The complexities around global food security and biofuel production are at the intersection of some crucial global challenges: hunger, energy security, resource governance and development. Although...Show moreThe complexities around global food security and biofuel production are at the intersection of some crucial global challenges: hunger, energy security, resource governance and development. Although biofuels have received attention as a means to sustainably solve international energy concerns and promote rural development, the impacts of biofuel expansion in developing countries have set in motion a considerable debate about their impact on food security. In response to a lack of integrated scientific analysis, this thesis applies the theory of economic externalities to biofuel production and explores whether there is a general, negative effect on food security in Sub-Saharan Africa. The results of a multiple linear regression analysis confirm a negative impact of biofuel production on food security, although the effect is small in comparison to other food security determinants. Interestingly, the study reveals an important moderating role of regime types in the biofuel-food security nexus, showing that the negative effect is particularly the case in non-democratic regimes. In view of rising demand for renewable energy sources and increasing food insecurity in Sub-Saharan Africa, this study calls for more in-depth analysis of the interactions between these dynamics.Show less
The present study explores the effect of externalities awareness and Social Value Orientation (SVO) in anticommons dilemmas. Making participants of an anticommons game aware of externalities was...Show moreThe present study explores the effect of externalities awareness and Social Value Orientation (SVO) in anticommons dilemmas. Making participants of an anticommons game aware of externalities was expected to increase cooperation, by decreasing their willingnessto-accept (WTA) values, i.e. the amount they would be willing to accept in order to allow other individuals to make use of the resource. The results of the computer-based anticommons game (N = 167) did not support this hypothesis. However, the results did show, as predicted, that the more prosocial participants were, the more easily they allowed access to the resource by setting lower willingness-to-accept (WTA) values. Additionally, the hypothesized interaction effect between externalities awareness and Social Value Orientation (SVO) was not confirmed. Proselfs’ behavior did not change significantly more than prosocials’, after they got aware of the externalities. Finally, the negative effects of uncertainty in cooperation are discussed.Show less
This thesis examines the incentive structures pertaining to palm oil conflicts in Sumatra and Kalimantan. The author has adopted a historical perspective in order to explain the development of the...Show moreThis thesis examines the incentive structures pertaining to palm oil conflicts in Sumatra and Kalimantan. The author has adopted a historical perspective in order to explain the development of the current ownership arrangements that are argued to foster land ownership disputes. Other themes include deepening issues involving increased resource scarcity, and negative externalities imposed by palm oil companies. Three case studies have been selected to support Abram et al.'s hypothesis that proximity to rain forests contributes to an increased likelihood in palm oil related conflicts.Show less
