Browse by: "PRE-2008"

The reader will find in this publication the recommendations which the Round Table made on ways to combat vandalism, namely:  the creation of local partnerships between all actors involved in crime prevention, policing and law enforcement;  exchanges of experience;  the issuing of guidelines on crime prevention and infrastructure design;  and publication of case studies of successes and failures.

Economic valuation is widely used in OECD countries as a way of assessing the (usually monetary) value of goods that have no markets. In the rural context, valuation methods are used to argue for or against projects and policy choices in areas as diverse as agricultural support policies, local economic development, land use and biodiversity assessment.
This volume reviews a range of different valuation methodologies -- stated preferences, cost-benefit, revealed preferences, and others -- and looks at how these different approaches influence choices in rural policy. Its aim is to assess whether some set of international guidelines or standards could be used to reduce the subjectivity of the evidentiary information.

This is the first study of the Value-Added Tax (VAT) systems of the ten countries of Central and Eastern Europe preparing for integration into the European Union (EU). The study offers a comparative evaluation of the main features of the VAT systems between the ten countries surveyed and provides a commentary on the development of the VAT systems in line with the VAT legislation of the EU.

The importance of biodiversity valuation is widely understood in academia and is increasingly used in policy making and other fora. For example, the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), through the Conference of the Parties (COP), recognises that "economic valuation of biodiversity and biological resources is an important tool for well-targeted and calibrated economic incentive measures". Further, it encourages the Parties to "take into account economic, social, cultural and ethical valuation in the development of relevant incentive measures" (CBD COP Decision IV/10). Biodiversity valuation should be an integral part of environmental economic policy, providing information to policy makers in their quest to identify priorities and equate trade-offs. As part of its effort to support governments in using valuation methods to assess the value of biological diversity, the OECD commissioned this series of case studies. They cover the state of the art on economic valuation and on the interface between economic and ecological valuation.

R&D activities and construction plans related to high power proton accelerators are being considered in various countries to promote basic and applied sciences. Both accelerator scientists and reactor physicists gathered at an NEA workshop to discuss the reliability of the accelerator; spallation target design characteristics; safety and operational characteristics of a sub-critical system driven by a spallation source; and test facilities. These proceedings contain all the technical papers presented at the workshop, as well as summaries of the discussions held during each technical session.

High power proton accelerators are being studied for their potential use in the transmutation of nuclear waste. The Second Workshop on Utilisation and Reliability of High Power Proton Accelerators, organised by the NEA Nuclear Science Committee, placed special emphasis on accelerator-driven system (ADS) concepts comprising a sub-critical reactor coupled with a high power accelerator.

The information provided in these proceedings will primarily be of interest to scientists working on accelerator-driven systems, but also to those involved in the construction of high power accelerators.

The use of high power particle accelerators in various areas of applied nuclear science is presented with special emphasis on accelerator driven reactor systems (ADS) for transmutation of nuclear waste. National programmes for the development of spallation neutron sources are presented and the performance and reliability of existing or planned accelerators for use in ADS are discussed. Effects, such as thermal shocks and material resistance, on the reactor part of an ADS from loss of accelerator beam are discussed in greater detail.

This study considers advantages of relying on micro-data to assess average tax rates on labour, capital and transfer income and presents some illustrative results. The analysis emphases the importance of matching taxpayer-level information to income flows, and notes difficulties in interpreting tax rates that average over all taxpayers. It also illustrates the importance of loss adjustments in measuring effective tax rates on capital income, and reports evidence of significant variation in corporate average tax rates by sector and firm asset size.

In demystifying the concept of market-like instruments, this study explains how to make better use of market-like instruments in fisheries management by identifying practical steps that can be taken to further their use. The findings of the study are based on a survey of the use of market-like instruments in OECD fisheries in which the key characteristics of these instruments in different countries are identified. It finds that market-like instruments have generally improved the economic efficiency of the sector, and have helped to ensure the sustainability of fish stocks.

Now that railway infrastructure and train operations have been separated in Europe -- at least for accounting purposes -- user charges for infrastructure are progressively being introduced to cover the costs of running trains. However, because of the lack of experience in this field, it is difficult to set the amount and choose the most appropriate form for these charges. There are in fact major differences between countries, and the objectives are many and sometimes conflicting. Given this situation, the Round Table sought to highlight, through its introductory reports and discussions, some essential economic principles that can help to shed light on what a rational system of user charges for railway infrastructure might be and thereby make it possible to address a crucial aspect of railway reform in Europe.
Special attention is paid to the German, French, British and Swedish experience.

This urban renaissance review of Glasgow looks back over the 1990s, when a succession of strategic initiatives and major events brought regeneration to several key parts of the city, including along the banks of the Clyde, and helped lift investment and activity.  This book provides a policy tool kit for Glasgow, with the aim of improving the distressed urban areas that are holding the city back.

This comprehensive territorial review of Canberra identifies strategies and policy recommendations that can help local agencies and actors better meet the challenges they face. It identifies the need for a new and more holistic approach to urban planning and an opportunity for innovative and inclusive public participation in the planning process. Social, economic and environmental policies must evolve simultaneously in order to have maximum impact at the local level - a goal that many cities throughout OECD countries are far from reaching.  

This study of Berlin, after German unification, examines and makes proposals for distressed areas where there is a need for targeted regeneration measures.  Building on previous urban renaissance studies, this report adds a new dimension to the lessons learned about urban regeneration through a focus on unemployment, youth and immigration to help create and exploit Berlin's under-developed assets. 

Germany has long been a pioneer in urban policy. The country has aimed at sustainable urban development in order to tackle all the various economic, social and environmental challenges facing cities. Integrated policy responses and innovative measures have been introduced to help revitalise city centres and cope with suburban growth, rising motor traffic and social change. This book analyses these steps against the background of features specific to Germany: its federal system, the unification process, and its polycentric urban pattern. Urban policy is an effective means of addressing a range of problems inherited from the past, while preparing for a more sustainable future. Over and above the features and findings specific to Germany, the book argues for an integrated and forward-looking multisectoral approach that cannot be guided solely by economic logic and will provide tangible responses to the key question: what kind of cities do we want for the future?