IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/ecanpo/v75y2022icp689-704.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The policy challenges of green rural transformation for Asia-Pacific emerging and developing economies in a post-COVID world

Author

Listed:
  • Barbier, Edward B.

Abstract

Rural transformation is a process of comprehensive societal change whereby countries diversify their economies and reduce their reliance on agriculture and other primary product industries. “Greening” rural transformation implies making this process of structural change and economic diversification less environmentally damaging, including reducing dependency on fossil fuels and carbon emissions. To be successful in Asia-Pacific emerging and economies, such a transformation must be compatible with the most important development goal, which is poverty alleviation. This includes reducing poverty levels as well as related objectives, such as increasing access to energy, safe water and basic sanitation. An additional policy challenge is that many developing and emerging economies in the region remain highly dependent on primary products for exports, GDP and employment, and these activities are accompanied by significant land use change, especially for tropical countries. In a post-COVID world, emerging and developing countries will need to find cost-effective and innovative policy mechanisms to achieve sustainability and rural transformation aims in the absence of significant infusions of additional financing from major economies and international organizations. This article identifies affordable policies that can yield progress towards several development goals together, rather than sacrificing some goals to achieve others. Three policies meet these criteria: a fossil fuel subsidy swap to fund clean energy investments and dissemination of renewable energy in rural areas; reallocating water subsidies to expand water supply and sanitation services for the rural poor; and using proceeds from a carbon tax to fund natural climate solutions.

Suggested Citation

  • Barbier, Edward B., 2022. "The policy challenges of green rural transformation for Asia-Pacific emerging and developing economies in a post-COVID world," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 689-704.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecanpo:v:75:y:2022:i:c:p:689-704
    DOI: 10.1016/j.eap.2022.06.008
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0313592622000947
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.eap.2022.06.008?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Barbier,Edward B., 2019. "Natural Resources and Economic Development," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9781107179264, September.
    2. Barbier, Edward B., 2020. "Is green rural transformation possible in developing countries?," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 131(C).
    3. Christopher B. Barrett & Ariel Ortiz-Bobea & Trinh Pham, 2023. "Structural Transformation, Agriculture, Climate, and the Environment," Review of Environmental Economics and Policy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 17(2), pages 195-216.
    4. Edward B. Barbier & Ricardo Lozano & Carlos Manuel Rodríguez & Sebastian Troëng, 2020. "Adopt a carbon tax to protect tropical forests," Nature, Nature, vol. 578(7794), pages 213-216, February.
    5. Suparak Suriyankietkaew & Suthep Nimsai, 2021. "COVID-19 Impacts and Sustainability Strategies for Regional Recovery in Southeast Asia: Challenges and Opportunities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-28, August.
    6. Arze del Granado, Francisco Javier & Coady, David & Gillingham, Robert, 2012. "The Unequal Benefits of Fuel Subsidies: A Review of Evidence for Developing Countries," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 40(11), pages 2234-2248.
    7. Alex Bowen & Sam Fankhauser, 2011. "Low-Carbon Development for the Least Developed Countries," World Economics, World Economics, 1 Ivory Square, Plantation Wharf, London, United Kingdom, SW11 3UE, vol. 12(1), pages 145-162, January.
    8. Angelsen, Arild & Jagger, Pamela & Babigumira, Ronnie & Belcher, Brian & Hogarth, Nicholas J. & Bauch, Simone & Börner, Jan & Smith-Hall, Carsten & Wunder, Sven, 2014. "Environmental Income and Rural Livelihoods: A Global-Comparative Analysis," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 64(S1), pages 12-28.
    9. Rob Hope & Patrick Thomson & Johanna Koehler & Tim Foster, 2020. "Rethinking the economics of rural water in Africa," Oxford Review of Economic Policy, Oxford University Press and Oxford Review of Economic Policy Limited, vol. 36(1), pages 171-190.
    10. Castañeda, Andrés & Doan, Dung & Newhouse, David & Nguyen, Minh Cong & Uematsu, Hiroki & Azevedo, João Pedro, 2018. "A New Profile of the Global Poor," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 101(C), pages 250-267.
    11. Pahle, Michael & Pachauri, Shonali & Steinbacher, Karoline, 2016. "Can the Green Economy deliver it all? Experiences of renewable energy policies with socio-economic objectives," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 179(C), pages 1331-1341.
    12. Barbier,Edward, 2022. "Economics for a Fragile Planet," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9781108823388, September.
    13. Kalpana Kochhar & Catherine A Pattillo & Yan M Sun & Nujin Suphaphiphat & Andrew J Swiston & Robert Tchaidze & Benedict J. Clements & Stefania Fabrizio & Valentina Flamini & Laure Redifer & Harald Fin, 2015. "Is the Glass Half Empty Or Half Full?; Issues in Managing Water Challenges and Policy Instruments," IMF Staff Discussion Notes 15/11, International Monetary Fund.
    14. Barrett, Christopher B. & Ortiz-Bobea, Ariel & Phan, Trinh, 2021. "Structural Transformation, Agriculture, Climate, and the Environment," Working Papers 309951, Cornell University, Department of Applied Economics and Management.
    15. Ms. Kalpana Kochhar & Ms. Catherine A Pattillo & Ms. Yan M Sun & Mrs. Nujin Suphaphiphat & Mr. Andrew J Swiston & Mr. Robert Tchaidze & Mr. Benedict J. Clements & Ms. Stefania Fabrizio & Valentina Fla, 2015. "Is the Glass Half Empty Or Half Full?: Issues in Managing Water Challenges and Policy Instruments," IMF Staff Discussion Notes 2015/011, International Monetary Fund.
    16. Jonah Busch & Kalifi Ferretti-Gallon, 2017. "What Drives Deforestation and What Stops It? A Meta-Analysis," Review of Environmental Economics and Policy, Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 11(1), pages 3-23.
    17. Neil S. Grigg, 2019. "Global water infrastructure: state of the art review," International Journal of Water Resources Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 35(2), pages 181-205, March.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Zhen Liu & Renjie Cai & Ruotong Li & Jing Lan, 2023. "The effects of agricultural product exports on agricultural environmental pollution: evidence from OECD countries and China," Economic Change and Restructuring, Springer, vol. 56(6), pages 4071-4098, December.
    2. K M Nuruddin Sarawar & Swati Anindita Sarker & Airin Rahman & Md. Din Il Islam & Md. Shah Alamgir & K M Mehedi Adnan, 2023. "Does Human Capital Link to Agriculture Sector? Review Evidence from Bangladesh," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 7(10), pages 1707-1717, October.
    3. Edward B. Barbier & Joanne C. Burgess, 2023. "Natural Capital, Institutional Quality and SDG Progress in Emerging Market and Developing Economies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-19, February.
    4. Li, Xiang & Tong, Xiuyu, 2024. "Fostering green growth in Asian developing economies: The role of good governance in mitigating the resource curse," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 90(C).
    5. Mallawaarachchi, Thilak & Rahut, Dil Bahadur, 2023. "Realising rural economic transformation: Pathways to inclusive and sustainable prosperity in post-COVID-19 Asia," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 1076-1082.
    6. Yunfeng Shang & Pan Qi & Hui Chen & Qin Yang & Yuan Chen, 2023. "COVID-19 and its impact on tourism sectors: implications for green economic recovery," Economic Change and Restructuring, Springer, vol. 56(2), pages 941-958, April.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Edward B. Barbier & Joanne C. Burgess, 2023. "Natural Capital, Institutional Quality and SDG Progress in Emerging Market and Developing Economies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-19, February.
    2. Barbier, Edward B., 2020. "Is green rural transformation possible in developing countries?," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 131(C).
    3. Edward B. Barbier, 2022. "The Policy Implications of the Dasgupta Review: Land Use Change and Biodiversity," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 83(4), pages 911-935, December.
    4. Malerba, Daniele, 2020. "Poverty alleviation and local environmental degradation: An empirical analysis in Colombia," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 127(C).
    5. Xun Su & Minpeng Chen, 2022. "Econometric Approaches That Consider Farmers’ Adaptation in Estimating the Impacts of Climate Change on Agriculture: A Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-23, October.
    6. Lyazzat Nugumanova & Miriam Frey & Natalya Yemelina & Stanislav Yugay, 2017. "Environmental Problems and Policies in Kazakhstan: Air pollution, waste and water," Working Papers 366, Leibniz Institut für Ost- und Südosteuropaforschung (Institute for East and Southeast European Studies).
    7. Hasan, Syed M. & Akram, Agha Ali & Jeuland, Marc, 2021. "Awareness of coping costs and willingness to pay for urban drinking water service: Evidence from Lahore, Pakistan," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).
    8. Barbier, Edward B., 2020. "Long run agricultural land expansion, booms and busts," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 93(C).
    9. Willenbockel, Dirk, 2014. "Reflections on the prospects for pro-poor low-carbon growth," MPRA Paper 69863, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    10. Jung, Suhyun & Rogers, Martha, 2024. "Mobile phone adoption, deforestation, and agricultural land use in Uganda," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 179(C).
    11. Shinde, Nilesh N. & Do Valle, Stella Z. Schons & Maia, Alexandre Gori & Amacher, Gregory S., 2022. "Can an environmental policy contribute to the reduction of land conflict? Evidence from the Rural Environmental Registry (CAR) in the Brazilian Amazon," 2022 Annual Meeting, July 31-August 2, Anaheim, California 322584, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    12. Sultan Ahmad Rizvi & Afeef Ahmad & Muhammad Latif & Abdul Sattar Shakir & Aftab Ahmad Khan & Waqas Naseem & Muhammad Riaz Gondal, 2021. "Implication of Remote Sensing Data under GIS Environment for Appraisal of Irrigation System Performance," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 35(14), pages 4909-4926, November.
    13. Feuerbacher, Arndt & Rai, Arun & Lofgren, Hans & Sander, Klas & Grethe, Harald, 2021. "Policies to reconcile forest conservation and rural development: A pathway to bridge the forest transition in Bhutan?," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 109(C).
    14. Pegels, Anna & Altenburg, Tilman, 2020. "Latecomer development in a “greening” world: Introduction to the Special Issue," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 135(C).
    15. Shibalal Meher, 2023. "Does poverty cause forest degradation? Evidence from a poor state in India," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 25(2), pages 1684-1699, February.
    16. Anwar Hussain & Khalil Ur Rahman & Muhammad Shahid & Sajjad Haider & Quoc Bao Pham & Nguyen Thi Thuy Linh & Saad Shauket Sammen, 2022. "Investigating feasible sites for multi-purpose small dams in Swat District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, Pakistan: socioeconomic and environmental considerations," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 24(9), pages 10852-10875, September.
    17. Li, Xunhuan & Wang, Yongsheng & Wang, Zhaosheng, 2024. "Quantifying the industrial development modes and their capability of realizing the ecological value in rural China," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 203(C).
    18. Horbulyk, Ted & Price, Joseph P. G., 2018. "Pricing reforms for sustainable water use and management in Vietnam," IWMI Working Papers H048608, International Water Management Institute.
    19. Edward B. Barbier, 2021. "Land expansion and growth in low‐ and middle‐income countries," Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society, vol. 65(1), pages 23-36, January.
    20. Miller, Daniel C. & Hajjar, Reem, 2020. "Forests as pathways to prosperity: Empirical insights and conceptual advances," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 125(C).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Asia-Pacific region; Developing economies; Green economy; Post-COVID recovery; Rural transformation;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O13 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Agriculture; Natural Resources; Environment; Other Primary Products
    • O44 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - Environment and Growth
    • Q56 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environment and Development; Environment and Trade; Sustainability; Environmental Accounts and Accounting; Environmental Equity; Population Growth
    • Q01 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - General - - - Sustainable Development

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:ecanpo:v:75:y:2022:i:c:p:689-704. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/economic-analysis-and-policy .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.