The Effect of Cost-share Programs on Ground Water Exploitation and Nonpoint-source Pollution under Endogenous Technical Change

摘要: (ProQuest: ... denotes formulae omitted.)Managing exploitation of ground water for agriculture and controlling nonpoint-source pollution public health have long been important issues economists agricultural policymakers. In response to growing concern about depletion contamination, the U.S. Congress established, as part 1996 Farm Act, an cost-share program known Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) encourage producers adopt resource-conserving environmentally beneficial practices. However, there were some changes EQIP in 2008 Bill.1 For applications that included conservation or irrigation-efficiency practices, Bill required Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) give priority demonstrated a reduction use by operation:2As condition receiving higher ranking with grouping applications, producer agrees not any associated savings bring new land under irrigation production, excluding incidental needed efficient operations. (Section 2503-Environmental Incentives Program)Irrigation practices improved efficiency precision systems, automation newer sensor-controlled equipment (Lichtenberg, Majsztrik, Saavoss 2015).Since then, numerous studies analyzed cost-sharing programs using variety models, including dynamic models management (Wu et al. 1994, Kim, Schaible, Daberkow 2000), mathematical programming (Huffacker Whittlesey 2003,Scheierling, Young, Cardon 2006), risk-programming (Peterson Ding 2005), multi-year optimization (Ward 2008).While empirical suggested are unlikely reduce either (Huffaker 2003,Pfeiffer Lin 2014, Ward 2008, Wu 1994), few provided support demonstrating optimal fertilization do respond monotonically system. Peterson (2005) found system provides intermediate (sprinklers) results greater while high-efficiency (drip) less than inefficient flood Similarly, (2000) adoption cost-shared center-pivot systems reduces contamination other (tail-water recovery surge flow) result continued deterioration quality water. The conversion acres from dryland irrigated operations involving high-value crops, potentially changing prior studies.We revisit effects on ameliorating shortcomings hydrologic economic used previous studies, which (i) partial analysis was costshare but both, (ii) benefits nitrogen fertilizer uses overestimated, (iii) delayed nitrate leaching return flows omitted, (iv) critical elements nutrient cycle and, most importantly, (v) process developing adopting induced technologies omitted. …