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Toward Rigorous Telecoupling Causal Attribution: A Systematic Review and Typology

Author

Listed:
  • Andrew K. Carlson

    (Center for Systems Integration and Sustainability, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, 115 Manly Miles Building, 1405 S. Harrison Road, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA)

  • Julie G. Zaehringer

    (Centre for Development and Environment, University of Bern, Mittelstrasse 43, 3012 Bern, Switzerland)

  • Rachael D. Garrett

    (Department of Earth and Environment and Global Development Policy Center, Boston University, 685 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA 02215, USA)

  • Ramon Felipe Bicudo Silva

    (Center for Environmental Research and Studies, State University of Campinas, Campinas, SP 13083-867, Brazil)

  • Paul R. Furumo

    (Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Puerto Rico-Río Piedras, San Juan 00931, Puerto Rico)

  • Andrea N Raya Rey

    (Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas (CADIC), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), B. Houssay 200, Ushuaia V9410BFD, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina
    Instituto de Ciencias Polares, Ambiente y Recursos Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Tierra del Fuego, Hipólito Yrigoyen 879, Ushuaia 9410, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina)

  • Aurora Torres

    (German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv), Deutscher Platz 5e, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
    Institute of Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, 06108 Halle (Saale), Germany)

  • Min Gon Chung

    (Center for Systems Integration and Sustainability, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, 115 Manly Miles Building, 1405 S. Harrison Road, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA)

  • Yingjie Li

    (Center for Systems Integration and Sustainability, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, 115 Manly Miles Building, 1405 S. Harrison Road, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA)

  • Jianguo Liu

    (Center for Systems Integration and Sustainability, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, 115 Manly Miles Building, 1405 S. Harrison Road, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA)

Abstract

Telecoupled flows of people, organisms, goods, information, and energy are expanding across the globe. Causes are integral components of the telecoupling framework, yet the rigor with which they have been identified and evaluated to date is unknown. We address this knowledge gap by systematically reviewing causal attribution in the telecoupling literature (n = 89 studies) and developing a standardized causal terminology and typology for consistent use in telecoupling research. Causes are defined based on six criteria: sector (e.g., environmental, economic), system of origin (i.e., sending, receiving, spillover), agent, distance, response time (i.e., time lapse between cause and effect), and direction (i.e., producing positive or negative effects). Using case studies from the telecoupling literature, we demonstrate the need to enhance the rigor of telecoupling causal attribution by combining qualitative and quantitative methods via process-tracing, counterfactual analysis, and related approaches. Rigorous qualitative-quantitative causal attribution is critical for accurately assessing the social-ecological causes and consequences of telecouplings and thereby identifying leverage points for informed management and governance of telecoupled systems.

Suggested Citation

  • Andrew K. Carlson & Julie G. Zaehringer & Rachael D. Garrett & Ramon Felipe Bicudo Silva & Paul R. Furumo & Andrea N Raya Rey & Aurora Torres & Min Gon Chung & Yingjie Li & Jianguo Liu, 2018. "Toward Rigorous Telecoupling Causal Attribution: A Systematic Review and Typology," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-17, November.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:10:y:2018:i:12:p:4426-:d:185707
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jillian M. Deines & Xiao Liu & Jianguo Liu, 2016. "Telecoupling in urban water systems: an examination of Beijing’s imported water supply," Water International, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 41(2), pages 251-270, March.
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    7. Jianguo Liu, 2014. "Forest Sustainability in China and Implications for a Telecoupled World," Asia and the Pacific Policy Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 1(1), pages 230-250, January.
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    Cited by:

    1. Kelly E. Kapsar & Ciara L. Hovis & Ramon Felipe Bicudo da Silva & Erin K. Buchholtz & Andrew K. Carlson & Yue Dou & Yueyue Du & Paul R. Furumo & Yingjie Li & Aurora Torres & Di Yang & Ho Yi Wan & Juli, 2019. "Telecoupling Research: The First Five Years," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-13, February.
    2. Anna Herzberger & Min Gon Chung & Kelly Kapsar & Kenneth A. Frank & Jianguo Liu, 2019. "Telecoupled Food Trade Affects Pericoupled Trade and Intracoupled Production," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-15, May.
    3. Laura McKinney & Devin C. Wright, 2021. "Climate Change and Water Dynamics in Rural Uganda," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(15), pages 1-12, July.
    4. Vairetti, Carla & Gennaro, Franco & Maldonado, Sebastián, 2024. "Propensity score oversampling and matching for uplift modeling," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 316(3), pages 1058-1069.

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