This paper deals with one of the many aspects of controlling air pollution–equity. The equity issue discussed concerns the fact that areas with high and low levels of air pollution are subjected to many of the same controls under current legislation. The equity issue is, of course, only one of several imperative questions that should be addressed and fully researched before society embarks on an abatement program of great magnitude. In fact, comparisons between expected cost outlays by firms and individuals to control air pollution, and the cost of allowing the pollution to continue, indicate that it may be less costly for firms and individuals to do nothing.

Flood proofing first entered the flood damage reduction literature with the pioneering work of John Sheaffer. Prior to this, flood control measures considered were predominantly structural – consisting of dams, levees, dikes, channel improvements, etc. The addition of flood proofing to other flood damage reduction measures has broadened the choice among the existing alternatives for decision makers. Unlike the structural measures, flood proofing measures do not actually reduce flood stage or prevent the water from reaching the structures, but rather are as considered by Sheaffer, “adjustments to structures and contents which are designed and/or adopted primarily to reduce flood damages”.

Prince Edward Island, one of the four Atlantic Provinces of Canada, has recently, in conjunction with the Federal government, undertaken a comprehensive development plan in an effort to break the “vicious circle” of poverty, low income and low productivity characteristic of a depressed region. Before the development plan was instituted, levels of unemployment on the island were consistently three to seven percent above the national average. The economy is characterized by a heavy dependence upon land based resource industry, particularly agriculture, and the resources of the sea. The small amount of manufacturing is related almost entirely to these resources and is organized in small production units. Accordingly, per capita income ranges between 60% and 70% of the national average. The P.E.I. development plan is broad-based, massive in relation to the economy of the island, and contained in a single geographical and political unit. Development projects are planned, not just for a few sectors of the economy, but for practically all sectors and at a scale of investment where significant changes should occur.

A commonly visualized benefit from natural resources is outdoor recreation including activities such as fishing, hunting, hiking, and nature study. Due to the extra-market nature of these activities, monetary measures of the benefits emanating from them require use of some kind of simulated prices. The procedure most widely used for this purpose has been that of estimating a demand function, using differential travel costs associated with the locational dispersion of the recreationists, as a proxy price variable. These methodologies may be labeled as “willingness to pay” approaches and have been used by a number of economists.

Perhaps we should begin this session by clarifying the title and then take a closer review of the situation which developed at West Virginia University. First, when we discuss institutional restructuring it is assumed that we are restricting our field of inquiry to the College of Agriculture, including Cooperative Extension and the Agricultural Experiment Station. Second, when we speak of changing missions it is assumed that we are referring to the missions of the College of Agriculture, including Cooperative Extension and the Agricultural Experiment Station. Considerable change in structure and in mission has occurred throughout our University but those which are not directly related to agriculture are omitted.

The advertisement of one of our automobile manufacturers 10 to 15 years ago ended with the slogan, “Ask the man who owns one.” Probably my presence on this program on institutional restructuring can be explained best by paraphrasing this ad to read “Ask the man who's been through one.” Although I shall describe Vermont's experience with reorganization, in the process I want to discuss a few ideas on the changing role of the university and the land grant college in the last half of the 20th century. I readily confess that many of the ideas expressed in this paper are not original; I have drawn heavily upon recent writings of James Bonnen (1), Emery Castle (2, 3), and Earl Heady (4), and I recommend the original articles to you.

Rutgers University was chartered as Queen's College on November 10, 1766. It was the eighth institution of higher education founded in Colonial America prior to the Revolutionary War. From its modest beginning in the New Brunswick area the University has grown to eight separately organized undergraduate colleges in three areas of the State, with a wide range of offerings in liberal and applied arts and sciences.

The Economic Research Service is in the midst of reorganization. For the past 1-1/2 years, ERS researchers and administrators have been working overtime to make sure that ERS research dovetails with today's priorities.