The application of environmental Gini coefficient (EGC) in allocating wastewater discharge permit: The case study of watershed total mass control in Tianjin, China

Tao Sun, Hongwei Zhang, Yuan Wang, Xiangming Meng and Chenwan Wang

Resources, Conservation & Recycling, 2010, vol. 54, issue 9, 601-608

Abstract: The allocation of wastewater discharge permit is always a challenge in total mass control due to the conflicts between environmental equality and efficiency. In this article, we introduce a framework to allocate discharge permit by using Gini coefficient, a widely used index of income inequality in economics. The environmental Gini coefficient (EGC) method is based on a multi-criteria system, including land area, population, gross domestic product (GDP), and environmental capacity. The allocation of chemical oxygen demand (COD) in the watershed at Tianjin, China is chosen as a case study to illustrate the application of this framework. The results show that the EGC method can provide a profound insight for environmental management with a focus on balance of environmental equality and efficiency for the policy-makers, especially in developing countries.

Keywords: Environmental Gini coefficient (EGC); Allocation; Equality; Multi-criteria (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2010
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:recore:v:54:y:2010:i:9:p:601-608

DOI: 10.1016/j.resconrec.2009.10.017

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