Irrigation tanks are one of the oldest and most important common property water resources in the resource-poor regions of South India. Tanks are also important from an ecological perspective because they serve as a geographically well-distributed mechanism for the conservation of soil, water and...

This study, which is among the first in Pakistan to value recreational benefits, estimates the benefits of establishing and managing the Margalla Hills National Park near Islamabad. The study examines how much park visitors are willing to pay to visit and enjoy the park. Annual benefits from the...

Maldivian atolls are known for their beautiful coral structures, fish abundance, white sandy beaches, coastal vegetation and mangroves. This paper provides an economic valuation of the recreational uses of atoll-based marine resources in the Republic of the Maldives. We use a travel demand model...

This paper examines the sensitivity of rice yield in Nepal to changes in climate variables and the magnitude of potential impacts on rice productivity in the future. Our findings draw attention to the differential impacts on rice yield depending on which stage of rice development is affected. We...

This study offers an empirical analysis of the economic incentives available for food processing firms in Sri Lanka to adopt environmental controls for solid waste management. We carried out a series of in-depth interviews (n=325) with managers responsible for environmental quality in five types...

Much experimental research has been conducted in laboratory settings on human behavior related to public goods, common-pool resources, and other social dilemmas. These studies have shown that when subjects are anonymous and not allowed to communicate, they tend not to cooperate. However, to the...

This paper analyzes the effect of different types of cook-stoves on firewood demand at the household level. Using nationally representative household survey data from Nepal we find that stove type significantly affects the firewood demand for household uses. Traditional mud stove user households...

This study evaluates the economic feasibility of replacing shifting cultivation (Jhum)with settled agriculture and new soil conservation technology based on an assessment of the farmers' risk and corresponding discount rates in the Khagrachari hill district of Bangladesh. Shifting cultivation...

This paper seeks to understand whether decentralized management of forests can reduce forest loss in developing countries. In South Asia, large-scale experiments in decentralization -- Joint Forest Management in India and community forestry in Nepal, in particular - have changed the relationship...

Most firms that process rubber in Sri Lanka do not comply with national water pollution control standards. This study seeks to estimate a pollution tax that could motivate firms to meet these standards. The authors use data from 62 rubber producing firms in Sri Lanka over three years to estimate...