Description
Calculate a supplied pollution reduction relative to a counterfactual.
Environmental economic terms depend on price decomposition, attributable cost, deposit accounting and supplied counterfactuals. A signed difference can be negative, and a cost share does not establish willingness to pay. Local scenario arithmetic does not estimate scarcity, causal benefit, entitlement or an optimal environmental policy.
Calculate a supplied pollution reduction relative to a counterfactual.
When to use this tool
Use Pollution Reduction Counterfactual Difference when you already have counterfactualPollution, observedPollution and need to calculate a supplied pollution reduction relative to a counterfactual.
How to use the tool and how it works
- Enter counterfactualPollution, observedPollution. Use the units and conventions below.
- Run the tool. Correct any format, range, or cross-field input error before interpreting the output.
- Read signedReduction. Use the output convention below.
Require both pollution values>=0; return counterfactualPollution-observedPollution.1
| Input field | Meaning and units | Accepted input |
|---|---|---|
| counterfactualPollution | Counterfactual Pollution | Required. Finite number; minimum 0. |
| observedPollution | Observed Pollution | Required. Finite number; minimum 0. |
| Output field | Interpretation | Returned shape |
|---|---|---|
| signedReduction | Counterfactual-observed; negative means observed pollution is higher under the supplied comparison, not a causal effect estimate. | Required. Finite number. |
{
"input": {
"counterfactualPollution": 100,
"observedPollution": 80
},
"output": {
"signedReduction": 20
}
}Limitations and assumptions
- A negative value means observed pollution exceeds the supplied counterfactual; no counterfactual, causal effect, environmental harm or policy benefit is estimated.
- Inputs must satisfy both the field types and the cross-field conditions above. Invalid input causes an error; a successful false flag or documented placeholder is a different result.
- Numeric calculations use binary floating point unless exact decimal-integer arithmetic is explicitly stated. No hidden measurement tolerance or decimal rounding is added; nonfinite or out-of-contract results are rejected. Numeric signed-zero results are exported as zero.
Alternative or Complementary methods
Use the complete cost, valuation or causal study with explicit boundaries and verified source data for an economic conclusion. Reconcile deposit records and actual fee rules separately; a supplied price wedge or counterfactual difference is only one scenario term.
References
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