Improving the ecological and economic performance of agri-environment schemes: Payment by modelled results versus payment for actions

Researchers and policy-makers have become increasingly interested in re-designing agri-environmental policy to improve both economic efficiency ecological effectiveness. One idea within this debate has been payments for results (outcomes) rather than payment actions. Payment result policies argued some important advantages, but two key disadvantages are the higher risks faced by landowners, leading low participation rates; potentially high costs of monitoring outcomes. Bartkowski et al. (2021) propose an alternative modelled results, which claims avoid these problems. Our paper provides first application approach spatially realistic patterns heterogeneity farmland biodiversity England. We compare findings with approximately equivalent actions schemes intended deliver increases same indicators. Key insights that delivers superior predicted outcomes budgetary cost as actions, whilst surpluses farmers also higher.