New Economics Papers
on Efficiency and Productivity
Issue of 2013‒08‒16
forty-four papers chosen by



  1. Dynamic Efficiency and Productivity Analysis By Lansink, Alfons Oude
  2. U.S. Agricultural Productivity By Fuglie, Keith
  3. Efficiency and Productivity of Ukrainian Agroholdings By Balmann, Alfons; Kataria, Karin; Schaft, Franziska; Kulyk, Iryna
  4. The Sources of Measured Agricultural Productivity Growth By Chambers, Robert G.
  5. Measuring productivity change using alternative input–output concepts: A farm level application using FADN data By Yann, de Mey; Mark, Vancauteren; Frankwin, van Winsen; Erwin, Wauters; Ludwig, Lauwers; Steven, Van Passel
  6. Productivity growth and variability in KRU: evidence and prospects By Tothova, Monika; Meyers, William H.; Goychuk, Kateryna
  7. Agricultural productivity: introductory comments By Haniotis, Tassos
  8. Input-output concepts, profits and productivity growth: An application using Flemish farm level data By Yann, de Mey; Mark, Vancauteren; Steven, Van Passel
  9. Technical Efficiency in the Chilean Agribusiness Sector – a Stochastic Meta-Frontier Approach By Lakner, S.; Muñoz, T. Brenes; Aedo, Edinson Rivera; Brümmer, B.
  10. CAP Subsidies and Productivity of EU Farms By Rizov, Marian; Pokrivcak, Ján; Ciaian, Pavel
  11. Productivity in agriculture of Ukraine and other CIS By Slaston, Roman; Lissitsa, Alex
  12. Productivity growth at the sectoral level: measurement and projections By Dijk, Michiel van
  13. Allocation of Human Capital and Innovation at the Frontier: Firm-Level Evidence on Germany and the Netherlands By Bartelsman, Eric; Dobbelaere, Sabien; Peters, Bettina
  14. ROLE OF FERTILIZERS IN INCREASED AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY By Bain, Barrie
  15. Technical Efficiency in the Chilean Agribusiness Sector - a Stochastic Meta-Frontier Approach By Larkner, Sebastian; Muńoz, T. Brenes; Aedo, Edinson Rivera; Brümmer, B.
  16. Reverse-share-tenancy and Marshallian Inefficiency: Landowners’ bargaining power and sharecroppers’ productivity By Hagos, Hosaena Gebru; Holden, Stein T.
  17. Meta-regression Analysis of Agricultural Productivity Studies By Karagiannis, Giannis
  18. Evaluating Agricultural Productivity’s Impact on Food Security By Rada, Nicholas; Rosen, Stacey; Beckman, Jayson
  19. Agricultural R&D and Productivity: Recent Trends and Emerging Implications By Alston, Julian
  20. Productivity Growth, Trade & Poverty By Martin, Will
  21. Agricultural Productivity in China: Parametric Distance Function By Yu, Bingxin
  22. Productivity in Sub Saharan Africa By Torero, Maximo
  23. Factor Productivity & Factor Market Imperfections in EU Agriculture By Petrick, Martin
  24. Labour Productivity in Agribusiness in the European Union By Kamińska, Aldona Mrówczyńska
  25. A Random Matrix Theory Approach to Investigate Convergence in Time Series Data: An Application to Agricultural Labour Productivity By Surry, Yves; Galanopoulos, Konstantinos
  26. Potential Technological Breakthroughs Concerning Productivity By Cerezo, Emilio Rodriguez
  27. Trade Liberalization and Productivity Growth: A Recursive Dynamic CGE Analysis for Turkey By Dudu, Hasan; Cakmak, Erol H.
  28. Convergence in Agricultural Productivity in the EU By Emvalomatis, Grigorios; Lansink, Alfons Oude; Stefanou, Spiro E.
  29. Irrigation Technologies and the Limits of Water Productivity By Fereres, Elias
  30. The Contribution of Productivity Growth to Net Farm Income in Canada and the United States By Cahill, Sean A.
  31. Evaluation of Talent in a Changing World: The Case of Major League Baseball By Peter A. Groothuis; Kurt W. Rotthoff; Mark C. Strazicich
  32. Agricultural Labour Productivity and the Intensity of Agri-food Trade in Selected Regional Trade Agreements By Nawrocka, Agnieszka Baer; Sapa, Agnieszka
  33. Productivity in Emerging and Developing Countries BRAZIL By Jank, Marcos Sawaya
  34. Efficiency, Distortions and Factor Utilization during the Interwar Period By Klein, Alexander School of Economics, University of Kent; Otsuy, Keisuke
  35. AGRICULTURE PRODUCTIVITY AND SUSTAINABILITY IN THE G20 By Tongeren, Frank van
  36. Productivity growth in developed countries: Australia By Gooday, Peter
  37. Agriculture and adaptation in Bangladesh: Current and projected impacts of climate change: By Thomas, Timothy S.; Mainuddin, Khandaker; Chiang, Catherine; Rahman, Aminur; Haque, Anwarul; Islam, Nazria; Quasem, Saad; Sun, Yun
  38. Trade, Import Competition and Productivity Growth In the Food Industry By Olper, Alessandro; Pacca, Lucia; Curzi, Daniele
  39. Forecasting Profitability By Mark Rosenzweig; christopher Udry
  40. Regional industrial structure, productivity, wealth and income distribution in German regions By Margarian, Anne
  41. Analysis of transportation and logistics processes for soybeans in Brazil By Fliehr, Olivia
  42. The influence of agricultural support on sale prices of French farmland: A comparison of different subsidies, accounting for the role of environmental and land regulations By Latruffe, Laure; Piet, Laurent; Dupraz, Pierre; Mouël, Chantal Le
  43. Too big to fail in Banking: What does it mean? By George Kaufman
  44. Measuring Food Supply Chain Performance By Cremaschi, Daniel Gaitán; Lansink, Alfons Oude; Meuwissen, Miranda

  1. By: Lansink, Alfons Oude
    Keywords: Productivity Analysis, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies,
    Date: 2013–06
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iatr13:152394&r=eff
  2. By: Fuglie, Keith
    Keywords: Agricultural and Food Policy, Production Economics, Productivity Analysis,
    Date: 2013–06
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iatr13:152336&r=eff
  3. By: Balmann, Alfons; Kataria, Karin; Schaft, Franziska; Kulyk, Iryna
    Keywords: Agribusiness, International Relations/Trade, Productivity Analysis,
    Date: 2013–06
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iatr13:152255&r=eff
  4. By: Chambers, Robert G.
    Keywords: Agricultural and Food Policy, Production Economics, Productivity Analysis,
    Date: 2013–06
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iatr13:152392&r=eff
  5. By: Yann, de Mey; Mark, Vancauteren; Frankwin, van Winsen; Erwin, Wauters; Ludwig, Lauwers; Steven, Van Passel
    Abstract: Multifactor productivity growth measures can be constructed using different input–output concepts. We estimate three distinct productivity growth measures respectively based on gross output, value added, and cash flow and discuss their economic interpretation. By making use of an index theory based decomposition model, we deviate from making neo-classical assumptions and acknowledge the role of profits. Applying the productivity growth index framework to farm level Flemish FADN data (1990–2003), we show that the estimated percentage growth of productivity is sensitive to the input–output concept under consideration. The empirical practicability of these complementary productivity growth measures depends on the purpose of measurement.
    Keywords: Index, input–output, MFP, productivity analysis, profits, Production Economics, Productivity Analysis, Research Methods/ Statistical Methods, C43, D24, Q12,
    Date: 2013–06
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iatr13:152364&r=eff
  6. By: Tothova, Monika; Meyers, William H.; Goychuk, Kateryna
    Keywords: Production Economics, Productivity Analysis, Research Methods/ Statistical Methods,
    Date: 2013–06
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iatr13:152378&r=eff
  7. By: Haniotis, Tassos
    Keywords: Agricultural and Food Policy, Productivity Analysis, Teaching/Communication/Extension/Profession,
    Date: 2013–06
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iatr13:152333&r=eff
  8. By: Yann, de Mey; Mark, Vancauteren; Steven, Van Passel
    Keywords: Agricultural and Food Policy, International Relations/Trade, Production Economics, Productivity Analysis,
    Date: 2013–06
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iatr13:152365&r=eff
  9. By: Lakner, S.; Muñoz, T. Brenes; Aedo, Edinson Rivera; Brümmer, B.
    Abstract: The Chilean economy is strongly export-oriented, which is also true for the Chilean agribusiness industry. This paper investigates the technical efficiency of the Chilean food processing industry between 2001 and 2007. We use a dataset from the 2,471 of firms in food processing industry. The observations are from the ‘Annual National Industrial Survey’. A stochastic meta-frontier approach is used in order to analyse the drivers of technical efficiency. We include variables capturing the effects of labour-quality, the extent of export orientation and the impact of paid subsidies to the agribusiness firms. Raw materials and labour have to largest impact on the output, but with a different input-intensity for the different agribusiness sectors. We could show that technical efficiency is different in the different agribusiness sectors and that some sectors (the bakery and the grain & mill sector) are using a more productive technology than the other sectors. Potential impacts on structural change in the Chilean food processing industry are discussed. The paper also shows, that exporting firms in the agribusiness industries can be described as more dynamic, achieving either a higher technical efficiency or a higher technological change.
    Keywords: Technical Efficiency, Stochastic Meta-Frontier Analysis, Food Processing Industry, Chile, Agribusiness, Agricultural and Food Policy, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, International Relations/Trade, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies, D24, G14, F14,
    Date: 2013–06
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iatr13:152356&r=eff
  10. By: Rizov, Marian; Pokrivcak, Ján; Ciaian, Pavel
    Keywords: Production Economics, Research Methods/ Statistical Methods,
    Date: 2013–06
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iatr13:152259&r=eff
  11. By: Slaston, Roman; Lissitsa, Alex
    Keywords: Agricultural and Food Policy, Agricultural Finance, International Relations/Trade, Productivity Analysis,
    Date: 2013–06
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iatr13:152350&r=eff
  12. By: Dijk, Michiel van
    Keywords: Production Economics, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies, Research Methods/ Statistical Methods,
    Date: 2013–06
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iatr13:152269&r=eff
  13. By: Bartelsman, Eric (VU University Amsterdam); Dobbelaere, Sabien (VU University Amsterdam); Peters, Bettina (ZEW Mannheim)
    Abstract: This paper examines how productivity effects of human capital and innovation vary at different points of the conditional productivity distribution. Our analysis draws upon two large unbalanced panels of 6,634 enterprises in Germany and 14,586 enterprises in the Netherlands over the period 2000-2008, considering 5 manufacturing and services industries that differ in the level of technological intensity. Industries in the Netherlands are characterized by a larger average proportion of high-skilled employees and industries in Germany by a more unequal distribution of human capital intensity. Except for low-technology manufacturing, average innovation performance is higher in all industries in Germany and the innovation performance distributions are more dispersed in the Netherlands. In both countries, we observe non-linearities in the productivity effects of investing in product innovation in the majority of industries. Frontier firms enjoy the highest returns to product innovation whereas the most negative returns to process innovation are observed in the best-performing enterprises of most industries. In both countries, we find that the returns to human capital increase with proximity to the technological frontier in industries with a low level of technological intensity. Strikingly, a negative complementarity effect between human capital and proximity to the technological frontier is observed in knowledge-intensive services, which is most pronounced for the Netherlands. Suggestive evidence for the latter points to a winner-takes-all interpretation of this finding.
    Keywords: human capital, innovation, productivity, quantile regression
    JEL: C10 I20 O14 O30
    Date: 2013–07
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iza:izadps:dp7540&r=eff
  14. By: Bain, Barrie
    Keywords: Crop Production/Industries, International Relations/Trade,
    Date: 2013–06
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iatr13:152391&r=eff
  15. By: Larkner, Sebastian; Muńoz, T. Brenes; Aedo, Edinson Rivera; Brümmer, B.
    Keywords: Agribusiness, International Relations/Trade,
    Date: 2013–06
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iatr13:152380&r=eff
  16. By: Hagos, Hosaena Gebru; Holden, Stein T.
    Abstract: While there are ample empirical studies that claim the potential disincentive effects of sharecropping arrangements, the existing literature is shallow in explaining why share tenancy contracts are prevalent and diffusing in many developing countries. Using a unique tenant-landlord matched dataset from the Tigray region of Ethiopia, we are able to show how the tenants’ strategic response to the varying economic and tenure-security status of the landlords can explain sharecroppers’ productivity differentials.
    Keywords: Marshallian inefficiency, kinship, Matching method, Tenure, tenant, Share cropping, Land tenure, Land ownership, Agricultural productivity, Smallholders,
    Date: 2013
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fpr:ifprid:1270&r=eff
  17. By: Karagiannis, Giannis
    Keywords: Agricultural and Food Policy, Research Methods/ Statistical Methods,
    Date: 2013–06
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iatr13:152262&r=eff
  18. By: Rada, Nicholas; Rosen, Stacey; Beckman, Jayson
    Keywords: Agricultural and Food Policy, Food Security and Poverty, Production Economics,
    Date: 2013–06
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iatr13:152267&r=eff
  19. By: Alston, Julian
    Keywords: Agricultural and Food Policy, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies,
    Date: 2013–06
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iatr13:152335&r=eff
  20. By: Martin, Will
    Keywords: Production Economics, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies,
    Date: 2013–06
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iatr13:152395&r=eff
  21. By: Yu, Bingxin
    Keywords: Agricultural and Food Policy, International Development, International Relations/Trade,
    Date: 2013–06
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iatr13:152347&r=eff
  22. By: Torero, Maximo
    Keywords: Agricultural and Food Policy, Labor and Human Capital, Production Economics, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies,
    Date: 2013–06
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iatr13:152339&r=eff
  23. By: Petrick, Martin
    Keywords: Agricultural and Food Policy, International Relations/Trade, Production Economics,
    Date: 2013–06
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iatr13:152337&r=eff
  24. By: Kamińska, Aldona Mrówczyńska
    Keywords: Agribusiness, International Relations/Trade, Labor and Human Capital,
    Date: 2013–06
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iatr13:152389&r=eff
  25. By: Surry, Yves; Galanopoulos, Konstantinos
    Keywords: Agricultural and Food Policy, Labor and Human Capital, Research Methods/ Statistical Methods,
    Date: 2013
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iatr13:152366&r=eff
  26. By: Cerezo, Emilio Rodriguez
    Keywords: Agricultural and Food Policy, International Relations/Trade, Production Economics, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies,
    Date: 2013–06
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iatr13:152351&r=eff
  27. By: Dudu, Hasan; Cakmak, Erol H.
    Abstract: In this study, we analyze the effects of trade liberalization and productivity growth in agricultural activities on Turkey by using a dynamic CGE model calibrated to 2008 data. The simulation results suggest that Turkish economy is capable of accommodating the adverse effects of trade liberalization. There are significant welfare gains if trade liberalization is accompanied by the CAP payments in the accession scenario. Productivity increase in agri-food production by just decreasing food waste has prominent effects on welfare,trade and food security for the growing population.
    Keywords: Agricultural and Food Policy, International Relations/Trade, Production Economics, Productivity Analysis, Research Methods/ Statistical Methods,
    Date: 2013–06
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iatr13:152357&r=eff
  28. By: Emvalomatis, Grigorios; Lansink, Alfons Oude; Stefanou, Spiro E.
    Keywords: Agricultural and Food Policy, International Relations/Trade, Production Economics,
    Date: 2013–06
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iatr13:152264&r=eff
  29. By: Fereres, Elias
    Keywords: Agricultural and Food Policy, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies, Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,
    Date: 2013–06
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iatr13:152353&r=eff
  30. By: Cahill, Sean A.
    Keywords: Consumer/Household Economics, International Relations/Trade, Production Economics,
    Date: 2013–06
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iatr13:152367&r=eff
  31. By: Peter A. Groothuis; Kurt W. Rotthoff; Mark C. Strazicich
    Abstract: Comparing talent across time is difficult as productivity changes. To compare talent across time we utilize Major League baseball data from 1871-2010 and time series techniques to determine if the mean and standard deviation of five performance measures are stationary and if structural breaks exist. We identify two structural breaks in the mean slugging percentage: in 1921, the free swinging era of Babe Ruth, and in 1992, the steroid era. Given that productivity changes over time, we develop a simple benchmark technique to compare talent over time and identify superstars. Applications of this measure outside of baseball are also suggested. Key Words: Benchmarking, Major League Baseball, Technology Changes, Structural Breaks
    JEL: J24 C22
    Date: 2013
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:apl:wpaper:13-15&r=eff
  32. By: Nawrocka, Agnieszka Baer; Sapa, Agnieszka
    Abstract: A characteristic feature of contemporary world economy is the development of regional trade groupings in quantitative and qualitative aspects. The groupings have been formed for many years, but the intensification of this process has been particularly evident since the mid-90’s of previous century. One of the reason for formation of such groups is improving economic efficiency and welfare in the integrating countries. Regional trading blocs and the liberalization of trade flows among members may result in the intensification of intra-regional trade and the process of convergence, which can also reveals in relation to agricultural productivity increase. This in turn affects the growth of farmers' income and improve the international competitiveness of agriculture, which is especially important for the developing countries. The main aim of this paper is to answer the question whether within regional trade groupings convergence of agricultural productivity occurs, and whether this process is accompanied by increase in the intensity of intra-regional agri-food trade. In addition, authors try to find if the obtained results are related to the level of development of the member countries of the selected regional trading blocs. Topic of this paper comprise part of regional development economics, which is based on classical economics and is related to the international trade theory with the convergence concept (J. Tinbergen). According to this concept, formulated in the 40’s of the twentieth century, a result of free trade between developed and developing countries will level out economic wealth. To achieve such a state, active participation in the global economy and appropriate capital per worker in the developing countries is needed. Trade liberalization within a regional trading groups may be reflected into an increase in the productivity of production factors, including agriculture, although the empirical studies carried out do not give conclusive results. The analyzed groups are represented by North-North relations (EFTA), North – South relations (NAFTA) and South - South relations (MERCOSUR, EAC, CAN and CACM). Agricultural productivity will be measured by labor productivity in agriculture, although it doesn’t quite reflect the productivity of agriculture, but it is very important in the process of food production and the creation of agricultural income. For each regional trade agreement the coefficient σ convergence has been calculated and the convergence process has been evaluated. In order to verify σ convergence, the standard deviation of the log of agriculture value added per worker has been used. The analysis is based on data derived from World Development Indicators database and covers the period 1980-2010. Changes in the agri-food flows are measured by some indices: shares of intra-regional trade, intra-regional trade intensity index and symmetrical introversion trade indicator. Agri-food products are adopted in accordance with the SITC classification. Trade data come from the World Integrated Trade Solution database. On the basis of the conducted analyses it cannot be clearly stated that membership in regional trade agreement means the existence of the processes of convergence of agricultural labour productivity among countries constituting a particular grouping. What is more, in the analysed groupings it is difficult to indicate unambiguous similarities within agri-food trade, that accompany the identified convergence/divergence process or the development level of the member countries.
    Keywords: Agricultural and Food Policy, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, International Relations/Trade, Productivity Analysis,
    Date: 2013–06
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iatr13:152381&r=eff
  33. By: Jank, Marcos Sawaya
    Keywords: Agricultural and Food Policy, International Development, International Relations/Trade, Production Economics,
    Date: 2013–06
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iatr13:152341&r=eff
  34. By: Klein, Alexander School of Economics, University of Kent (University of Kent); Otsuy, Keisuke (University of Kent)
    Abstract: In this paper, we analyze the International Great Depression in the US and Western Europe using the business cycle accounting method a la Chari, Kehoe and McGrattan (CKM 2007). We extend the business cycle accounting model by incorporating endogenous factor utilization which turns out to be an important transmission mechanism of the disturbances in the economy. Our main …ndings are that in the U.S. labor wedges account for roughly half of the drop in output while efficiency and investment wedges each account for a quarter of it during the 1929-1933 period while in Western Europe labor wedges account for more than one-third of the output drop and efficiency, government and investment wedges are responsible for the remaining during the 1929-1932 period. Our …ndings are consistent with several strands of existing descriptive and empirical literature on the International Great Depression.
    Keywords: International Great Depression; Business Cycle Accounting; Efficiency, Market Distortions
    Date: 2013
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cge:warwcg:146&r=eff
  35. By: Tongeren, Frank van
    Keywords: Agricultural and Food Policy, International Development, International Relations/Trade, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies,
    Date: 2013–06
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iatr13:152334&r=eff
  36. By: Gooday, Peter
    Keywords: Agricultural and Food Policy, Farm Management, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, International Development, International Relations/Trade, Livestock Production/Industries,
    Date: 2013–06
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iatr13:152338&r=eff
  37. By: Thomas, Timothy S.; Mainuddin, Khandaker; Chiang, Catherine; Rahman, Aminur; Haque, Anwarul; Islam, Nazria; Quasem, Saad; Sun, Yun
    Abstract: The goal of this research was to examine the likely impacts of climate change on agriculture in Bangladesh, and develop recommendations to policymakers to help farmers adapt to the changes. In this study, we use climate data from four general circulation models (GCMs) to evaluate the impact of climate change on agriculture in Bangladesh by 2050. We use the DSSAT (Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer) crop modeling software to evaluate crop yields, first for the 1950 to 2000 period (actual climate) and then for the climates given by the four GCMs for 2050. We evaluate crop yields at 1,789 different points in Bangladesh, using a grid composed of roughly 10 kilometer (km) squares, for 8 different crops in 2000 and 2050. For each crop, we search for the best cultivar (variety) at each square, rather than limiting our analysis to a single variety for all locations. We also search for the best planting month in each square. In addition, we explore potential gains in changing fertilizer levels and in using irrigation to compensate for rainfall changes. This analysis indicates that when practiced together, using cultivars better suited for climate change and adjusting planting dates can lessen the impacts of climate change on yields, especially for rice, and in some cases actually result in higher yields. In addition, the analysis shows that losses in yield due to climate change can be compensated for, for many crops, by increasing the availability of nitrogen in the soil.
    Keywords: Climate change, Impact model, Adaptation, Agricultural productivity, Crop yields, Varieties,
    Date: 2013
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fpr:ifprid:1281&r=eff
  38. By: Olper, Alessandro; Pacca, Lucia; Curzi, Daniele
    Keywords: Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, International Relations/Trade, Production Economics,
    Date: 2013–06
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iatr13:152385&r=eff
  39. By: Mark Rosenzweig (Economic Growth Center, Yale University); christopher Udry (Economic Growth Center, Yale University)
    Abstract: We use newly-available Indian panel data to estimate how the returns to planting-stage investments vary by rainfall realizations. We show that the forecasts significantly affect farmer investment decisions and that these responses account for a substantial fraction of the inter-annual variability in planting-stage investments, that the skill of the forecasts varies across areas of India, and that farmers respond more strongly to the forecast where there is more forecast skill and not at all when there is no skill. We show, using an IV strategy in which the Indian government forecast of monsoon rainfall serves as the main instrument, that the return to agricultural investment depends substantially on the conditions under which it is estimated. Using the full rainfall distribution and our profit function estimates, we find that Indian farmers on average under-invest, by a factor of three, when we compare actual levels of investments to the optimal investment level that maximizes expected profits. Farmers who use skilled forecasts have increased average profit levels but also have more variable profits compared with farmers without access to forecasts. Even modest improvements in forecast skill would substantially increase average profits.
    Keywords: agriculture, forecasting, investment
    JEL: D24 D81 O12 O13 O14 Q12 Q54
    Date: 2013–08
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:egc:wpaper:1029&r=eff
  40. By: Margarian, Anne
    Abstract: For the impartial observer of German regions, differences in regional industrial structures and prosperity are quite obvious. On the one hand, there are regions characterised by different industries, firm structures and labour qualification profiles. On the other hand, some of these regions are prosperous, dynamic and growing in terms of inhabitants, labor force and income while others suffer from high unemployment, low tax base and an unsatisfactory income situation. The link between the two observations is mainly acknowledged by theories of a Schumpeterian origin as it has frequently been observed that different industries differ in their propensity for innovation. Once the rigid assumptions of standard economic theory are consequentially dropped, it becomes evident that the regional industry mix might have significant implications for the local income distribution as well. Depending on the mobility of different kinds of labour it will thereby also affect regional development in terms of population dynamics. The present study asks, whether these postulated differentiated relationships between industrial structure and socio‐economic fundamentals can be identified statistically and whether they depend on agglomeration effects. Therefore, a cross‐sectional estimation with observations on district level (NUTS 3) is carried out in a mediated moderation approach. This approach allows for the differentiation between direct and indirect effects and for the identification of conditional effects, depending, for example, on regions' remoteness. The analysis starts with the creation of eight factors that efficiently describe districts' industrial structures. The factors are consistent with the industrial innovation type taxonomy created by Pavitt. In the final model the regional industrial structure, as described by these factors, explains socio‐economic fundamentals that indicate the regions' productivity, its income distribution and its population dynamics. -- Der unvoreingenommene Beobachter von Deutschlands Regionen bemerkt schnell die ausgeprägten Unterschiede in der regionalen Unternehmensstruktur und Einkommenssituation. Einerseits sind die Regionen durch verschiedene Branchenzusammensetzungen, Betriebsgrößenverteilungen und Qualifikationsstrukturen der Beschäftigten gekennzeichnet. Andererseits sind einige der Regionen wohlhabend, dynamisch und weisen eine positive Bevölkerungsentwicklung auf, während andere unter hoher Arbeitslosigkeit, geringen Steuereinnahmen und einer unbefriedigenden Einkommenssituation leiden. Der Zusammenhang zwischen den beiden Beobachtungen wird vor allem von Theorien Schumpeterianischen Ursprungs hergestellt, die auch auf der Beobachtung gründen, dass unterschiedliche Branchen sich in ihrer Innovationsneigung unterscheiden. Werden die strikten Annahmen der Standardökonomie einmal fallen gelassen, wird die Möglichkeit deutlich, dass die regionale Branchenzusammensetzung auch Einfluss haben kann auf die Einkommensverteilung in der Region. Abhängig von der unterschiedlichen Mobilität Beschäftigter verschiedener Bereiche steht die regionale Industriestruktur dann auch direkt im Zusammenhang zur lokalen Bevölkerungsdynamik. Diese Studie untersucht, ob diese erwarteten differenzierten Beziehungen zwischen der regionalen Industriestruktur und verschiedenen sozio‐ökonomischen Fundamentaldaten statistisch identifiziert werden können und ob sie von Agglomerationseffekten beeinflusst werden. Zu diesem Zweck wird eine Querschnittsanalyse basierend auf Beobachtungen auf Landkreisebene in einer "moderated mediation" Schätzung durchgeführt. Diese Schätzung ermöglicht die Unterscheidung zwischen direkten und indirekten Effekten und die Identifizierung bedingter Effekte, die zum Beispiel von der Zentralität von Regionen abhängen. Die Untersuchung beginnt mit der Bildung von acht Faktoren, die die regionale Industriestruktur effizient abbilden können. Diese Faktoren korrespondieren mit der branchenbezogenen Innovationstypen Taxonomie von Pavitt. Im Schätzmodell erklärt die regionale Industriestruktur, abgebildet durch die acht Faktoren, sozio‐ökonomische Daten zur regionalen Produktivität, Einkommensverteilung und Bevölkerungsentwicklung.
    Keywords: Industrial structure,Agglomeration effects,Peripheral rural regions,income distribution,Moderated mediation,Estimation,Branchenstruktur,Agglomerationseffekte,Landlich]periphere Regionen,Einkommensverteilung,Schatzung indirekter konditioneller Effekte
    JEL: R12 O14 O18 L16 C31
    Date: 2013
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:jhtiwp:1&r=eff
  41. By: Fliehr, Olivia
    Abstract: This study examines the relevance of Brazilian domestic transportation and logistics processes for agricultural bulk exports in terms of costs and CO2 emissions between farm gate and seaport, using the example of soybeans. To estimate the impact of logistics and transportation on the competitiveness of soybeans in a national comparison, export processes starting in four selected regions within the Sorriso-Santos corridor and travelling to the principal seaport for soybean exports in Santos-SP are evaluated. The analysis is based on agricultural statistics and data from field research as well as on information from expert interviews. Experts belong to the transportation and logistics sector, to the sector of agricultural production as well as to relating associations and research institutions. The results provide insight into the development and status quo of the domestic soybean market and infrastructure for transportation and storage of bulk materials. Structure and actors involved in the domestic supply chain are presented in a market analysis. A cost analysis elucidates a clear correlation of the export price (fob Santos) with the producer price (at the local spot market). The prices differ basically by the freight rates for domestic transportation. An impact assessment of CO2 emissions shows that rail transportation is in the specific cases not more efficient in terms of CO2 emissions than road transportation. This is due to a low utilization of the transport capacity on the train's return trips. The survey results also show the current bottlenecks and the potential and trends for the future development of the Brazilian logistics and transport sector for agricultural bulk products. The importance of efficient logistics and transportation processes for the competitiveness of soybeans on the international market is increasing with the relocation of the major soybean production areas into remote rural areas with underdeveloped infrastructure. The nationwide deficient network of transportation and storage infrastructure as well as of transshipment terminals leads to increased costs and capacity constraints. Monopoly-like structures and insufficient capacities in the regional rail system also exacerbate the problem of high freight rates. Recent public and private initiatives to improve the national infrastructure, particularly in the ports in northern Brazil, could lead to large improvements in the soybean logistics. -- In der vorliegenden Studie erfolgt eine Analyse der brasilianischen Logistik und des Inlandstransports für agrarische Schüttgüter am Beispiel von Sojabohnen. Um den Einfluss von Transport und Logistik auf die Wettbewerbsfähigkeit der Sojaproduktion in Brasilien zu ermitteln, wurde eine Markt- und Kostenanalyse für vier Anbaugebiete im Sorriso-Santos-Korridor mit abnehmenden Transportdistanzen zum Hauptexporthafen von Soja in Santos-SP durchgeführt. Hierfür wurden agrarstatistische Daten sowie Ergebnisse von Befragungen unter Experten aus dem Transportund Logistiksektor, aus der landwirtschaftlichen Produktion sowie aus Verbänden und der Wissenschaft ausgewertet. Die Ergebnisse geben dabei Aufschluss über Entwicklung und Status quo des Sojamarktes und der inländischen Infrastruktur für Transport und Lagerung von Schüttgütern. In einer Marktanalyse werden Struktur und beteiligte Akteure der inländischen Lieferkette dargestellt. Eine Kostenanalyse verdeutlicht, dass ein klarer Zusammenhang von Hafenpreis (fob Santos) und Produzentenpreis (am lokalen Spotmarkt) besteht. Die Preise unterscheiden sich im Wesentlichen nur durch die Frachtraten. Eine CO2-Bilanzierung verdeutlicht, dass der Schienentransport aufgrund geringer Auslastungen der Transportkapazitäten auf den Rückfahrten gegenüber dem Straßentransport nicht emissionseffizienter ist. Die Umfrageergebnisse zeigen darüber hinaus die aktuellen Engpässe sowie weitere Potenziale und Tendenzen zur künftigen Entwicklung des brasilianischen Logistik- und Transportsektors für Agrarerzeugnisse auf. Als zweitgrößter Exporteur auf dem Weltmarkt gehört Brasilien zu den Hauptversorgern der weltweiten Sojanachfrage. Der Einfluss von Logistik und Transport auf die Wettbewerbsfähigkeit von Sojabohnen auf dem internationalen Markt nimmt durch die Verlagerung der Hauptanbaugebiete in küstenferne und infrastrukturarme ländliche Räume zu. Die allgemein defizitäre Infrastruktur von Transportnetz, Lager und Verladeterminals führt zu erhöhten Kosten und Kapazitätsengpässen. Monopolähnliche Strukturen und unzureichende Kapazitäten im regionalen Eisenbahnbetrieb verschärfen zudem das Problem hoher Frachtpreise. Investitionen in den Ausbau der Infrastruktur, besonders in den Häfen im nördlichen Brasilien, mit privaten und öffentlichen Mitteln versprechen eine deutliche Optimierung der Logistik.
    Keywords: Brazil,soybeans,infrastructure,logistics,transport,logistics costs,transportation costs,CO2-emissions,Brasilien,Soja,Infrastruktur,Logistik,Transport,Logistikkosten,Transportkosten,CO2-Emissionen
    JEL: Q13 Q17 Q50
    Date: 2013
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:jhtiwp:4&r=eff
  42. By: Latruffe, Laure; Piet, Laurent; Dupraz, Pierre; Mouël, Chantal Le
    Abstract: We investigate the determinants of agricultural land price in several regions in France over the period 1994-2011 using individual plots transaction data, with a particular emphasis on agricultural subsidies and nitrate zoning regulations. We found a positive but relatively small capitalisation effect of the total subsidies per hectare. We found evidence that agricultural subsidies capitalised at least to some extent. However, the magnitude of such a capitalisation depends on the region considered, on the type of subsidy considered, and on the location of the plot in a nitrate surplus zone or not. Only land set-aside premiums significantly capitalise into land price, while single farm payments have a significant positive capitalisation impact only for plots located in a nitrate surplus zone.
    Keywords: Farm land price, agricultural subsidies, capitalisation, regulations, nitrate surplus area, France, Agricultural and Food Policy, Farm Management, International Development, Land Economics/Use,
    Date: 2013–06
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iatr13:152372&r=eff
  43. By: George Kaufman
    Abstract: Interest in TBTF resolutions of insolvent large complex firms has intensified in recent years, particularly in banking. TBTF resolutions protect some in-the-money counterparties of the targeted insolvent firm from losses that would be suffered if the usual bankruptcy resolution regimes used in resolving other firms in the industry were applied. Although special TBTF resolution regimes may reduce the collateral spill-over costs of the failure, the combined direct and indirect costs from such “bailouts” may be large and financed in part or total by taxpayers. Thus, TBTF has become a major public policy issue that has not been resolved in part because of disagreements about definitions and thereby the estimates of the benefits and costs. This paper explores these differences and develops a framework for standardizing the definitions and evaluating the desirability of TBTF resolutions more accurately.
    Date: 2013
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fmg:fmgsps:sp222&r=eff
  44. By: Cremaschi, Daniel Gaitán; Lansink, Alfons Oude; Meuwissen, Miranda
    Keywords: Agribusiness, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, Production Economics,
    Date: 2013–06
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iatr13:152388&r=eff

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NEP’s infrastructure is sponsored by the School of Economics and Finance of Massey University in New Zealand.