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on Agricultural Economics |
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Issue of 2021‒07‒26
34 papers chosen by |
| By: | Asante, Felix Ankomah; Bawakyillenuo, Simon |
| Abstract: | Ghana’s rising population, coupled with erratic weather patterns and soil nutrient deficiencies, pose a significant challenge to food crop production. In responding to universal calls for actions to end poverty, the Government of Ghana (GoG) launched the flagship Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ) program in 2017. PFJ is designed to promote on-farm productivity through the intensification of fertilizer subsidies and adoption of improved seeds of targeted crops, thereby enabling job creation in agriculture and other interrelated sectors. Implemented by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), the PFJ program works in concert with other existing agricultural programs and policies to achieve the universal goal of ending hunger, achieving food security, and improving nutrition by promoting efficient and sustainable intensification and climate-proofing of agriculture by 2030 (Sustainable Development Goal 2). |
| Keywords: | GHANA; WEST AFRICA; AFRICA SOUTH OF SAHARA; AFRICA; farms; agricultural extension; postharvest losses; crops; yields; seed; fertilizers; subsidies; crop production; jobs; food security; households; surveys |
| Date: | 2021 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fpr:gsspwp:57&r= |
| By: | Kishore, Avinash; Singh, Vartika |
| Abstract: | Low and variable yields of wheat in the rice--wheat cropping systems of lower Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP) of South Asia, covering Bihar and Eastern Uttar Pradesh (EUP) in India and the Terai region of Nepal, are a matter of significant concern for this densely populated region (Chatrath et al., 2007). Increasing the productivity and profitability of wheat is important for Bihar and E U P both for the income security of farmers and the food security of households (Keil et al., 2015). It is the second-largest crop in the region after rice in terms of area, production, and output value. Farmers in Bihar cultivate wheat on more than 2 million ha of land and produce 5--6 million tonnes of it every year. Wheat occupies 28% of the gross cropped area of Bihar and 70% of the sown area in the Rabi season. Despite its importance to the state’s agrarian economy and food security, wheat yields and the gross value of output per hectare are the lowest in Bihar among all major wheat-producing states of India while the cost of production (INR/tonne) is high (INR 10,630/tonne vs. INR 9,600/tonne for India); the net profit (INR per hectare) from wheat cultivation is also the lowest (Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP), 2020). In this brief, we analyze the four major factors that contribute to low wheat yields in Bihar. |
| Keywords: | INDIA, SOUTH ASIA, ASIA, seed, water, wheat, food productivity, yields, irrigation, farmers, markets, wheat productivity |
| Date: | 2021 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fpr:csispn:19&r= |
| By: | Shahrin, Sumona; Krupnik, Timothy J.; Aravindakshan, Sreejith; Groot, Jeroen |
| Abstract: | The expanded use of surface water for irrigation, intensified farm management, and double cropping have been highlighted by the Government of Bangladesh as policy priorities and development imperatives in the coastal region. A deltaic country, Bangladesh has a dense network of interconnected rivers and over 230 tributaries flowing into the Bay of Bengal. Most farmers cultivate rice during the summer monsoon. In the subsequent winter season that is characterized by low amounts of rainfall, many farmers do not irrigate despite available surface water resources in naturally flowing canal systems. Rather, they tend to fallow their fields or grow pulses without intensive management practices. Use of available water resources for irrigation, intensified farm management, and double cropping are relatively rare. The reasons for this ‘ironic’ situation are complex. They involve challenges with soil and water salinity, lack of infrastructure and market integration, and farmers’ generally low investment capacity and aversion to risk, among others. Most studies in the coastal region have focused on addressing these issues from a biophysical or agronomic standpoint, or by using econometric approaches to examine farmers’ interest in intensified crop management and the use of irrigation. Considering agronomic management, there are many approaches that have been deemed as technologically feasible. Less information is however available on how different kinds of farmers perceive and approach these complex issues. Similarly, the relevance for policy and development initiatives in coastal Bangladesh is relatively under-researched. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to analyze farmers’ perceptions of their predominant farming systems and explore corresponding constraints and perceptions of the use of surface water as a means to intensify farm management. |
| Keywords: | BANGLADESH, SOUTH ASIA, ASIA, models, crop improvement, farmers, agricultural development, irrigation, farming systems |
| Date: | 2020 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fpr:csispn:18&r= |
| By: | Abay, Kibrom A.; Abay, Mehari Hiluf; Amare, Mulubrhan; Berhane, Guush; Betemariam, Ermias |
| Abstract: | Lack of accurate information about soil nutrient requirements coupled with limited access to appropriate fertilizers could lead to mismatch between soil nutrient requirements and fertilizer applications. Such anomalies and mismatches are likely to have important implications for agricultural productivity. In this paper we use experimental (spectral soil analysis) data from Ethiopia to examine farmers’ response to soil nutrient deficiencies and its implications for yield responses. We find that farmers’ response to macronutrient (nitrogen and phosphorus) deficiencies is not always consistent with agronomic recommendations. For instance, we find that farmers in our sample are applying nitrogen fertilizers to soils lacking phosphorus, potentially due to lack of information on soil nutrient deficiencies or lack of access to appropriate fertilizers in rural markets. On the other hand, farmers respond to perceivably poor-quality soils and acidic soils by applying higher amount of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers per unit of land. We further show that such mismatches between fertilizer applications and soil macronutrient requirements are potentially yield-reducing. Those farmers matching their soil nutrient requirements and fertilizer application are likely to enjoy additional yield gains and the vice versa. Marginal yield responses associated with nitrogen (phosphorus) application increases with soil nitrogen (phosphorus) deficiency. Similarly, we find that farmers’ response to acidic soils is not yield-enhancing. These findings suggest that such mismatches may explain heterogeneities in marginal returns to chemical fertilizers and the observed low adoption rates of chemical fertilizers in sub-Saharan Africa. As such, these findings have important implications for improving input management practices and fertilizer diffusion strategies. |
| Keywords: | ETHIOPIA; EAST AFRICA; AFRICA SOUTH OF SAHARA; AFRICA; nutrient deficiency; fertilizers; fertilizer application; soil deficiencies; soil; yields; mismatch; spectral soil analysis |
| Date: | 2021 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fpr:ifprid:2031&r= |
| By: | Declerck, Francis (ESSEC Research Center, ESSEC Business School); Indjehagopian, Jean-Pierre (ESSEC Research Center, ESSEC Business School); Lantz, Frédéric (IFP School) |
| Abstract: | This paper aims at explaining the major drivers of biodiesel market prices by examining agricultural resource prices and gasoil prices for automotive fuels in the context of the EU environmental policy. The EU policy has enhanced biodiesel production since 2006. Biodiesel prices are impacted by the EU policy as well as rapeseed and oil prices which have fluctuated a lot over the last decade. An econometric analysis was performed using monthly data from November 2006 to January 2016. However, tests for structural breaks show several changes in price behavior. This leads us to estimate a regime-switching model which reveals two main regimes for the biodiesel price pattern. When oil prices are high, biodiesel, rapeseed and diesel oil prices are related, mainly driven by oil prices. When oil prices are low, biodiesel prices are mostly related to rapeseed prices according to EU regulations requiring the blending of biodiesel and gasoil. |
| Keywords: | biofuel; oil market; structural changes; switching regime model |
| JEL: | O13 Q16 Q41 Q42 |
| Date: | 2020–02–21 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ebg:essewp:dr-20003&r= |
| By: | Wendong Zhang (Center for Agricultural and Rural Development (CARD)); Hannah Spies |
| Abstract: | The farmland market and the agricultural economy have seen a remarkable ride over the past year-the world shut down in early 2020 with unprecedented uncertainty and anxiety; however, the agricultural commodity markets and the land market have gained noticeable strength since fall 2020. Record government support, historically low interest rates, and surging agricultural exports led to a 10% or more hike in farmland values for almost all Midwestern states. The Q2 2021 update provides concrete evidence of this recent surge: • Low interest rates, strong government payments, surging agricultural exports, and concerns about drought are behind the rise over the past six months. The Q2 2021 farmland auction prices for 85% tillable grounds increased more than 20%, rising from $9,956/acre in Q1 2021 to $11,907/acre in Q2 2021. The implied sales prices for all land quality classes have risen to much higher levels of $133-$172/CSR2. This reflects tremendous surges in commodity prices as corn futures prices rose from $5/bushel in late 2020 to $6-$7/bushel in the last two months. • The recent surge is consistent with reports from several other sources-the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago reported a 10% annual increase since last April and the Farmers National Company's June Land Values Report showed a 5%-15% hike over the last six months due to competitive bidding. • Farmland supply is still tight-only 42,785 and 31,787 acres were sold in Q1 and Q2 in 2021, respectively, and limited land supply tends to support land values. As of July 1, 2021, there are only 31,798 acres of Iowa farmland available for sale via auction or real estate listings, but the higher offered prices and possible tax policy changes might induce more land supply. • The farmland auction sales prices for all land qualities lead to even more dramatic increases for lower quality land with the $/CSR2 rising from $115/CSR2 to $172/CSR2 in Q1 2021. This is due to the extremely tight land supply and the strong demand for farmland. • Farmland auctions are the primary mode of land sales in Iowa's Northwest, North Central, West Central, and Central crop reporting districts; while in southern Iowa and northeast Iowa, real estate listings are the dominant method. |
| Date: | 2021–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ias:cpaper:21-sr114&r= |
| By: | Shr, Yau-Huo (Jimmy); Zhang, Wendong |
| Abstract: | Discrete choice experiments have been extensively used to value environmental quality; however, some important attributes may be often omitted due to design challenges. In the case of agricultural water pollution, overlooking downstream water quality benefits could lead to biased estimates and misinterpretations of local water quality attributes presented in the choice experiments. Using a split-sample design and a statewide survey of Iowa residents, we provide the first systematic evaluation of how households’ willingness-to-pay for water quality change when downstream water quality benefits, hypoxic zone reduction in our case, are omitted. We find that omitting non-local water quality attributes significantly reduces the total economic value of nutrient reduction programs but does not bias the marginal willingness-to-pay for local water quality attributes. We also find suggestive evidence showing that such omission, in line with the theoretical prediction, only changes the preferences of respondents who are aware of the downstream impacts of local water quality improvement plans. In addition, our results show that providing information on the non-local water quality benefits of nutrient reduction makes respondents less informed about the water quality issues more likely to support the water quality improvement plans. |
| Date: | 2021–01–01 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:isu:genstf:202101010800001067&r= |
| By: | Nelson, Katherine; Sander, Bjoern Ole; Yen, Bui Tan |
| Abstract: | The agriculture sector contributes significantly to national greenhouse gas emissions in developing countries. Rice is a major contributor to methane emissions in Asia and many countries have recognized the potential to reduce emissions by including rice in their nationally determined contributions. This guide serves to bridge the gap in knowledge on developing and implementing action plans to achieve the ambitious targets to reduce emissions in rice. With a focus on Vietnam, this guide describes methods and tools for research organizations to support national governments to plan, finance, and implement mitigation actions in the rice sector. |
| Date: | 2021–07–15 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:osf:socarx:8mzcj&r= |
| By: | Bachewe, Fantu Nisrane; Minten, Bart |
| Abstract: | We study price behavior of vegetables and fruits in Ethiopia over the 15 year period from 2005 to 2019 based on large-scale retail and producer price datasets. This is an important topic given the importance of prices for consumption decisions for these nutritious crops. A number of notable findings come from the analysis. First, prices are rapidly increasing both in real terms and when compared to cereals. At the end of the study period in 2019, vegetables and fruits in real terms were significantly more expensive than 15 years earlier. Especially green leafy vegetables show a significant price rise, likely because few high-yielding varieties of these vegetables have been made available and adopted by producers. Second, part of the rise in prices is explained by increased marketing margins. To understand what accounts for these increases in the marketing margins for fruits and vegetables requires more research, as they contrast with stable or declining margins seen for other food crops over the study period. Third, we see significant seasonality in vegetable prices that is mostly driven by supply factors, but also by demand shifts due to increased demand in fasting periods. Fruit prices do not show such high seasonal variation, however. Fourth, there is significant spatial price variation in the country – vegetable prices are 60 percent more expensive in lowland regions than in the Amhara region, where vegetables are cheapest. Fruit prices in the lowlands are double the prices in the major producing area, the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' (SNNP) region. |
| Keywords: | ETHIOPIA; EAST AFRICA; AFRICA SOUTH OF SAHARA; AFRICA; food prices; vegetables; food consumption; nutrition; fruit; seasonality; cereals; horticultural sector; vegetable production; vegetable prices |
| Date: | 2021 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fpr:esspwp:157&r= |
| By: | Mubenga-Tshitaka, Jean-Luc; Gelo, Dambala; Dikgang, Johane; Mwamba, Muteba |
| Abstract: | Recent scientific literature shows that in many developing countries, variability in rainfall and temperature in growing season has distortional effects on agricultural output, especially when the variability is high. At what degree or threshold are these variabilities harmful to agricultural output in certain regions of Africa? In this study, we answer this research question using a dynamic panel threshold model on a panel dataset of East African countries for the period 1961 to 2016. We incorporate climate variables disaggregated into growing and non-growing seasons like in Abraha-Kahsay and Hansen (2016). The empirical results indicate that growing rainfall variability has significant effects on agricultural output. More specifically, we found a significant negative effect from rainfall variability in spring and summer, when precipitation exceeds thresholds of -0.533ml and -0.902ml respectively. We found no significant effect in fall. In the case of growing-season temperature variability, we found no significant effects. Policy implications are discussed. |
| Keywords: | adaptation policy, climate change, Eastern Africa, Dynamic panel threshold |
| JEL: | Q10 Q18 Q54 |
| Date: | 2021–07–12 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:108721&r= |
| By: | Almanzar, Miguel; de Brauw, Alan; Nakasone, Eduardo |
| Abstract: | Considerable resources are allocated to agricultural extension around the world, with questionable cost effectiveness. An obvious question is whether information and communication technologies can be used to push agricultural extension messages effectively at a lower cost. Based on a clustered randomized control trial, we evaluate a pilot in which farmers receive information about agricultural production on rice, vegetables, and chicken rearing via mobile phone voice messages. Our experimental design included groups of households without and with farmer group membership. We evaluate whether farmers received the information, learned it, shared it with non-recipients, and used it, and how the effects of the information campaign on these outcomes changes with being part of an existing farmer group and the proportion of the village population receiving information. We find farmers in the information treatment groups were more knowledgeable about the practices promoted, believe it helped them produce more, and shared it with others. The information campaign was more effective for rice and to a lesser extent chicken rearing than for vegetables. We do not find differential effects by farmer group membership. We find that the amount of information sent to the village increases information diffusion but the speed of sharing the information is similar across treatment groups and by different saturation rates. We conclude that targeted and simple information campaigns can help supplement the information needs of farmers in a cost-effective manner, independently of their participation in farmer groups or extension programs. |
| Keywords: | CAMBODIA; SOUTH EAST ASIA; ASIA; rice; poultry; chickens; vegetables; food production; agricultural extension; technology; networks; information transfer; agricultural production; technology adoption |
| Date: | 2021 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fpr:ifprid:2032&r= |
| By: | Nicolás Arturo Torres Franco; Eleonora Dávalos; Leonardo Fabio Morales |
| Abstract: | Small family farms account for 72 percent of the farms in the world. Most of these farms, in developing countries, face labor productivity gaps. One of the strategies to increase agricultural productivity focuses on implementing technical assistance programs. Using agriculture microdata, we estimate the marginal treatment effect of receiving technical assistance services. We find that technical assistance generates heterogeneous effects. On average, agricultural units receiving technical assistance increased their agricultural production by 50.4 percent. However, there is important heterogeneity of technical assistance’s effects across the production units’ unobserved and observed characteristics. **** RESUMEN: Las unidades familiares agrícolas representan el 72 por ciento de las unidades productoras agrícolas del mundo. La mayoría de estas unidades familiares, en países en desarrollo, enfrentan brechas de productividad laboral. Una de las estrategias para incrementar la productividad agrícola se centra en la implementación de programas de asistencia técnica. Utilizando microdatos agrícolas, estimamos el efecto marginal del tratamiento de recibir servicios de asistencia técnica. Encontramos que la asistencia técnica genera efectos heterogéneos. En promedio, las unidades agrícolas que recibieron asistencia técnica aumentaron su producción agrícola en un 50,4 por ciento. Sin embargo, existe una importante heterogeneidad de los efectos de la asistencia técnica en las características no observadas y observadas de las unidades de producción. |
| Keywords: | family farms, technical assistance, heterogeneous effects, Unidades agrícolas familiares, asistencia técnica, MTE |
| JEL: | Q12 Q16 Q18 |
| Date: | 2021–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:bdr:borrec:1164&r= |
| By: | Carlos Garcia-Velasquez; Yvonne van der Meer |
| Abstract: | The transition to a low-carbon economy is one of the ambitions of the European Union for 2030. Biobased industries play an essential role in this transition. However, there has been an on-going discussion about the actual benefit of using biomass to produce biobased products, specifically the use of agricultural materials (e.g., corn and sugarcane). This paper presents the environmental impact assessment of 30% and 100% biobased PET (polyethylene terephthalate) production using EU biomass supply chains (e.g., sugar beet, wheat, and Miscanthus). An integral assessment between the life cycle assessment methodology and the global sensitivity assessment is presented as an early-stage support tool to propose and select supply chains that improve the environmental performance of biobased PET production. From the results, Miscanthus is the best option for the production of biobased PET: promoting EU local supply chains, reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (process and land-use change), and generating lower impacts in midpoint categories related to resource depletion, ecosystem quality, and human health. This tool can help improving the environmental performance of processes that could boost the shift to a low-carbon economy. |
| Date: | 2021–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:arx:papers:2107.05251&r= |
| By: | Eckelkamp, Liz; Zaring, Caitlin; Upendram, Sreedhar; Paskewitz, Emily A.; Sedges, Heather; Johnson, Kristen |
| Abstract: | The Tennessee dairy industry is facing many challenges with aging farmer populations, low milk prices and dairy farms struggling to maintain profitability. Many dairy producers have retired, sold out or lost contracts with milk handlers leading to a steady decline of dairy farms. Tennessee has declined to 179 licensed Grade ‘A’ dairy farms in January 2020 from 276 Grade ‘A’ dairy farms in January 2018 – a decrease of 97 dairies in two years (Strasser, 2021). With the loss of dairy farms, we can expect economic difficulties for businesses that provide goods and services to the dairy industry across Tennessee. Along with declining milk prices, consumer demand for fluid milk has also been decreasing (Figure 1; USDA-ERS, 2020). The trend to consume local goods and services could potentially help Tennessee producers. In 2018, a Tennessee Milk logo was created to promote milk produced and bottled in Tennessee. Theoretically, this milk could be considered premium and demand a higher price. The consumer demand for locally branded fluid milk is unknown. The goal of this publication is to provide results of a consumer survey of perceptions, preferences and purchasing considerations for local, organic and store-brand milk to dairy producers, retailers and policy makers. As part of this study, we present: • Study participants’ willingness to pay for local, organic or store-branded milk • Purchasing trends for milk • Attributes associated with local, organic or store-branded milk • Participants’ various definitions of “local” according to geographic regions and miles traveled |
| Keywords: | Community/Rural/Urban Development, Demand and Price Analysis, Marketing |
| Date: | 2021–06–18 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:utaeer:312484&r= |
| By: | Espoir, Delphin Kamanda; Bannor, Frank; Sunge, Regret |
| Abstract: | The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement was signed by at least 54 African countries and has the potential of lifting up to 30 million Africans out of extreme poverty, according to the World Bank (2020). The agricultural sector is regarded as a fertile ground for achieving the AfCFTA ambitions. However, agricultural productivity in Africa is low and falling. It is argued that intra-Africa trade and good governance can help increase agricultural productivity. Nonetheless, both are low, casting doubt on their ability to enhance agricultural productivity. This study attempts for the first time to examine the causal relationship between the intra-Africa agricultural trade, governance quality, and the agricultural total factor productivity (ATFP) for 47 countries over the period 1995–2018. We extend the analysis to regional economic communities (RECs) to understand the diversity in this relationship within the continent. Using the panel VAR model in the generalized method of moment (GMM) estimation approach, our results suggest a long-run equilibrium relationship between the three variables. Specifically, the results indicate that at the African level, intra-Africa agricultural trade has a statistically positive effect on governance quality and ATFP. In contrast, good governance has positive and negative impacts on ATFP and trade, respectively. We also find that ATFP positively influences intra-Africa agricultural trade and governance. At the RECs level, our estimations show significant heterogeneity in the three variables’ impacts. Based on our findings, we recommend a rapid implementation of the AfCFTA agreement. However, we suggest that the implementation should be idiosyncratic to each region’s structural economies. Furthermore, we encourage the promotion of good governance, particularly in agriculture policy implementation. |
| Keywords: | Agricultural trade,agricultural total factor productivity,governance,PVAR |
| JEL: | C23 G38 O47 Q17 |
| Date: | 2021 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:esprep:235617&r= |
| By: | Galdo, Jose C. (Carleton University) |
| Abstract: | This study examines whether the random allocation of single and joint saving accounts to cash crop farmers in rural Ethiopia is associated with changes in decision-making authority and control over resources that ultimately lead to changes in labor effort, schooling allocations, income, consumption, agricultural investments, and crop output. Women and children work more when joint deposit accounts are available. Likewise, meaningful effects on school participation are reported for girls. Consistent with posited channels of intrahousehold bargaining models, women from households assigned to the joint saving treatment group show significant gains in autonomy and control of savings resources, and financial empowerment. While we find substantial gains in subjective wellbeing for single and joint account experimental groups, no meaningful impacts on agricultural crop output, income, and consumption are found. However, a systematic decumulation of livestock assets is observed across households assigned to the joint account treatment group. |
| Keywords: | bank savings, agriculture markets, labor, schooling, women empowerment, RCT |
| JEL: | C93 D14 G21 J43 I21 O12 R20 |
| Date: | 2021–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iza:izadps:dp14523&r= |
| By: | Quimba, Francis Mark A.; Calizo, Sylwyn C. Jr. |
| Abstract: | As several countries have reduced tariff rates, other forms of regulatory measures that impact on trade have proliferated. These regulations, collectively known as nontariff measures (NTMs), can be imposed on imports and exports. Using descriptive indicators, NTMs could be measured with coverage ratios, frequency indices, and prevalence scores. Across the different government agencies, it has been found that the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources both implement the most number of NTMs with 422 and 103 NTMs, respectively. Moreover, both agricultural goods and manufactured goods have been shown to be highly regulated at 92.2 percent and 93.9 percent, respectively, albeit agricultural goods have a higher prevalence score (19.8) compared to manufacture goods (8.9). |
| Keywords: | trade, nontariff measures, Philippines, NTMs, prevalence scores, agricultural goods, manufactured goods, DENR, DA |
| Date: | 2020 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:phd:rpseri:rps_2020-03&r= |
| By: | Sara Balestri; Raul Caruso |
| Abstract: | This research work provides new evidence about the effect of vulnerability to natural hazards on the likelihood of communal violence, by disentangling regional-specific pathways. We focus on Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and Southern/South-Eastern Asia (S-SEA) for the period 1995-2016, being these regions particularly exposed to climate effects and dominantly characterized by rain-fed and climate-sensitive agriculture. Relying on the ND-GAIN Vulnerability Index as multidimensional measure of propensity of human societies to be negatively impacted by climate change, we found robust evidence that greater vulnerability is conducive to a higher risk of communal violence. This result is consistent across the regions, and it remarks the fragility of SSA where levels of vulnerability are higher than those observed in S-SEA, on average. Overall, results suggest that policy efforts aimed at reducing vulnerability to natural hazards are powerful tools not only to make societies more resilient, but also more peaceful. |
| JEL: | D74 O13 Q54 Q56 |
| Date: | 2021 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:dis:wpaper:dis2103&r= |
| By: | Giovanni Pasquali; Aarti Krishnan; Jakob Engel |
| Abstract: | There exist a plethora of developing country value chain studies based on a variety of methodological approaches, both in the academic literature and through policy reports. However, there has been little systematic synthesis of the findings and approaches taken in these studies. This study presents the results of a meta-analysis of 35 case studies (including 12 policy reports from the World Bank and 23 academic articles) on the determinants and outcomes of integration in apparel and agro-processing global value chains (GVCs) for primarily low-income developing countries. |
| Keywords: | Global value chains, Apparel industry, Agro-processing, Low income countries, Export upgrading, Supplier upgrading |
| Date: | 2021 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:unu:wpaper:wp-2021-112&r= |
| By: | Arthur Charpentier; Molly James; Hani Ali |
| Abstract: | The economic consequences of drought episodes are increasingly important, although they are often difficult to apprehend in part because of the complexity of the underlying mechanisms. In this article, we will study one of the consequences of drought, namely the risk of subsidence (or more specifically clay shrinkage induced subsidence), for which insurance has been mandatory in France for several decades. Using data obtained from several insurers, representing about a quarter of the household insurance market, over the past twenty years, we propose some statistical models to predict the frequency but also the intensity of these droughts, for insurers, showing that climate change will have probably major economic consequences on this risk. But even if we use more advanced models than standard regression-type models (here random forests to capture non linearity and cross effects), it is still difficult to predict the economic cost of subsidence claims, even if all geophysical and climatic information is available. |
| Date: | 2021–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:arx:papers:2107.07668&r= |
| By: | Etienne Lorang (BETA INRAE and Climate Economics Chair); Antonello Lobianco (BETA AgroParisTech); Philippe Delacote (BETA INRAE and Climate Economics Chair) |
| Abstract: | Recycling is emerging as an alternative to extraction in many industries and one of the corner stones of the circular economy. In this paper, we assess the role of paper and cardboard recycling on the forest sector, both from an economic and carbon perspective. For that purpose, we model this recycling industry within our forest sec- tor model, in order to relate it to other wood products. As the forest sector has an important potential for climate change mitigation, this model allows us to assess the effects on the resource and the carbon balance of the forest sector. We show that these results are strongly linked to the hypothesis of substitution or complementarity between recycled and wood-pulp. |
| Keywords: | Recycling, Forest sector, GHG Emissions, Bioeconomic model, |
| JEL: | Q23 Q53 Q54 L73 |
| Date: | 2021–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fae:wpaper:2021.12&r= |
| By: | Olivier Bargain (Larefi - Laboratoire d'analyse et de recherche en économie et finance internationales - Université Montesquieu - Bordeaux 4); Jean Marie Cardebat (Larefi - Laboratoire d'analyse et de recherche en économie et finance internationales - Université Montesquieu - Bordeaux 4); Raphael Chiappini (Larefi - Laboratoire d'analyse et de recherche en économie et finance internationales - Université Montesquieu - Bordeaux 4) |
| Date: | 2020–12 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:wpaper:hal-03265170&r= |
| By: | Benito Arruñada; Marco Fabbri; Michael Faure |
| Abstract: | We study a large-scale land titling reform implemented as a randomized control-trial to isolate its causal effects on litigation. The reform consisted of demarcating land parcels, registering existing customary rights, and granting additional legal protection to rightholders. We find that, ten years after implementation, the reform doubled the likelihood of households experiencing land-related litigation, but disputes do not escalate into more frequent violent episodes. We suggest that this litigation increase is likely to reflect the complementarity of land titling by registration and by judicial procedures aimed at further clarifying property rights, as the reform registered titles to all parcels but left many of these titles subject to adverse claims. This raised the demand for complementary litigation aimed at perfecting titles for low value parcels which, under the customary system, it was individually optimal to keep unclarified. Consistent with this explanation, we find that the observed increase in litigation takes place among households characterized by low levels of wealth and market integration, who are likely to own land of lower value. |
| Keywords: | experimental survey, informal institutions, land rights formalization, land tenure reform, litigation, randomized control trial |
| JEL: | K11 K4 Q15 |
| Date: | 2021–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:bge:wpaper:1271&r= |
| By: | Mendez, Samara; Peacock, Jacob (The Humane League Labs) |
| Abstract: | This project aims to evaluate the impact of the increasing availability of plant-based milk alternatives on demand for fluid dairy milk in the United States. We investigate this question by conducting three analyses: (1) gathering and comparing different sources of plant-based sales data to investigate data variability and to determine whether plant-based milk sales are sufficient to replace declining dairy sales, (2) summarizing research on the relationship between plant-based and dairy milks to determine whether the products are price substitutes for each other, and (3) estimating demand for whole and 2% dairy milk in separate periods between 2001-2019 and comparing one period's responsiveness to price fluctuations against the other period to determine whether dairy milk demand has undergone major changes that could have been caused by the expansion of plant-based milk products. Our results confirm that the volume plant-based milk consumed has increased over time, but not enough to fully explain the observed decline in dairy milk consumption. We find that dairy sales are relatively insensitive to changes in prices of plant-based milks while plant-based milk sales respond to changes in prices of lower-fat dairy milks more than higher-fat dairy milks. Unusual data patterns and estimation results suggest that the dairy demand model needs refinement before drawing confident conclusions, but our tentative findings indicate that whole and 2% dairy milk consumption is decreasing despite decreases in price and that consumer responsiveness may have changed in recent years. That said, the overall results suggest that we cannot confidently attribute all of this potential change in dairy milk demand to consumption of plant-based milk products. |
| Date: | 2021–06–29 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:osf:osfxxx:j89qm&r= |
| By: | Armin Falk; Peter Andre; Teodora Boneva; Felix Chopra |
| Abstract: | We document individual willingness to fight climate change and its behavioral determinants in a large representative sample of US adults. Willingness to fight climate change – as measured through an incentivized donation decision – is highly heterogeneous across the population. Individual beliefs about social norms, economic preferences such as patience and altruism, as well as universal moral values positively predict climate preferences. Moreover, we document systematic misperceptions of prevalent social norms. Respondents vastly underestimate the prevalence of climate- friendly behaviors and norms among their fellow citizens. Providing respondents with correct information causally raises individual willingness to fight climate change as well as individual support for climate policies. The effects are strongest for individuals who are skeptical about the existence and threat of global warming. |
| JEL: | D64 D83 D91 Q51 Z13 |
| Date: | 2021 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ces:ceswps:_9175&r= |
| By: | Mechthild Donner (INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement, UMR MoISA - Montpellier Interdisciplinary center on Sustainable Agri-food systems (Social and nutritional sciences) - Cirad - Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement - IRD - Institut de Recherche pour le Développement - CIHEAM-IAMM - Centre International de Hautes Etudes Agronomiques Méditerranéennes - Institut Agronomique Méditerranéen de Montpellier - CIHEAM - Centre International de Hautes Études Agronomiques Méditerranéennes - Montpellier SupAgro - Institut national d’études supérieures agronomiques de Montpellier - Institut Agro - Institut national d'enseignement supérieur pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement); Taoufik Yatribi (ENA - Ecole Nationale d'Agriculture de Meknès); Yamna Erraach (INAT - Institut National Agronomique de Tunisie); Feliu López-I-Gelats (UVicUCC - Universitat de Vic-Universitat Central de Catalunya [Manresa, Spain]); Judit Manuel (UVicUCC - Universitat de Vic-Universitat Central de Catalunya [Manresa, Spain]); Ivana Radic (INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement, UMR MoISA - Montpellier Interdisciplinary center on Sustainable Agri-food systems (Social and nutritional sciences) - Cirad - Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement - IRD - Institut de Recherche pour le Développement - CIHEAM-IAMM - Centre International de Hautes Etudes Agronomiques Méditerranéennes - Institut Agronomique Méditerranéen de Montpellier - CIHEAM - Centre International de Hautes Études Agronomiques Méditerranéennes - Montpellier SupAgro - Institut national d’études supérieures agronomiques de Montpellier - Institut Agro - Institut national d'enseignement supérieur pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement); Sandrine Costa (INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement, UMR MoISA - Montpellier Interdisciplinary center on Sustainable Agri-food systems (Social and nutritional sciences) - Cirad - Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement - IRD - Institut de Recherche pour le Développement - CIHEAM-IAMM - Centre International de Hautes Etudes Agronomiques Méditerranéennes - Institut Agronomique Méditerranéen de Montpellier - CIHEAM - Centre International de Hautes Études Agronomiques Méditerranéennes - Montpellier SupAgro - Institut national d’études supérieures agronomiques de Montpellier - Institut Agro - Institut national d'enseignement supérieur pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement); Fatima El Hadad-Gauthier (CIHEAM - Centre International de Hautes Études Agronomiques Méditerranéennes, UMR MoISA - Montpellier Interdisciplinary center on Sustainable Agri-food systems (Social and nutritional sciences) - Cirad - Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement - IRD - Institut de Recherche pour le Développement - CIHEAM-IAMM - Centre International de Hautes Etudes Agronomiques Méditerranéennes - Institut Agronomique Méditerranéen de Montpellier - CIHEAM - Centre International de Hautes Études Agronomiques Méditerranéennes - Montpellier SupAgro - Institut national d’études supérieures agronomiques de Montpellier - Institut Agro - Institut national d'enseignement supérieur pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement) |
| Keywords: | Mediterranean region,agricultural waste,olive chain,multi-actor approach,bioeconomy,circular economy |
| Date: | 2021–06–23 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:journl:hal-03275085&r= |
| By: | Briones, Roehlano M.; Clemente, Roberto S.; Inocencio, Arlene B.; Rola, Agnes C.; Luyun, Roger A. Jr. |
| Abstract: | This study is a preliminary assessment of the policy change brought by the Free Irrigation Service Act through an examination of secondary data and collection of primary information through key informant interviews and focus group discussions. The study found that free irrigation had the potential to benefit millions of individuals, although it only led to a small savings in palay production cost. Moreover, while palay farmers were poorer than the average household, most of them were not poor. The study urges the government to continue pursuing irrigation management transfer within the context of free irrigation based on minimum maintenance for the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) and transparent maintenance standards for both NIA and irrigators’ associations. It also calls for a sustained and increasing subsidy for operations and maintenance, which must be made available only on a performance basis. The study advocates for the transformation of NIA into a service agency specializing in technical assistance, contract design, and performance monitoring. |
| Keywords: | , National irrigation Administration, Free Irrigation Service Act, irrigation system |
| Date: | 2020 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:phd:rpseri:rps_2020-05&r= |
| By: | Romain Melot (SADAPT - Sciences pour l'Action et le Développement : Activités, Produits, Territoires - AgroParisTech - Université Paris-Saclay - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement) |
| Abstract: | L'étude traite du rôle joué par la négociation dans les procédures d'aménagement, en ciblant des types d'innovations contractuelles particulières, puisqu'elles font intervenir les représentants de la profession agricole (syndicats et chambres d'Agriculture). Les contrats étudiés renvoient à deux contextes de négo- ciation différents, accords « généralistes » avec les services de l'État et accords « spécifiques » conclus direc te ment avec les aménageurs concernés. Le texte traite des principaux enjeux de ces négociations : comment évaluer la perte de revenu des agriculteurs ? comment prendre en compte la pression foncière dans les aires urbaines ? comment indemniser les autres conséquences économiques subies par l'exploitant ? Cette étude, basée sur l'analyse de documents contractuels, vise à rendre compte de la diversité des innovations locales dans plusieurs départements. Le texte met en évidence que l'innovation en matière de négociation collective se traduit par un renouvellement de la gouvernance par l'inclusion de nouveaux acteurs. Il souligne également l'impact des accords conclus avec des aménageurs sur les conventions de portée plus générale. |
| Keywords: | Expropriation,indemnisations,agriculture,négociation,contrat |
| Date: | 2020 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:journl:hal-03075343&r= |
| By: | Thorne, James H.; Boynton, Ryan M.; Hollander, Allan D.; Whitney, Jason P.; Shapiro, Kristen D. |
| Abstract: | Catastrophic wildfires over the past five years (2015-2020) have caused damage to the Caltrans road network in 81 separate wildfire events, leading to expenditures of over $590,000,000 to repair highway assets. To reduce the risk of further wildfire damage and to improve public safety, particularly for disadvantaged communities, Caltrans has engaged in assessing the priority locations for vegetation treatment within the lands it owns called the Right of Way (ROW). A 2019 analysis provided a map showing the top 17% of vulnerabilities in the road network, representing both the risk of wildfire and to disadvantaged communities that might need to use the transportation network as means of evacuation. This UC Davis research project was designed to support efforts within Caltrans in conducting a wildfire vulnerability risk assessment for fuels reduction in the ROW to protect Caltrans’ infrastructure and travelers. The project involved four components: 1) conducting a rigorous peer review of the 2019 GIS-based study commissioned by Caltrans; 2) collecting and assessing the outputs of several climate change, fire, and other models currently developed or under development for California, as well as future climate projections; 3) developing a framework for the use of the prioritized segment model with other data further identify priority areas for fuels and risk reduction; and 4) interviews with Caltrans staff on opportunities and obstacles to increasing the pace and scale of vegetation treatments. The results contribute to infrastructure risk assessments, can be used to prioritize areas for treatment, to create a tracking system of areas treated and risk lowered over multiple years, and to engage local governments and wildfire fighting units to coordinate landscape fire risk reductions. View the NCST Project Webpage |
| Keywords: | Engineering, Life Sciences, Wildfire, Vegetation Management, Priority Treatment Areas, Right of Way, California |
| Date: | 2021–07–01 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cdl:itsdav:qt4723h7j8&r= |
| By: | Wellenreuther, Claudia; Wolf, André; Zander, Nils |
| Abstract: | This paper conducts a meta-analysis of the estimated costs of producing Polylactic Acid (PLA). Cost contributions of specific inputs and process stages are identified through a production chain perspective. By applying the Monte Carlo technique, uncertainties in current estimates are reflected, both regarding technological input requirements and the development of input prices. Moreover, results are compared between two scenarios differing in feedstock choice: production from corn grain and from corn stover. The results stress the specific importance of capital costs, energy, and the biological feedstocks as cost components. Nevertheless, the Monte Carlo simulations point out that the current state of knowledge is still subject to a high degree of uncertainty. |
| Keywords: | Life Cycle Cost Analysis,bio-based plastics,PLA,plastic feedstocks,Monte Carlo Simulation |
| Date: | 2021 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:hwwirp:197&r= |
| By: | Mechthild Donner (INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement, UMR MoISA - Montpellier Interdisciplinary center on Sustainable Agri-food systems (Social and nutritional sciences) - Cirad - Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement - IRD - Institut de Recherche pour le Développement - CIHEAM-IAMM - Centre International de Hautes Etudes Agronomiques Méditerranéennes - Institut Agronomique Méditerranéen de Montpellier - CIHEAM - Centre International de Hautes Études Agronomiques Méditerranéennes - Montpellier SupAgro - Institut national d’études supérieures agronomiques de Montpellier - Institut Agro - Institut national d'enseignement supérieur pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement); Katrin Kayser (IBBK Fachgruppe Biogas GmbH); Michael Köttner (IBBK Fachgruppe Biogas GmbH); Hugo de Vries (INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement, UMR IATE - Ingénierie des Agro-polymères et Technologies Émergentes - Cirad - Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement - UM - Université de Montpellier - Montpellier SupAgro - Institut national d’études supérieures agronomiques de Montpellier - Institut Agro - Institut national d'enseignement supérieur pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement - Montpellier SupAgro - Centre international d'études supérieures en sciences agronomiques - UM2 - Université Montpellier 2 - Sciences et Techniques) |
| Keywords: | business models,adaption,innovation,biogas sector,Germany |
| Date: | 2021–06–23 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:journl:hal-03275132&r= |
| By: | Dickson, Alex (University of Strathclyde); Gehrsitz, Markus (University of Strathclyde); Kemp, Jonathan (AG Barr) |
| Abstract: | This study evaluates the effects of the 2018 UK Soft Drinks Industry Levy on soft drinks prices, sales, reformulation activities, and consequently calories consumed. We combine novel electronic point of sale data that cover most of the UK soft drinks market with longitudinal nutritional information and a variety of event-study specifications. We document that all but a few global soft drinks brands reduced sugar content and hence avoided the tiered levy. For brands that maintained their original sugar content, the levy was on average over-shifted resulting in substantial retail price increases. Consumers responded by reducing their consumption of levied drinks by around 18% which is indicative of an inelastic demand response, especially in the drink-now and energy drink segments of the market. We also document substitution into diet drinks in response to the tax. In total, the levy is responsible for a reduction in intake of just under 6,500 calories from soft drinks per annum per UK resident. More than 80% of reductions were due to manufacturers' reformulation activities and occurred in the two years between the announcement of the levy and its implementation. |
| Keywords: | sugar tax, soda tax, reformulation, tax pass-through, sin taxes |
| JEL: | H21 H23 H51 I12 I18 |
| Date: | 2021–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iza:izadps:dp14528&r= |
| By: | Emilia Luoma; Mirka Laurila-Pant; Elias Altarriba; Inari Helle; Lena Granhag; Maiju Lehtiniemi; Greta Sr\.ebalien\.e; Sergej Olenin; Annukka Lehikoinen |
| Abstract: | Biofouling of ships causes major environmental and economic consequences all over the world. In addition, biofouling management of ship hulls causes both social, environmental and economic risks that should all be considered reaching well-balanced decisions. In addition, each case is unique and thus optimal management strategy must be considered case-specifically. We produced a novel decision support tool using Bayesian networks to promote the comprehensive understanding about the complex biofouling management issue in the Baltic Sea and to identify potential management options and their consequences. The tool compares the biofouling management strategies in relation to NIS (non-indigenous species) introduction risk, eco-toxicological risk due to biocidal coating, carbon dioxide emissions resulting from fuel consumption and costs related to fuel consumption, in-water cleaning and coating. According to the results, the optimal biofouling management strategy would consist of a biocidal-free coating with regular in-water cleaning and with devices collecting the material. However, the best biocidal-free coating type and the optimal in-water cleaning interval varies and depends e.g. on the operational profile of the ship. The decision support tool can increase the multi-perspective understanding about the issue and support the implementation of the optimal biofouling management strategies in the Baltic Sea. |
| Date: | 2021–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:arx:papers:2107.06810&r= |
| By: | Mengüç, Işıl Tellalbaşı |
| Abstract: | In this research, agricultural employment and labor structure in Turkey between the years 1991-2019 aimed to investigate the impact on economic growth. In this framework, the relationship between agricultural employment (TI), agricultural male employment (TEI) and agricultural value added (TKD) and growth was analyzed using the World Bank Country Report. According to the results obtained in the study, the relationship of all three parameters with GDP is statistically highly significant (p <0.05). However, when the analysis is repeated as year-controlled, the effect of agricultural added value on GDP becomes statistically insignificant (p> 0.05). The regression analysis results showed that only the TI variable, that is, the agricultural employment variable, had a significant effect on growth (p <0.05). Apart from this, there is no statistically significant effect of male employment and agricultural value added parameters on growth in agriculture (p> 0.05). Increased employment in agricultural production in Turkey, has a negative effect on growth. It can be stated that the main reasons for this are that there are not enough agricultural innovations, modernization and technological developments. |
| Date: | 2021–06–26 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:osf:osfxxx:jsmdb&r= |