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Better Predictions, Better Allocations: Scientific Advances and Adaptation to Climate Change

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  • Mark C. Freeman
  • Ben Groom
  • Richard Zeckhauser

Abstract

The initial hope for climate science was that an improved understanding of what the future might bring would lead to appropriate public policies and effective international climate agreements. Even if that hope is not realized, as now seems likely, scientific advances leading to a more refined assessment of the uncertainties surrounding the future impacts of climate change would facilitate more appropriate adaptation measures. Such measures might involve shifting modes or locales of production, for example. This article focuses on two broader tools: consumption smoothing in anticipation of future losses, and physical adaptation measures to reduce damages. It shows that informative signals on climate-change effects lead to better decisions in the use of each tool.

Suggested Citation

  • Mark C. Freeman & Ben Groom & Richard Zeckhauser, 2015. "Better Predictions, Better Allocations: Scientific Advances and Adaptation to Climate Change," NBER Working Papers 21463, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:21463
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    Cited by:

    1. Nawab Khan & Jiliang Ma & Hazem S. Kassem & Rizwan Kazim & Ram L. Ray & Muhammad Ihtisham & Shemei Zhang, 2022. "Rural Farmers’ Cognition and Climate Change Adaptation Impact on Cash Crop Productivity: Evidence from a Recent Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-16, October.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D8 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty
    • D83 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Search; Learning; Information and Knowledge; Communication; Belief; Unawareness
    • E21 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Consumption; Saving; Wealth
    • H41 - Public Economics - - Publicly Provided Goods - - - Public Goods
    • H43 - Public Economics - - Publicly Provided Goods - - - Project Evaluation; Social Discount Rate
    • Q5 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics
    • Q54 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Climate; Natural Disasters and their Management; Global Warming

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