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on Agricultural Economics |
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Issue of 2017‒11‒19
twenty-six papers chosen by |
| By: | Martin, Will (Asian Development Bank Institute) |
| Abstract: | Agricultural trade is vitally important for achieving the goal of ending hunger by 2030, as enshrined in the second Sustainable Development Goal. While trade is frequently seen as posing threats to this vitally important goal, it can in fact play a major role in achieving it. Trade helps in a number of ways, by allowing countries to take advantage of their radically different factor endowments, with land-abundant countries providing exports and land-poor countries taking advantage of much more efficiently-produced imports. Trade liberalization can also help by raising production efficiency in agriculture, allowing improvements in dietary diversity and increasing access to food. Allowing trade substantially reduces the volatility of food prices by diversifying sources of supply. By contrast, beggar-thy-neighbor policies of price insulation such as the imposition of export bans in periods of high prices redistribute, rather than reduce, volatility. However, the tendency of other countries to use price-insulating policies creates a serious collective action problem in world markets. Proposals for Special Safeguards would exacerbate these problems by adding massive duties—and creating even larger declines in world prices—during periods of already-depressed prices. |
| Keywords: | agricultural trade; food security; price insulation; protection; trade distortions; safeguards |
| JEL: | F10 F13 Q11 Q17 |
| Date: | 2017–02–14 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ris:adbiwp:0664&r=agr |
| By: | Steven M. Smith (Division of Economics and Business, Colorado School of Mines) |
| Abstract: | Surface water irrigators in arid regions confront public good issues for building and maintaining shared infrastructure as well as common-pool resource issues to appropriate the surface water. Drawing on the unique history of New Mexico, I explore how the transition in the early 20 th century from the original small decentralized communal Spanish irrigation systems (acequias) to centralized quasi-public irrigation districts altered agricultural development and production. My results confirm that that irrigation districts can significantly improve outcomes when investing in costly infrastructure to expand irrigated acreage, increasing farmland values up to 33 percent. However, I find no broader evidence that the centralized control of water distribution provides any gains to acreage previously under irrigation by the decentralized acequias. |
| Keywords: | common-pool resources, transaction costs, externalities, governance structure |
| JEL: | N52 O13 Q15 Q25 |
| Date: | 2017–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:mns:wpaper:wp201709&r=agr |
| By: | Salome Gelashvili (International School of Economics at Tbilisi State University, Tbilisi); Phatima Mamardashvili (International School of Economics at Tbilisi State University, Tbilisi) |
| Abstract: | Food price volatility is an important determinant of access to food. Given Georgia’s low selfsufficiency ratio (34%) and its dependence on international markets, Georgia has few mechanisms to control food price volatility, particularly when it is driven by international market conditions. The goal of this paper is to measure the price volatility of wheat, potato and maize flour in Georgia, and define major drivers of volatility through a time series analysis of retail prices of those three food products, which account for a significant share of households’ spending on food. Results of the analysis are expected to contribute to Georgia’s policy on food security, as well as agricultural policy in general. |
| Keywords: | Price volatility, time series analysis |
| Date: | 2017 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:tbs:wpaper:17-007&r=agr |
| By: | Hendrickson, Mary K.; Howard, Philip H.; Constance, Douglas H. |
| Abstract: | One of the most pressing concerns about the industrialization of agriculture and food is the consolidation and concentration of markets for agricultural inputs, agricultural commodities food processing and groceries. In essence a small minority of actors globally exercise great control over food system decisions. This means that because of increased consolidation of these markets globally – from the United States to China to Brazil, from South Africa to the United Kingdom – the vast majority of farmers, consumers and communities are left out of key decisions about how we farm and what we eat. Transnational agrifood firms are motivated by profits and power in the marketplace, leaving other social, economic and ecological goals behind. This creates an agroecological crisis in the face of climate uncertainty but one that is rooted in social and economic organization. In this chapter we detail the current economic organization of agriculture, and briefly describe its negative impacts on farmers, communities and ecology. We conclude by articulating stories of farmer-led resistance that imagine a new food system. |
| Keywords: | agriculture,capital as power,farmers,food,power |
| Date: | 2017 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:esprep:171171&r=agr |
| By: | Anderson, Kym |
| Abstract: | This paper has three purposes: to document the pace and extent to which China's policy regime has transitioned over the past four decades from taxing to subsidizing its farmers relative to its producers of other tradable goods; to present projections of the world economy to 2030 that suggest China will continue to become more food import-dependent under current policies and productivity growth rates; and to explore alternative policy instruments for remaining food secure and ensuring that farmers are not losers from economic growth. The data used to estimate the extent of distortions to producer incentives come from freely available World Bank and OECD sources that allow direct comparisons of China's policy developments with those of more- and less-advanced economies. The estimates reveal that China has made the transition from negative to positive assistance to farmers far faster than the average developing country, and almost as fast as its Northeast Asian neighbours did in earlier decades at similar levels of real per capita incomes. That has helped to ensure China remained food self-sufficient during the first two decades of reform. However, food self-sufficiency is now declining and is projected to continue to do so over the next decade under current policies. Preventing food self-sufficiency from declining further by increasing agricultural protection is now unnecessary thanks to the information and communication technology revolution that enables the government to use conditional cash transfers to directly support the adjustment and well-being of poor farm households. |
| Keywords: | Agricultural support policies; China's economic growth; Food security; Multiple exchange rates |
| JEL: | F13 F14 Q17 Q18 |
| Date: | 2017–11 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cpr:ceprdp:12438&r=agr |
| By: | Tasso Adamopoulos; Loren Brandt; Jessica Leight; Diego Restuccia |
| Abstract: | We use household-level panel data from China and a quantitative framework to document the extent and consequences of factor misallocation in agriculture. We find that there are substantial frictions in both the land and capital markets linked to land institutions in rural China that disproportionately constrain the more productive farmers. These frictions reduce aggregate agricultural productivity in China by affecting two key margins: (1) the allocation of resources across farmers (misallocation) and (2) the allocation of workers across sectors, in particular the type of farmers who operate in agriculture (selection). We show that selection can substantially amplify the static misallocation effect of distortionary policies by affecting occupational choices that worsen the distribution of productive units in agriculture. |
| Keywords: | Agriculture, misallocation, selection, productivity, China. |
| JEL: | O11 O14 O4 E02 Q1 |
| Date: | 2017–11–13 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:tor:tecipa:tecipa-593&r=agr |
| By: | Grimm, Michael |
| Abstract: | I analyze whether variation in rainfall risk played a role for the speed of the demographic transition among American settlers. The underlying hypothesis is that children constituted a buffer stock of labor that could be mobilized in response to income shocks. Identification relies on fertility differences between farm and non-farm households within counties and over time. The results suggest that in areas with a high variance in rainfall the fertility differential between farm households and non-farm households was significantly higher than in areas with a low variance in rainfall. This channel is robust to other relevant forces such as income, education and children’s survival as well as the spatial correlation in fertility levels. The analysis also shows that this effect was reduced and finally disappeared as irrigation systems and agricultural machinery emerged. Hence, access to risk-mitigating devices significantly contributed to the demographic transition in the US. These findings also have potentially important implications for Sub-Saharan Africa, especially for those areas where income risks are a major threat to households and where fertility is still high and only slowly declining or not declining at all. |
| Keywords: | demographic transition,fertility,rainfall risk,insurance |
| JEL: | J13 N31 N32 O12 Q12 |
| Date: | 2017 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:rwirep:718&r=agr |
| By: | De Pin, Antonio |
| Abstract: | Land Consumption and Farming Concentration in Mature Economies: the Veneto Region. In this paper, we will discuss how soil consumption in mature economies is increasingly affecting farmland with measurable effects on the loss of eco-systemic services of agriculture. Different sets of indicators interconnect multiple phenomena: this fact restates the centrality of rural areas through the concept of multi-functionality. Using the information gathered from the VI General Agricultural Census, the study offers a realistic snapshot of the evolution of structural elements in the agricultural sector in the Veneto region. Modifications are intense, which imply the damage of multiple relationships between artificial space and agricultural systems. The search is performed through the analysis of census microdata. The observed trends suggest a concentration model of farm structures. This allows the testing of the effectiveness of agricultural policies. The tendency of relevant indicators shows the intensification of the restructuring process. |
| Keywords: | Keywords: farms, land consumption, multi-functionality |
| JEL: | Q12 Q15 Q24 |
| Date: | 2016–09–02 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:82573&r=agr |
| By: | Alban Kitous (European Commission – JRC); Kimon Keramidas (European Commission – JRC); Toon Vandyck (European Commission – JRC); Bert Saveyn (European Commission – JRC); Rita Van Dingenen (European Commission – JRC); Joe Spadaro (Basque Centre for Climate Change (BC3), Bilbao, Spain); Mike Holland (Ecometrics Research and Consulting (EMRC), Reading, U.K.) |
| Abstract: | This study shows that achieving the climate change mitigation target of staying below 2°C temperature rise is possible technically – thanks to an acceleration of decarbonisation trends, an increased electrification of final demand and large changes in the primary energy mix that include a phase out of coal and a reduction of oil and gas – and is consistent with economic growth. It yields co-benefits via improved air quality – including avoided deaths, reduction of respiratory diseases and agricultural productivity improvement – that largely offset the cost of climate change mitigation. These co-benefits arise without extra investment costs and are additional to the benefits of avoiding global warming and its impact on the economy. |
| Keywords: | climate, mitigation, GHG emissions, energy, energy demand, energy supply, power generation, energy investment, modelling, POLES, GEM-E3, TM5-FASST, air pollution, air quality, mitigation cost, macroeconomic impacts, health impacts |
| Date: | 2017–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ipt:iptwpa:jrc107944&r=agr |
| By: | Chaoran Chen; Diego Restuccia; Raul Santaeulalia-Llopis |
| Abstract: | We assess the role of land markets on factor misallocation in Ethiopia--where land is owned by the state--by exploiting policy-driven variation in land rentals across time and space arising from a recent land certification reform. Our main finding from detailed micro data is that land rentals significantly reduce misallocation and increase agricultural productivity. These effects are nonlinear across farms--impacting more those farms farther away from their efficient operational scale. The effect of land rentals on productivity is 70 percent larger when controlling for non-market rentals--those with a pre-harvest rental rate of zero. Land rentals significantly increase the adoption of new technologies, especially fertilizer use. |
| Keywords: | Productivity, agriculture, land markets, rentals, misallocation, micro data. |
| JEL: | E02 O11 O13 O55 Q1 |
| Date: | 2017–11–11 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:tor:tecipa:tecipa-592&r=agr |
| By: | Hayatullah Ahmadzai |
| Abstract: | We analyse the microeconomic determinants of the extent of crop diversification in Afghanistan by employing instrumental variable Tobit analysis using data from a cross-section survey of 8,613 farm households in 364 districts in all 34 provinces collected in 2013/14. The estimates of the Composite Entropy Index (CEI) show a relatively low level of crop diversification. Regression results indicate that landholding size, access to sufficient irrigation water, ownership of tractor, oxen, and cattle by the farm households, household size, landscape, and quality of land significantly increase the level of crop diversification. A significantly lower degree of crop diversification is found for farm households with higher off-farm income, and farmers living in communities with low access to all-season drivable roads. Since off-farm income is highly likely to be associated with the unobserved household characteristics such as household entrepreneurial skills and risk preferences which are omitted from the regression analysis, one would expect biased estimates of the relevant coefficients. We allow off-farm income to be endogenous and use Instrumental variable (IV) Tobit analysis revealing that endogeneity masks the true effect of off-farm income; the negative impact of off-farm income on the level of crop diversification is even greater when endogeneity is accounted for. This is consistent with the hypothesis that risk-aversion behaviour of famers generates an upward bias in the coefficient of off-farm income if endogeneity is not allowed for. Unobserved risk-aversion behaviour drive household’s decision to diversify into both nonfarm income and crop mix. |
| Keywords: | Off-farm Income, Crop Diversity, Agricultural Economics, Afghanistan |
| Date: | 2017 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:not:notcre:17/07&r=agr |
| By: | Alexandre Gohin |
| Abstract: | This paper deals with the controversial indirect land use changes of the European biodiesel policy. Two studies sponsored by the European Commission finds significant, but contrasted, land use effects for the different vegetable oils used for biodiesel production. The first study uses an aggregate computable general equilibrium model capturing direct, indirect and induced effects. The second recent study uses a biotechnical partial equilibrium model offering a detailed representation of the indirect effects occurring through the livestock sectors. We develop an original economic emulator to understand the diverging key results of these studies and test their sensitivity. We find that the direct and indirect effects on vegetable oil markets explain most of the differences. We also find that indirect effects on the livestock sector and the induced effects do not significantly influence the biodiesel results. However results are critically sensitive to crop yield responses that are considerably underestimated in both studies. The cropland displacement due to the biodiesel policy computed by the recent study is overestimated by a factor of 5. |
| Keywords: | land use changes, biodiesel, Europe, emulator |
| JEL: | Q11 Q16 |
| Date: | 2017 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:rae:wpaper:201709&r=agr |
| By: | Katherine Niland; Mary Kay Fox; Elizabeth Gearan |
| Abstract: | The Nutrition Services Program (NSP), administered by the Administration on Aging within the Administration for Community Living, is designed to alleviate hunger and food insecurity among the elderly while also giving them the opportunity to enrich their social lives. The NSP aims to achieve these goals, in part, by serving congregate meals at senior centers or other community settings and providing home-delivered meals to homebound participants. |
| Keywords: | Healthy Eating Index-2010, nutritional quality, Dietary Guidelines, congregate meals, home-delivered meals |
| JEL: | I0 I1 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:mpr:mprres:c4f761566eb14d6a95f9166b8d93429f&r=agr |
| By: | Wilson, Norbert L. W. (Asian Development Bank Institute) |
| Abstract: | Several of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) suggest that improving well-being is achievable through trade. The free flow of goods and services internationally, which encourages efficient production and expansion of consumption, may support SDGs concerning inclusive and sustainable economic growth and sustainable consumption and production patterns. However, trade restrictions such as nontariff barriers (NTBs) may stymie potential gains from trade, which supports the SDGs. This chapter explores the trade effects of different NTBs, especially labeling and food safety regulations in food and agriculture. The upshot of this chapter is that trade can enhance economic growth and development. Standards such as labels and food safety regulations may contribute to or hamper this growth, which affects the capacity to attain the relevant SDGs. Thus, future analysis must provide careful assessments of industries, proposed standards, multiple outcomes, and power relationships to identify the effects of standards on trade and development. |
| Keywords: | labels; food safety; SPS; TBT; non-tariff barriers (NTB); Sustainable Development Goals |
| JEL: | F13 O24 Q17 Q18 |
| Date: | 2017–02–03 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ris:adbiwp:0657&r=agr |
| By: | Bakari, Sayef |
| Abstract: | The contribution of this paper is investigating the impact of citrus exports on economic growth on Tunisia since it never been treated before. In order to achieve this purpose, annual data were collected from the reports of Tunisian Central Bank for the periods between 1970 and 2016 was tested by using co integration analysis of Error Correction Model. According to the result of the analysis, citrus exports have not any influence on economic growth in the long term. However, empirical results show that there is a positive unidirectional causality from citrus exports to economic growth in the short run. These results provide on evidence that citrus exports, thus, are not seen as source of economic growth in Tunisia and suffer a lot of problems and poor economic strategy. For this reason, it is very important to make new reforms and to create robustness strategies to refine investment and trade strategy in this sector, so it can support Tunisian economic flourishing. |
| Keywords: | Citrus Exports, Economic Growth, Cointegration, ECM, Tunisia |
| JEL: | F11 F13 F14 O47 O55 Q1 Q17 Q18 |
| Date: | 2017–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:82414&r=agr |
| By: | Sofia Torreggiani; Giuseppe Mangioni; Michael J. Puma; Giorgio Fagiolo |
| Abstract: | Achieving international food security requires improved understanding of how international trade networks connect countries around the world through the import-export flows of food commodities. The properties of food trade networks are still poorly documented, especially from a multi-network perspective. In particular, nothing is known about the community structure of food networks, which is key to understanding how major disruptions or 'shocks' would impact the global food system. Here we find that the individual layers of this network have densely connected trading groups, a consistent characteristic over the period 2001 to 2011. We also fit econometric models to identify social, economic and geographic factors explaining the probability that any two countries are co-present in the same community. Our estimates indicate that the probability of country pairs belonging to the same food trade community depends more on geopolitical and economic factors -- such as geographical proximity and trade agreements co-membership -- than on country economic size and/or income. This is in sharp contrast with what we know about bilateral-trade determinants and suggests that food country communities behave in ways that can be very different from their non-food counterparts. |
| Date: | 2017–11 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:arx:papers:1711.05784&r=agr |
| By: | Kang, Jong Woo; Ramizo, Dorothea |
| Abstract: | In principle, sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures aim to protect the health of humans, plants and animals, while technical barriers to trade (TBT) ensure product quality and safety. However, governments may overshoot the requirements of health and consumer safety and use SPS and TBT to shield domestic producers from fair competition. Potential abuses of both measures as protectionist tools not only constrain international trade but also consumers’ welfare by restricting the choices of goods available to them. Our analysis shows that in general the measures seem to be positive for trade after controlling for other factors. However, the impacts are mainly driven by exports from advanced economies. Less developed countries do not gain as much when implementing the measures or are disadvantaged in exporting goods, particularly when importers are advanced economies. Within South countries, developing Asia are more adversely affected by SPS while non-Asian developing country exports are afflicted more by TBT. SPS in particular is damaging intraregional agricultural trade among Asian countries, which calls for policy makers to act more proactively in resolving nontariff hurdles in the region. |
| Keywords: | agriculture, protectionism, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, technical barriers to trade |
| JEL: | F13 F15 |
| Date: | 2017–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:82352&r=agr |
| By: | Balgos, Carol Q.; Digal, Larry N. |
| Abstract: | This paper aims to examine the employment generation potential of the rice value chain. It analyzes the issues in the chain and the strategies to address them, including their impact on job generation. A value chain framework was used in the analysis focusing on the case of Mlang, North Cotabato. Both primary and secondary data were utilized and key informant interviews and focus group discussions were applied to collect primary data. A range of issues affecting the performance of the rice value chain from production, postproduction, to marketing can be addressed by enhancing profitability through improved productivity, pricing, lowering cost, and diversifying income sources through intercropping, processing, and product differentiation. Implementing these strategies particularly to address severe constraints can potentially generate 36,672 additional jobs. |
| Keywords: | Philippines, Mindanao, rice farmers, North Cotabato, rice value chain, employment generation, value chain framework, job creation |
| Date: | 2017 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:phd:pjdevt:pjd_2016_vol__43_no__1a&r=agr |
| By: | Anthony Amoah (Central University, Accra-Ghana); Peter G. Moffatt (University of East Anglia) |
| Abstract: | This paper applies three valuation methods to estimate demand for reliable piped-water services in Ghana. Our goal is to estimate the economic value of reliable piped-water supply, and use competing methods to provide validity checks for our estimates. We survey 1,648 urban households and find that the average amount that households are willing to pay per month is GHS 44.73 or US$14.27 (Hedonic Price Method), GHS 22.72 or US$7.25 (Travel Cost Method) and GHS 47.80 or US$15.25 (Contingent Valuation Method) respectively. These amounts are equivalent to 3%-8% of households' income. This study provides evidence of the economic viability of private sector involvement in the water sector in Ghana. Our estimates seek to inform both managers and policy makers in their decision-making on reliable piped-water supply. |
| Keywords: | piped-water, willingness-to-pay, hedonic price, contingent valuation, travel cost |
| Date: | 2017 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:uea:ueaeco:2017_01&r=agr |
| By: | Halkos, George; Matsiori, Steriani; Dritsas, Sophoclis |
| Abstract: | This study primarily attempts to understand people’s beliefs towards marine protected areas considering as a case study the National Marine Park of Alonissos, Northern Sporades (NMPANS) in Greece. Specifically, it aims to identify people’s opinion about the utility of the park investigating also their beliefs in relation to socio-economic characteristics. For this reason, a face-to-face survey of 200 respondents randomly selected residents of Volos was carried out. The research was structured according to the principles of the Contingent Valuation Method (CVM). According to the survey results, the majority of responders recognized the contribution of the Park to preserve the monk seal and the natural environment. Moreover, they want to maintain the park and specialise in the area of protection measures. |
| Keywords: | Marine Park; CVM; WTP; Mediterranean monk seal; Socio-economic values; Environmental attitudes. |
| JEL: | C10 C52 Q20 Q51 Q56 Q57 |
| Date: | 2017–11 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:82490&r=agr |
| By: | Kurz, Verena (Department of Economics, School of Business, Economics and Law, Göteborg University) |
| Abstract: | Changing dietary habits to reduce the consumption of meat is considered to have great potential to mitigate food-related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. To test if nudging can increase the consumption of vegetarian food, I conducted a field experiment with two university restaurants. At the treated restaurant, the salience of the vegetarian option was increased by changing the menu order, and by placing the dish at a spot visible to customers. The other restaurant served as a control. Daily sales data on the three main dishes sold were collected from September 2015 until June 2016. The experiment was divided into a baseline, an intervention, and a reversal period where the setup was returned to its original state. Results show that the nudge increased the share of vegetarian lunches sold by around 6 percentage points. The change in behavior is partly persistent, as the share of vegetarian lunches sold remained 4 percentage points higher than during the baseline period after the original setup was reinstated. The changes in consumption reduced GHG emissions from food sales around 5 percent. |
| Keywords: | nudging; field experiment; meat consumption; climate change mitigation |
| JEL: | C93 D03 D12 Q50 |
| Date: | 2017–11 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hhs:gunwpe:0712&r=agr |
| By: | Zhepeng Hu; Mindy Mallory; Teresa Serra; Philip Garcia |
| Abstract: | Futures market contracts with varying maturities are traded concurrently and the speed at which they process information is of value in understanding the pricing discovery process. Using price discovery measures, including Putnins (2013) information leadership share and intraday data, we quantify the proportional contribution of price discovery between nearby and deferred contracts in the corn and live cattle futures markets. Price discovery is more systematic in the corn than in the live cattle market. On average, nearby contracts lead all deferred contracts in price discovery in the corn market, but have a relatively less dominant role in the live cattle market. In both markets, the nearby contract loses dominance when its relative volume share dips below 50%, which occurs about 2-3 weeks before expiration in corn and 5-6 weeks before expiration in live cattle. Regression results indicate that the share of price discovery is most closely linked to trading volume but is also affected, to far less degree, by time to expiration, backwardation, USDA announcements and market crashes. The effects of these other factors vary between the markets which likely reflect the difference in storability as well as other market-related characteristics. |
| Date: | 2017–11 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:arx:papers:1711.03506&r=agr |
| By: | Kundu, AMIT |
| Abstract: | An important objective of National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme (NREGP) is to create durable community asset and private asset which can enhance agricultural production as well profitability of the farmers through increasing their Gross Cropped area. It can also help the farm households to generate few extra incomes through seeking employment in this programme. An investigation is here done to evaluate the impact of this programme on marginal farmer households of West Bengal. On the basis of difference-in-difference method, it has shown that rapid expansion of NREGP indicates more asset creation in a village economy which becomes helpful for the marginal farmer households to enhance their net farm income and overall income |
| Keywords: | National Rural Employment Guarantee Progarmme, Marginal farm households, Impact evaluation, Difference-in-Difference method, Gross cropped area, Net farm income, Total income |
| JEL: | Q12 |
| Date: | 2017–01–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:82434&r=agr |
| By: | Briones, Roehlano M. |
| Abstract: | The fertilizer policy in the country has evolved from pervasive interventionism in the 1970s to today's market-oriented regime. Government has abandoned price policies and subsidies, focusing rather on standard setting, quality regulation, and training. Over the same period, domestic demand for fertilizer has continually increased, though recently, resurgent fertilizer prices have reduced total utilization. Evidence suggests that farmers (at least in the case of rice) are underapplying fertilizer, forfeiting efficiency gains at the margin. On the supply side, imports have in the past few decades emerged as the main source of fertilizer, as domestic production has dwindled. Priorities for research and policy are therefore understanding the behavior of farmers in terms of fertilizer application, and addressing internal price disparities, perhaps by improved transport infrastructure and logistics. |
| Keywords: | Philippines, fertilizer industry, fertilizer policy, fertilizer application, fertilizer consumption, fertilizer supply chain |
| Date: | 2017 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:phd:pjdevt:pjd_2016_vol__43_no__1b&r=agr |
| By: | Carter, Colin A. (Dept. of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Giannini Foundation of Agricultural Economics); Ferguson, Shon (Research Institute of Industrial Economics (IFN)) |
| Abstract: | For about seventy years, the Canadian Wheat Board (CWB) was one of the world’s largest export “single desk” state traders in agriculture, until it was deregulated in 2012 and stripped of its marketing powers. One of the main crops controlled by the CWB was barley. We estimate the impact of the removal of the CWB’s single desk on the spatial pattern of malting barley production in Western Canada. We find that deregulation encouraged growers located closer to malt barley plants to increase production relative to growers located further from the plants. Additionally, malting barley production shifted to regions with more of a natural advantage arising from climatic conditions. This change in cropping patterns after deregulation can be explained by efficiency gains, combined with transportation and handling cost savings. |
| Keywords: | tate trading; Deregulation; Agricultural regulation; Trade costs; Comparative advantage |
| JEL: | L43 Q17 Q18 R12 R14 |
| Date: | 2017–10–23 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hhs:iuiwop:1185&r=agr |
| By: | Giulio Cainelli (University of Padova & SEEDS); Alessio D’Amato (University of Tor Vergata Rome & SEEDS); Massimiliano Mazzanti (University of Ferrara, IEFE Bocconi Milan & SEEDS) |
| Abstract: | Innovation adoption and diffusion by firms are key pillars for the EU strategy on resource-efficiency and the development of a circular economy. This paper presents new EU evidence regarding the role of environmental policy and green demand drivers to sustain the adoption of resource efficiency-oriented eco-innovations. This paper originally implements new estimators to address the endogeneity of binary framed policy and demand covariates, which typically characterise firm level survey data. Our results suggest that when endogeneity is accounted for, environmental policy is the only factor always significant in driving the adoption of innovations that reduce the use of waste and material, while demand-side and market-factors do not always play a central role. The result is an important piece of new quantitative-based knowledge, which complements the currently large case study-based evidence on the setting of sound management and policy strategies for the circular economy. |
| Keywords: | Eco innovation; circular economy; innovation drivers; EU; environmental regulation; market demand |
| Date: | 2017–11 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:sru:ssewps:2017-24&r=agr |