Approaches to the assessment of indirect economic damage from changes in the level of Lake Baikal

Abstract

Subject. The article considers methodological approaches to the definition of the concept and assessment of indirect economic damage from changes in the level of Lake Baikal. Objectives. The aim is to analyze the adequacy and practical suitability of methodology for assessing the probabilistic damage from harmful effects of water and the effectiveness of preventive water management measures, developed by the All-Russian Research Institute of Economy and Exploration of Mineral Resources (VIEMS). Methods. On the basis of comparative analysis of results obtained under the direct counting method and those under the VIEMS methodology, we underpinned the adequacy of the latter. Results. We used the case of Nizhneangarsk settlement to make estimates of indirect economic damage under the method of direct counting and the VIEMS methodology. The results are comparable, and this enables to speak about the adequacy of the VIEMS methodology . Conclusions. The comparative analysis demonstrates the reliability of results of assessing the indirect economic damage, obtained using the VIEMS methodology. Significant labour intensity, complexity, and often impossibility of estimation by the direct counting method make it possible to substantiate the feasibility of practical application of the VIEMS methodology for assessing indirect economic damage from the negative impact of waters.