Grant Agreement 322739-DOUBLEUP.