Data evaluation device and data evaluation method

Abstract

Accurately assess a company's non-financial value by taking into account the spatial propagation of the environmental impact of corporate activities. The data evaluation device of the present invention comprises: The system is characterized by comprising an information integration unit that generates a first constraint model representing the natural resilience of ecosystem functions in the analyzed area, the impact of the analyzed company on ecosystem functions, and a first propagation path of the interaction of ecosystem functions between the analyzed areas, and generates a second constraint model that represents a second propagation path of the impact of the analyzed company's business activities on ecosystem functions via the supply chain; an imputed price calculation unit that calculates the imputed price of the analyzed company's business activities under constraints including the impact on ecosystem functions via the first propagation path and the second propagation path using a utility function including two variables, the economic scale of the analyzed area and the ecosystem richness of the analyzed area; and an output unit that displays the imputed price.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a data evaluation device and a data evaluation method for evaluating the impact of a company's economic activities on the environment. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, legislation requiring the disclosure of environmental data on economic activities has been established both domestically and internationally, making the collection and management of environmental data mandatory. If a company's environmental efforts are evaluated in terms of non-financial value, the company can obtain the qualifications to bid with government agencies and raise funds on favorable terms. Investors can directly invest in such companies or purchase financial products that incorporate their stocks.

[0003] One indicator for determining non-financial value is the Price Book-value Ratio (PBR). PBR is calculated as "PBR = Stock price / Net assets per share." In theory, PBR should be "1," but in reality, this is often not the case. When PBR is greater than 1, investors participating in the stock market are implicitly evaluating other values ​​that do not appear as financial value (non-financial value = environmental initiatives). If there is a quantitative evaluation of non-financial value that cannot be expressed by PBR, investors can make investment decisions more easily.

[0004] The system for assessing corporate value by quantifying non-financial information in Patent Document 1 acquires ESG score data including E-score, S-score, and G-score, which are scores for the target company's environment (E), society (S), and corporate governance (G) derived by an assessment agency. The system performs multiple regression analysis using the E-score, S-score, and G-score as explanatory variables and the non-financial risk ratio as an explained variable. The biodiversity assessment index calculation device in Patent Document 2 calculates biodiversity value as the value that mining has on the environment surrounding the mine. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2023-058857 [Patent Document 2] International Publication No. 2013 / 141252 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] When quantitatively assessing the non-financial value of corporate activities, it is necessary to quantitatively assess the non-financial value that leads to social benefits for stakeholders. In such cases, when assessing the impact of corporate activities on ecosystems, an accurate assessment cannot be made unless consideration is given to the spatial propagation of impacts, for example, through the supply chain. However, neither of the inventions in Patent Documents 1 and 2 takes into account the spatial propagation of the impact of corporate activities on the environment when assessing a company's non-financial value. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to accurately evaluate the non-financial value of a company by taking into account the spatial propagation of the impact of corporate activities on the environment. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The data evaluation device of the present invention includes a collection unit that collects first data on the business activities of a company to be analyzed, second data on environmental ecosystems, and third data on social capital; a collection unit that generates a regional-ecosystem function function that expresses the ecosystem function of the area to be analyzed as a function of time and location based on the second data; a company-ecosystem function function that expresses the impact of the company to be analyzed on the ecosystem function of the area to be analyzed as a function of time and location based on the first data and the second data; and a collection unit that generates a regional-ecosystem function function that expresses the impact of the company to be analyzed on the ecosystem function of the area to be analyzed as a function of time and location based on the first data and the second data. The system is characterized by comprising: an information integration unit that generates a first constraint model representing a first propagation path of interactions of system functions, and generates a second constraint model representing a second propagation path of the impact of the business activities of the analyzed company via the supply chain on ecosystem functions based on the first data and the third data; an imputed price calculation unit that calculates the imputed price of the business activities of the analyzed company under constraint conditions including the impact on ecosystem functions via the first propagation path and the second propagation path using a utility function including two variables, the economic scale of the analyzed region and the ecosystem richness of the analyzed region; and an output unit that displays the imputed price. Other means will be described in the detailed description of the invention. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, the non-financial value of a company can be accurately evaluated by taking into account the spatial propagation of the impact of corporate activities on the environment. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a data evaluation device. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the landscape of the area to be analyzed. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a network structure of an area to be analyzed. [Figure 4] 10 is an example of environmental information. [Figure 5] This is an example of land use information. [Figure 6] 10 is an example of conservation land information. [Figure 7] This is an example of economic capital information. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a first propagation path and a second propagation path. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the propagation distances of a first propagation path and a second propagation path. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between maintenance target points on a first propagation path and a second propagation path. [Figure 11] 1 is a flowchart illustrating the mechanism of market equilibrium. [Figure 12] 1 is a flowchart of a processing procedure according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 13] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating interactions between points on a first propagation path. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Hereinafter, the terms used in the embodiment of the present invention (also referred to as "the present embodiment") will be explained, and then the present embodiment itself will be explained in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0011] (term) "Imputed price" is the total value that should be attributed to a company, and includes not only financial value but also non-financial value such as contributions to the environment. The term "imputed price" rather than "attributed value" is used solely as a convention in economics. Mathematically, imputed value is called the "Lagrange multiplier" (details below). "Business activities" refers to the actions taken by a company as part of its business, including actions on the environmental ecosystem, as described below.

[0012] "Environmental ecosystems" are the organic (life-reproducing) parts of nature that surround humans, such as forests, rivers, oceans, and lakes. Strictly speaking, humans themselves are also part of nature. However, in this embodiment, humans (companies and households) are the subjects that affect the environmental ecosystem as an object.

[0013] "Ecosystem function" is a quantification of the functions of ecosystems such as forests and rivers. These functions are diverse, including carbon storage, carbon dioxide absorption, flood control, and nutrient transport. "Propagation" refers to the process by which a change in ecosystem function at one location over time causes a change in ecosystem function at another location. Propagation does not necessarily occur one-to-one from the source to the destination. Reverse propagation can occur between two locations, and propagation can occur from multiple other locations to one location.

[0014] A "primary propagation pathway" is a pathway of propagation as a natural function of an environmental ecosystem or as a function of an environmental ecosystem affected by business activities. An example of a primary propagation pathway is when soil is transported from the upstream of a river to the downstream, resulting in a decrease in nutrient concentrations upstream and an increase in nutrient concentrations downstream. The distance between two points connected via a primary propagation pathway is relatively short, and in many cases, they are adjacent to each other.

[0015] A "secondary transmission channel" is a transmission channel resulting from business activities (transactions) in the goods market and production factor market. An example of a secondary transmission channel is when a company cuts down timber from a forest and sends it to another company in a remote location, where the other company consumes the timber as fuel or materials, resulting in a decrease in the forest's carbon stocks and an increase in carbon dioxide concentrations in the remote location. The distance between two points connected via a secondary transmission channel is relatively long and is often spatially separated. A secondary transmission channel is the channel through which the business activities of the analyzed company affect ecosystem function via the supply chain. A supply chain is often expressed as a chain of "procurement of raw materials → manufacturing of products → transportation of products → consumption of products → disposal of products." Changes in ecosystem function occur at each stage.

[0016] (Configuration of data evaluation device) 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a data evaluation device 10. The data evaluation device 10 is a general computer, and includes a central control unit 11, input devices 12 such as a keyboard and a mouse, output devices 13 such as a display, a main memory device 14, an auxiliary memory device 15, and a network I / F (interface) 16. These are interconnected by a bus.

[0017] The collection unit 21, information integration unit 22, imputed price calculation unit 23, and output unit 24 stored in the main memory device 14 are programs. In the following explanation, when an entity is described as "XX unit," it means that the central control unit 11 reads each program stored in the auxiliary memory device 15 into the main memory device 14, thereby executing the processing previously written in each program. The auxiliary memory device 15 stores environmental information 31, land use information 32, conservation land information 33, and economic capital information 34 (all of which will be described in detail later).

[0018] The data evaluation device 1 does not need to have all of its components in a single housing as shown in Fig. 1, and all or part of its components may be distributed across virtual resources such as cloud servers. As a result, the data evaluation device 1 may include multiple arithmetic units and multiple storage devices.

[0019] (Landscape of the area analyzed) Figure 2 is a diagram explaining the landscape of the area under analysis. The area under analysis (also called the "area under conservation") contains natural forests 530, rivers 532, and seas and lakes 525 as environmental ecosystems. In addition, there are forestry areas 521, farmland 522 and 524, revetments and riverbeds 523, urban areas 528, offices 529 and 531, parks 527, and fishing and aquaculture 526 as bases of business activities.

[0020] (Network structure of the area analyzed) Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating the network structure of the area under analysis. In Figure 3, the environmental ecosystems and business activity bases in Figure 2 are replaced with multiple types of nodes 551 to 560. The size of the nodes indicates the magnitude of the ecosystem function. Edges 571 to 573 between the nodes indicate first propagation paths (e.g., "river edges") or second propagation paths (e.g., "urban edges").

[0021] (Environmental information) 4 is an example of environmental information 31. Environmental information 31 shows information about the ecosystem of a conservation target area that includes multiple conservation target points. Column 101 shows the type of information, and column 102 shows specific data for each information type. Environmental information 31 may include, for example, animal habitat information (row 103), primary production vegetation information (row 104), mass balance information related to carbon stocks (row 105), and mass balance information related to nutrient amounts (row 106).

[0022] Animal habitat information (row 103) may include observation information and existing statistical data on animals living in the conservation area. Observation information is, for example, data observed by humans and may include audio data and image data. Audio data and image data may include information on the date, time, and location of observation. Statistical data is, for example, statistical data obtained by regular ground observations by government agencies (e.g., the Ministry of the Environment) and made available to the public. Information on the habitats of various animals can be obtained from the animal habitat information. For example, information on animal habitats provides information on the edges connecting the ecosystems of different conservation areas.

[0023] Vegetation information (row 104) may include observation information and existing statistical data on plants in the conservation area. Observation information may be, for example, satellite images, and may include information on the date, time, and location of the image. Statistical data may be, for example, statistical data obtained by regular ground observations conducted by governmental organizations (e.g., the Ministry of the Environment and the Geospatial Information Authority of Japan) and made available to the public. Vegetation information can provide information on the habitats (distribution) of various plants, their density, and primary production.

[0024] The mass balance information on carbon stocks (row 105) indicates the information necessary to estimate the carbon stocks at each point in the conservation area, and includes vegetation information on the trees in the conservation area and tree shape information at each point. The tree shape information may include infrared laser measurement data on the diameter and height of the tree trunks, as well as the date and time and location where this data was acquired. Furthermore, one method of estimating carbon stocks is to estimate the organic matter concentration in the soil through chemical analysis and multiply this by the area of ​​the conservation area to estimate the carbon stocks. From the mass balance information on carbon stocks, the amount of carbon stored in trees, etc. at each point in the conservation area and the amount of carbon dioxide circulating can be estimated.

[0025] The nutrient mass balance information (row 106) indicates the information necessary to estimate the nutrient amount at each location in the conservation area, including water flow data for the rivers and lakes in the conservation area and water quality data for the rivers and lakes. Water flow data may include, for example, flow velocity, water depth, and the date and location of data acquisition. Water quality data may include dissolved oxygen, pH (hydrogen ion concentration), chlorine content, and the date and location of data acquisition for indicators representing these chemical properties. The nutrient mass balance information allows estimation of the purification activity and nutrient amount of each lake. Furthermore, the nitrogen load carried by the river provides information on the edges connecting ecosystems at different locations.

[0026] (Land use information) FIG. 5 is an example of land use information 32. Land use information 32 indicates information about land use in the conservation area. Column 111 indicates the type of information, and column 112 indicates specific data. Land use information 32 may include information on a land use map (row 113). A land use map indicates the type of area, such as urban areas, various types of farmland, forests, rivers, etc.

[0027] The land use map information (row 113) may include existing observation information and statistical data. Observation information, for example, is satellite imagery, including information on the date, time, and location of its acquisition. Note that observation data may include information obtained manually on the ground. Statistical data, for example, is statistical data obtained by regular ground observations conducted by governmental organizations (e.g., the Geospatial Information Authority of Japan) and made available to the public.

[0028] (Conservation land information) FIG. 6 is an example of conservation land information 33. The conservation land information 33 shows information about each conservation target point located within the conservation target area. Conservation is any action taken by humans on an environmental ecosystem, and its purpose includes maintaining, improving (including restoring), or preventing deterioration of the current environmental ecosystem. Conservation land information 33 such as that shown in FIG. 6 exists for each conservation target point. Note that information about some conservation target points may not be included. The conservation land information 33 for each conservation target point can be collected from the owner of the conservation target point. Column 121 indicates the type of information, and column 122 indicates specific data. The conservation land information 33 for each conservation target point can include conservation land environmental information (row 123), conservation land geographic information (row 124), and conservation scenario information (row 125).

[0029] The conservation site environmental information (row 123) indicates environmental information for the conservation site. Specifically, it may include information about the ecosystem of the conservation site and data about the environmental ecosystem individually owned by the owner of the conservation site.

[0030] The conservation area geographic information (row 124) may include geographic information of the conservation area owned by the owner, such as the map plot and center coordinates of the conservation area. The maintenance scenario information (row 125) includes one or more future maintenance action scenarios (maintenance scenarios) for the maintenance target point.

[0031] Each conservation scenario may include, for example, information on the conservation budget, conservation actions, the timing of the conservation actions, and the current and target values ​​of variables for specific ecosystem functions. The conservation budget and conservation actions are given for the entire conservation site or for each ecosystem function of the conservation site. The conservation budget is, for example, a one-year budget spent for conservation. Conservation actions are, for example, actions that can be implemented to maintain and improve the environment and the ecosystem. For example, conservation actions are implemented at specific times within a year, and a budget is allocated to each conservation action within the annual budget.

[0032] An example of a conservation scenario is a conservation scenario for a park where the conservation target site is a park. The conservation scenario can include environmental maintenance and ecosystem maintenance and improvement. Environmental maintenance includes, for example, pruning trees, removing dead plants, and maintaining and managing the water system within the park. Water system (environment) maintenance includes, for example, removing garbage from the bottom of a pond. Environmental ecosystem maintenance and improvement includes monitoring the chemical properties of the soil and water system within the park and confirming improvements (target values). The conservation scenario includes information on the timing and scale (budget) of conservation actions.

[0033] Another example of a conservation scenario is one in which the conservation target site is privately owned by a company. The conservation of green spaces scattered among buildings in the city center, as well as forests and water systems within business premises in the suburbs, are also conservation targets, and there are conservation actions and budgets required to maintain and improve each of them.

[0034] Another example of a conservation scenario is one in which the conservation target site is abandoned farmland. In this embodiment, conservation includes actions (improvements) to bring an environment that has been damaged by humans, such as abandoned farmland, closer to its natural state. In this way, actions to restore a site that has become a negative economic legacy and give it value as natural capital are included in conservation, and the timing and budget (scale) of the conservation actions are included in the conservation scenario.

[0035] As mentioned above, conservation scenarios include information on current and target values ​​for variables of specific ecosystem functions. Because ecosystem functions are physical or chemical reactions involving living organisms, they can be expressed as quantifiable variables such as the presence or output of energy or materials. Examples of ecosystem functions include the maintenance and purification of water quality by aquatic systems and soil, carbon storage and photosynthesis by forests, and the storage of nutrients through primary production by phytoplankton and other organisms.

[0036] An example of measuring ecosystem function is measuring the movement of chemical substances. In the case of water quality, a model of ecosystem function Q can be defined using the input and output of chemical substances that represent water quality as indicators. For example, forest carbon storage and photosynthesis can be estimated using the input and output of carbon, and primary production can be estimated using the input and output of nitrogen. Ecosystem function Q can be defined based on such models.

[0037] For example, a conservation scenario for improving water quality sets target values ​​for indicators (variables) that indicate the purity of water quality, such as pH, dissolved oxygen content, total nitrogen concentration, total phosphorus concentration, BOD (Biochemical Oxygen Demand), and COD (Chemical Oxygen Demand), and shows conservation actions and their budgets to achieve the target values.

[0038] As another example, a forest conservation scenario sets a target value for forest carbon stocks and indicates conservation actions and budgets toward the target value. Examples of improving carbon stocks include afforestation and improving vegetation distribution to increase the carbon content of soil.

[0039] Another example of a conservation scenario shows conservation actions for maintaining green spaces and constructing new green spaces, along with their timing and budget, with the goal of expanding animal ranges or maintaining existing ones. Examples of green spaces that support animal activity include green spaces among urban buildings, parks, or forests or green spaces along riverbanks. Maintenance and improvement can be confirmed, for example, by monitoring birds and insects (variables of ecosystem function).

[0040] The conservation scenario information (row 125) can further include information on the past performance of conservation actions at the conservation target site. The past performance can include information on future conservation scenarios, as well as the conservation budget, the conservation actions and their implementation timing, and the values ​​of specific ecosystem function variables before and after the conservation actions. The past performance allows for more accurate estimation of changes in ecosystem function variables at the conservation target site due to future conservation scenarios. Using this past performance, it is possible to more accurately estimate the function Q(t) at a point in time that represents ecosystem function, as described below. Estimation methods include estimation of function forms using statistical processing and estimation using machine learning.

[0041] (Economic Capital Information) FIG. 7 is an example of economic capital information 34. The economic capital of a forestry land node (row 131) is the sum of the human capital, equipment capital, and land required for forestry, as well as the money earned from the sale of the timber produced using these, and appears in the financial information for forestry. The economic capital of the field node (row 132) is the sum of the human capital, equipment capital, and land required for production in the field, as well as the money earned from sales of the food produced using these, and appears in agricultural financial information.

[0042] The economic capital of the park node (row 133) is the sum of the human capital, equipment capital, and land required to maintain the park, as well as the budget for maintaining them, and appears in the financial information for park maintenance. The economic capital of the bank and riverbed node (row 134) is the sum of the human capital, capital equipment, and land required to maintain the bank and riverbed, as well as the budget for maintaining them, which appears in the government's financial information. The economic capital of the Fisheries and Aquaculture node (row 135) is the sum of the human capital, equipment capital, and land required for the Fisheries and Aquaculture, as well as the money earned from the sale of the food produced using these resources, which appears in the Fisheries and Aquaculture financial information.

[0043] The natural forest node and the sea-lake node have no economic capital. Although not shown in Figure 7, the natural capital of each node is explained below.

[0044] The natural capital of a forestry node represents the entire surrounding environment necessary for forestry, such as the soil and rivers necessary for the circulation of nutrients in forestry forests. Natural capital also includes the influence of adjacent natural forests (similarly for other nodes). The natural capital of a field node represents the entire surrounding environment necessary for production in the fields, such as soil, rivers that provide water for irrigation, organic matter that flies in from the surrounding area, and animals that provide organic matter.

[0045] The natural capital of a park node is the forests, ponds, marshes, grasslands and soil within the park. The natural capital of the bank-riverside node is the effect of maintaining the forests, grasslands, soils and river edges on the site. The natural capital of a fisheries and aquaculture node is the surrounding seas and lakes.

[0046] The natural capital of a natural forest node is not only the forest itself, but also other natural environments that bring about interactions between nodes, such as surrounding business nodes, forestry land nodes, and farmland nodes. The natural capital of a sea / lake node includes the seas and lakes themselves, as well as the aquatic plants, algae, fish, etc. that live within them.

[0047] Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of the first propagation path and the second propagation path. Via the first propagation path 41, a change in ecosystem function at one conservation target point propagates through the environmental ecosystem as a change in ecosystem function at other conservation target points. The agents of propagation are often rivers, lakes, marshes, wind and rain, and non-human plants and animals. The propagation distance is relatively short, and in many cases, "one conservation target point" and "other conservation target points" are spatially adjacent to each other.

[0048] Via the second propagation path 42, changes in ecosystem function at one conservation target point propagate through the social structure as changes in ecosystem function at other conservation target points. The actors in this propagation are people (companies and households) as parties to transactions. The propagation distance is relatively long, and although "one conservation target point" and "other conservation target points" are connected by land, rail, air, etc., they are often spatially separated from each other.

[0049] FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating the propagation distances of the first propagation path and the second propagation path. The distance of the first propagation path is, for example, the distance between adjacent forests or between the upstream and downstream of the same river. The distance of the second propagation path is, for example, the distance between a forest where a lumber company is located and an urban area where its customer companies are located. In many cases, the relationship "distance of the first propagation path < distance of the second propagation path" holds true.

[0050] Figure 10 is a diagram showing the relationship between conservation target points on the first propagation path and the second propagation path. There are conservation target points i and j. The ecosystem function (carbon stocks, etc.) of the natural capital (forest, etc.) at conservation target point i affects the ecosystem function of the natural capital at conservation target point j via the first propagation path 41. The first propagation path is, so to speak, the workings of nature.

[0051] At conservation point i, there are businesses and households. Businesses provide households with goods (industrial products, etc.) through the goods market, and households provide businesses with production factors (labor, etc.) through the production factor market. The same is true for conservation point j. Here, "goods" are produced by consuming ecosystem functions. The goods market at conservation point i is attended not only by businesses and households at conservation point i, but also by businesses and households at conservation point j. The goods market at conservation point j is attended not only by businesses and households at conservation point j, but also by businesses and households at conservation point i.

[0052] In this way, companies and households that trade goods across different conservation points are the actors in the transmission via the second transmission channel 42. Incidentally, production factors (labor) can also move across production factor markets in different conservation points, but this often has a smaller impact on ecosystem function than in the case of goods markets. Incidentally, "social capital" refers to the social infrastructure that enables transactions at each conservation point, such as markets and transportation facilities.

[0053] (market equilibrium) Figure 11 is a flowchart explaining the mechanism of market equilibrium. In step S201, the information integration unit 22 sets initial values. The initial values ​​here are the initial values ​​of the trading partner, the object of the transaction (labor, goods), the transaction quantity, the transaction price, etc. However, the initial values ​​at this stage do not necessarily guarantee the achievement of market equilibrium. In step S202, the information integration unit 22 generates a demand (supply) curve for the company based on the initial values. Here, the conditions (bidding conditions, etc.) for the company to participate in the production factor market and the goods market in order to optimize its own profits are determined. In step S203, the information integration unit 22 generates a supply (demand) curve for the household's position based on the initial values. Here, the conditions (bidding conditions, etc.) for the household to participate in the production factor market and the goods market in order to optimize its own profits are determined.

[0054] In step S204, the information integration unit 22 matches the supply curve with the demand curve. Specifically, the information integration unit 22 finds a solution to the simultaneous equations of the supply curve and the demand curve. In step S205, the information integrating unit 22 determines whether market equilibrium has been achieved. Achieving market equilibrium means that there is an intersection between the demand curve and the supply curve (a point where the demand (price × quantity) of a production factor and a good equals the supply (price × quantity)), and that these prices and quantities are stable, eliminating the need to reconsider trading partners. If market equilibrium has been achieved (step S205 “YES”), the information integrating unit 22 stores the initial values ​​at this stage in the auxiliary storage device 15 and terminates the process. Otherwise (step S205 “NO”), the information integrating unit 22 proceeds to step S206. The “initial values ​​at this stage” here guarantee the achievement of market equilibrium and are nothing other than the initial values ​​of the variables of the “second constraint model” described below.

[0055] In step S206, the information integration unit 22 slightly changes the initial value. Specifically, the information integration unit 22 sets a new initial value that is obtained by adding or subtracting a predetermined increment to the initial value set in the immediately preceding step S201. Thereafter, the information integration unit 22 returns to step S201.

[0056] (Processing Procedure) FIG. 12 is a flowchart of the processing procedure of this embodiment. In step S301, the collection unit 21 of the data evaluation device 1 collects first data on the business activities of the analysis target company, second data on the environmental ecosystem, and third data on social capital. Specifically, the collection unit 21 collects the following via the network I / F 16: Environmental Information 31 (Second Data) Land use information 32 (among which "observation information" is second data, and the others are third data) Conservation Land Information 33 (First Data) Economic capital information 34 (first data) In addition to the above, there is a third type of data, which is industry-specific statistical data (sales figures, number of employees, etc. for agriculture, fisheries, services, manufacturing, etc.) published by each local government, as well as statistical data on inter-regional logistics volume.

[0057] In step S302, the information integration unit 22 of the data evaluation device 1 calculates the regional ecosystem function function R based on the second data. i (t), where t represents the time point and i represents the location (and so on). R i (t) is a function of time and location. Furthermore, R i (t) represents the spontaneous increase or decrease (natural resilience) of ecosystem function at point i at time t.

[0058] In step S303, the information integration unit 22 of the data evaluation device 1 calculates the enterprise-ecosystem function function X based on the first data and the second data. i (t) and Y i Generate (t) X i (t) is a function of time and location. X i (t) represents the budget allocated to the consumption of ecosystem functions (production using ecosystem functions) by corporate activities at point i at time t.

[0059] Y i (t) is also a function of time and location. i (t) represents the budget allocated to the conservation of ecosystem functions by corporate activities at point i at time t. i (t) and Y i (t) indicates the impact that the business activities of the analyzed company have on ecosystem functions.

[0060] In step S304, the information integration unit 22 of the data evaluation device 1 generates a first constraint model. The following <Equation 1> and <Equation 2> are the first constraint model.

[0061]

number

[0062]

number

[0063] Q i(t) is the ecosystem function at point i at time t. Q int (t) represents the sum of the advection of ecosystem functions from other conservation target locations. α, β, and γ are weights. Ultimately, the first constraint model represents the natural resilience of the ecosystem functions of the analyzed area, the impact of the business activities of the analyzed company on the ecosystem functions, and the first propagation path of the interaction of ecosystem functions between the analyzed areas. Although we are still in the middle of Figure 12, we will move on to Figure 13 for the moment.

[0064] Figure 13 is a diagram illustrating the interaction between points on the first propagation path. The horizontal axis d is the distance between point i and point j. The vertical axis is the influence I of the ecosystem function of point i on the ecosystem function of point j. i,j (d). The smaller d is, the more I i,j (d) becomes smaller. For the explanation, refer back to Figure 12.

[0065] In step S305, the information integration unit 22 of the data evaluation device 1 generates a second constraint model based on the first data and the third data. The second constraint model is the market equilibrium condition in step S209 of FIG. 11. The second propagation path is the business activities (transactions) of households and companies. Therefore, among the candidate conditions of who sells (buys) what, in what quantity, and at what price, the condition that actually balances the market becomes the second constraint model. In other words, the second constraint model reflects the optimization conditions for corporate behavior and the optimization conditions for household behavior. In FIG. 11, it can be said that the information integration unit 22 generates the market equilibrium condition based on the first data and the third data.

[0066] In step S306, the imputed price calculation unit 23 of the data evaluation device 1 generates a utility function u defined as follows. The utility function u is a function that increases when two factors, the economic scale of the analysis region and the richness of the ecosystem of the analysis region, increase, as shown in Equation 3. Note that "~" indicates approximation. The utility function u is a function that includes two variables, the economic scale of the analysis region and the richness of the ecosystem of the analysis region. In this embodiment, as described below, the imputed price calculation unit 23 uses this utility function u (under a predetermined constraint g) to calculate the imputed price of the business activities of the analysis target company.

[0067]

number

[0068] The economic size of the analyzed region in (Equation 3) is the total amount of economic capital of households and companies in the analyzed region, the total amount of the goods market and the production factor market, or the sum of the total amount of economic capital of households and companies in the analyzed region and the total amount of the goods market and the production factor market. The economic scale of the region under analysis includes labor capital and corporate capital. Labor capital is expressed by the following equation 4, and corporate capital is expressed by the following equation 5.

[0069]

number

[0070]

number

[0071] In Equation 4 and Equation 5, L i m and K. i m are the labor capital and enterprise capital of good m in the region under analysis. The internal function that determines the total amount of labor capital and enterprise capital is the social capital variable G i =(G i 1 ,…,G is ,…,G i S ) (s=1~S).

[0072] The richness of the ecosystem in the analyzed area in <Mathematical formula 3> is specifically the natural capital R that contributes to economic activity. i and the regional ecosystem function function R i And the natural capital R that contributes to economic activity is i is the total amount of natural capital present in region i, R i_0 R is the amount of natural capital utilized by companies. i and R i_0 The ratio γ is defined as follows:

[0073]

number

[0074] Here, we summarize the relationship between natural capital, ecosystem functions, and ecosystem services. Ecosystem services are the flow of natural capital, while natural capital represents the stock amount. Furthermore, ecosystem services are a combination of a series of ecosystem functions. In other words, ecosystem function Q i =(Q i 1 ,…,Q i k ,…,Q i K ) to calculate the natural capital R i can be expressed as the following equation 7 (k=1 to K).

[0075]

number

[0076] Here, Q i k is the quantitative variable of ecosystem function k at point i. Q i kis expressed in a discrete form, but may be expressed in a continuous form with respect to the time t and space x dimensions if necessary. In that case, Q i k =Q i k (t,x i ) Furthermore, by giving an appropriate definition to point i, we can determine its relationship with the x dimension of space. Specifically, the coordinates of point i are expressed as x i Let dx=x i+1 -x i Then, we express point i as a grid point with an interval of dx, and define the ecosystem function for each point as Q i k It can be defined as follows.

[0077] where natural capital R i is limited to the amount of capital contributing to economic activity in the target region, the internal variables of the ratio γ should be related to the amount of labor capital and the amount of corporate capital. Therefore, γ can be expressed as follows:

[0078]

number

[0079] In step S307, the attributable price calculation unit 23 of the data evaluation device 1 generates constraint conditions. The constraint conditions include the following two conditions. First constraint model (Equation 1 and Equation 2) Second constraint model (market equilibrium model)

[0080] In step S308, the imputed price calculation unit 23 of the data evaluation device 1 uses the utility function u and the constraint condition g to generate a Lagrangian function L expressed by the following equation (9). λ is a Lagrangian multiplier. The internal function of the constraint condition g for λ is always the same as the internal function of the utility function u, and the social capital variable G i and ecosystem function Q.

[0081]

number

[0082] In step S309, the imputed price calculation unit 23 of the data evaluation device 1 solves the simultaneous partial differential equations of the Lagrangian function to calculate the imputed price. Specifically, the imputed price calculation unit 23 solves the simultaneous partial differential equations in which "each value obtained by partially differentiating the Lagrangian function L with respect to each variable of the Lagrangian function and the Lagrangian multiplier λ = 0." As is well known in economics, when the variables of the Lagrangian function are production factors, the Lagrangian multiplier λ as the solution becomes the imputed price of the business activities of the analyzed company. In other words, the imputed price calculation unit 23 uses the utility function u to calculate the imputed price of the business activities of the analyzed company under the constraint g that includes the impact on ecosystem function Q via the first and second propagation paths.

[0083] In step S310, the output unit 24 of the data evaluation device 1 outputs (displays) the attributed price on the output device 13. After that, the processing procedure ends.

[0084] (Variation 1) The second type of data is mainly available from government agencies, while the first and third types of data are often provided by private business entities (companies, investors, etc.). Therefore, the availability of comprehensive first and third types of data significantly contributes to the accurate calculation of imputed prices.

[0085] Therefore, the collection unit 21 invites entities that will provide the first data or the third data. Specifically, the collection unit 21 publishes (uploads to the Internet, etc.) via the network I / F 16 a notice that it is inviting entities that will provide the first data or the third data.

[0086] Furthermore, the collection unit 21 provides an economic incentive to the entity that solicited the data in accordance with the influence that the first data or the third data provided by the entity has on the calculated imputed price. Specifically, the collection unit 21 calculates a difference (positive value) by subtracting the imputed price calculated immediately after the entity provided the first data or the third data from the imputed price calculated immediately after the entity provided the first data or the third data. If the difference exceeds a predetermined threshold, the collection unit 21 calculates an incentive (electronic money, etc.) in accordance with the excess value and transmits the calculated incentive to any device operated by the entity.

[0087] Furthermore, when the first data or the third data is collected from the recruited entities, the data evaluation device 1 executes the flowchart of Fig. 12. In other words, the provision of new data triggers the processing of step S302 and subsequent steps. Note that the execution of the flowchart of Fig. 12 may be triggered by something other than the collection of the first data or the third data, and the flowchart of Fig. 12 is executed at an appropriate timing.

[0088] (Variation 2) The imputed price calculation unit 23 may calculate the imputed price in a future time series. In some cases, a user may want to know the imputed price not only at the present time but also in a future time series. Calculating the imputed price using the Lagrangian function outputs the imputed price at a time that matches the tense of the input data. On the other hand, a calculation method of the imputed price using a Hamiltonian (Hamiltonian function), known as dynamic programming, can output the imputed price N periods ahead for the tense of the input data. Therefore, the imputed price calculation unit 23 calculates the imputed price in a future time series using the Hamiltonian function. The relationship between the Hamiltonian function expressed by <Equation 10> and the Lagrangian function expressed by <Equation 11> will be explained below.

[0089]

number

[0090]

number

[0091] Here, function f is a function that represents the increase or decrease in capital related to production factors. λ(t) is the imputed price for the current period. μ(t) is equivalent to the imputed price λ(t) for period t evaluated at the initial stage (period 0). If the planning period is up to period T, the imputed price calculation unit 23 can show how the imputed price will increase or decrease up to period T by calculating λ(t). Furthermore, by calculating μ(t) up to period T at the time of planning (period 0), the imputed price calculation unit 23 can show the increase or decrease from the initial stage in absolute terms. From the above calculation results, users (investors or companies) can grasp the time evolution of the imputed value of ecosystems that are conserved as part of their business activities. Companies can then formulate conservation plans accordingly, and investors can use the results as an indicator to estimate future corporate value.

[0092] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and includes various modifications. For example, the above-described embodiments have been described in detail to clearly explain the present invention, and are not necessarily limited to those including all of the described configurations. Furthermore, it is possible to replace part of the configuration of one embodiment with the configuration of another embodiment, or to add the configuration of another embodiment to the configuration of one embodiment. Furthermore, it is possible to add, delete, or replace part of the configuration of each embodiment with other configurations.

[0093] Furthermore, the above-mentioned components, functions, processing units, etc. may be realized in part or in whole by hardware, for example, by designing them as integrated circuits. Furthermore, the above-mentioned components, functions, etc. may be realized in software by a processor interpreting and executing a program that realizes each function. Information such as the programs, tables, and files that realize each function can be stored in memory, a recording device such as a hard disk or SSD, or a recording medium such as an IC card or SD card.

[0094] In addition, the control lines and information lines shown are those that are considered necessary for the explanation, and do not necessarily show all the control lines and information lines in the product. In reality, it can be assumed that almost all components are interconnected. [Explanation of symbols]

[0095] 1 Data evaluation device 11 Central control unit 12 Input Devices 13 Output Devices 14 Main memory 15 Auxiliary storage 16 Network Interface (I / F) 21 Collection Department 22 Information Integration Department 23 Imputed Price Calculation Section 24 Output section 31 Environmental Information (Second Data) 32 Land use information (secondary data, tertiary data) 33 Conservation Land Information (First Data) 34 Economic Capital Information (First Data)

Claims

1. a collection unit that collects first data on the business activities of the analysis target company, second data on the environmental ecosystem, and third data on social capital; generating a regional ecosystem function function that expresses the ecosystem function of the analysis target area as a function of time and location based on the second data; generating a company-ecosystem function function that expresses the impact of the analyzed company on the ecosystem function of the analyzed region as a function of time and location based on the first data and the second data; Generate a first constraint model that represents the natural resilience of ecosystem functions in the analyzed area, the impact of the analyzed company on the ecosystem functions, and a first propagation path of interactions of ecosystem functions between the analyzed areas; an information integration unit that generates a second constraint model that represents a second propagation path of the impact of the business activities of the analysis target company through the supply chain on ecosystem functions, based on the first data and the third data; and an imputed price calculation unit that calculates the imputed price of the business activities of the analysis target company under constraints including the impact on ecosystem functions via the first propagation path and the second propagation path, using a utility function including two variables, namely, the economic scale of the analysis target region and the richness of the ecosystem of the analysis target region; an output unit that displays the attributed price; A data evaluation device comprising:

2. The collecting unit soliciting entities to provide the first data or the third data; 2. The data evaluation device according to claim 1, wherein:

3. The collecting unit providing an economic incentive to the soliciting entity in accordance with the influence of the first data or the third data provided by the soliciting entity on the calculated imputed price; 3. The data evaluation device according to claim 2, wherein:

4. The collection unit collects the first data or the third data from the recruited subjects, The information integration unit generating the regional ecosystem function function, the enterprise ecosystem function function, the second constraint model, and the second constraint model; The imputed price calculation unit Calculating the imputed price; The output unit Displaying said imputed price; 3. The data evaluation device according to claim 2, wherein:

5. The imputed price calculation section calculating the imputed prices in future time series; 2. The data evaluation device according to claim 1, wherein:

6. The collection unit of the data evaluation device Collect first data on the business activities of the analyzed company, second data on the environmental ecosystem, and third data on social capital; The information integration unit of the data evaluation device generating a regional ecosystem function function that expresses the ecosystem function of the analysis target area as a function of time and location based on the second data; generating a company-ecosystem function function that expresses the impact of the analyzed company on the ecosystem function of the analyzed region as a function of time and location based on the first data and the second data; Generate a first constraint model that represents the natural resilience of ecosystem functions in the analyzed area, the impact of the analyzed company on the ecosystem functions, and a first propagation path of interactions of ecosystem functions between the analyzed areas; generating a second constraint model representing a second propagation path of the impact of the business activities of the analyzed company through the supply chain on ecosystem function based on the first data and the third data; The imputed price calculation unit of the data evaluation device calculating an imputed price of the business activities of the analyzed company under constraints including the impact on ecosystem functions via the first propagation path and the second propagation path using a utility function including two variables, namely, the economic scale of the analyzed region and the richness of the ecosystem of the analyzed region; The output unit of the data evaluation device Displaying said imputed price; A data evaluation method characterized by:

Images