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on Agricultural Economics |
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Issue of 2005‒07‒25
five papers chosen by |
| By: | Norman Offstein |
| Abstract: | Recent literature points to a relationship between inequality, economic growth and socio-economic variables. In order to continue to research the relationship between these factors and inequality in Colombia, it is essential to construct a precise measure of rural land distribution. This paper presents calculations of rural land size and land value Gini coefficients for Colombia at the national, departmental and municipal levels using approximately 2.5 million registries of plot level data supplied by the Instituto Geográfico Agustín Codazzi. In general, value Ginis, where value controls for land quality and improvements, are lower than plot size Ginis, and even after meticulous filtration anomalies remain in the data. Additionally, the relationship between the Gini coefficients and municipal level variables are analyzed to consider the relation between inequality, poverty, rurality and other municipal characteristics. Lastly, earlier results relating Gini to violence are reconsidered. After controlling for other factors, distribution does not explain significantly violence. |
| Keywords: | land Gini |
| JEL: | D63 |
| Date: | 2005–06–25 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:col:000138:001124&r=agr |
| By: | Gary D. Libecap |
| Abstract: | I re-examine the notorious Owens Valley water transfer to Los Angeles, which is a pivotal episode in the political economy of contemporary western water allocation. Negotiated between 1905 and 1935, it remains one of the largest voluntary water sales in U.S. history. It made the growth of semi-arid Los Angeles possible, increasing the city’s water supply by over 4 times. Water rights were bundled with the land so that the Los Angeles Water Board had to purchase nearly 1,000 small farms. The negotiations between property owners and the agency were complicated. There often were lengthy disputes over farm characteristics, amounts of water conveyed, and valuation of both land and water. Bilateral monopoly emerged between sellers’ pools and the Board. During bargaining impasses, the aqueduct was periodically dynamited. Today, the outcome of the Owens Valley water exchange is viewed as very one sided--one of “theft” by Los Angeles. As such, it discourages contemporary transfers of water from agricultural to urban areas. Using new qualitative and quantitative evidence, especially for 1924-34, when most water-bearing land was purchased, I examine the sources of bargaining conflicts, the timing of sales, the distribution of the gains from trade, and offer a new assessment of the results of the transfer. Implications for current water rights negotiations are drawn. |
| Date: | 2005–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:icr:wpicer:16-2005&r=agr |
| By: | Fernando Brito Soares; Roberto Ronco |
| Abstract: | The evolution of greenhouse gases emissions in the EU-15 countries is accessed. While the absolute level of emissions turns out to be declining in the last thirty years in EU-15 Member States, emissions per output tend to rise. A relationship between the adoption of the Common Agricultural policy and the emissions level can be detected for Spain, Austria, Finland and Sweden. |
| Date: | 2005–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:icr:wpicer:17-2005&r=agr |
| By: | Sinha Piyush Kumar; Mathew Elizabeth; Kansal Ankur |
| Abstract: | Format choice is recognized as a cognitive process. Like any other purchasing decision format choice also is an information processing behavior. A store is chosen based on the confidence that the customer has regarding the store; about the nature and quality of product and service he will receive. In Indian scenario formats have been found to be influencing the choice of store as well as orientation of the shoppers (Sinha and Uniyal, 2005). This study seeks to analyze the various factors influencing decision making process of customers in choosing a store format. A full-profile* procedure was used for the Conjoint Analysis in this study. The exploratory study brought out five different formats that existed in the food and grocery sector. With this it also identified combinations of the seven parameters have given rise to some generic retail formats. It also helped identifying the important factor set which affects consumer format choice decisions. The findings also provide details useful for retailers in designing an efficient retail package to offer their customers. * Full-profile conjoint analysis has been a popular approach to measure attribute utilities. In the full-profile conjoint task, different product descriptions (or even different actual products) are developed and presented to the respondent for acceptability or preference evaluations. Each product profile is designed as part of a fractional factorial experimental design that evenly matches the occurrence of each attribute with all other attributes. By controlling the attribute pairings, the researcher can estimate the respondent’s utility for each level of each attribute tested. |
| Date: | 2005–07–20 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iim:iimawp:2005-07-04&r=agr |
| By: | Batres-Marquez, S. Patricia; Jensen, Helen H. |
| Abstract: | Evidence from recent U.S. food consumption surveys provides new information on the distribution of rice consumption, the characteristics of rice consumers, and the diets of people who consume rice. Recently available data from nationally representative surveys of food consumed by individuals in the United States allowed comparison of consumption today (2001-02) with consumption in the mid-1990s. Data come from the Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals (1994-96) and the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2001-02). Rice is consumed by a significant portion of the U.S. adult population. In 2001-02, over 18 percent (18.2 percent) of adults reported eating at least half a serving of white or brown rice in one day of observed intake. This share was slightly higher than that of 1994-96 (17.4 percent). Compared with others, individuals who consumed at least half a serving of white or brown rice in the observed day of intake consumed a smaller share of calories per day from fat and saturated fat; less discretionary fat or added sugar; and more fiber, dietary folate, fruit, vegetables, and enriched grains. Consumers eating rice were more likely to eat a diet that included choices of foods consistent with the 2005 U.S. Dietary Guidelines. |
| Keywords: | dietary guidelines, rice consumption. |
| Date: | 2005–07–22 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:isu:genres:12398&r=agr |