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NEP - New Economics Papers
Issue: nep-agr-2003-03-25 - I
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NEP report on Agricultural Economics
Edited by Angelo Zago (angelo.zago@univr.it)
This document is in the public domain, please circulate to any.
In this issue:
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*( 1 ) Profit Efficiency Analysis Under Limited Information. With an
Application to German Farm Types
Laurens Cherchye & Tom Van Puyenbroeck
*( 2 ) Multiple Measures of the Role of Agriculture in Iowa=92s Economy
David A. Swenson & Liesl Eathington
*( 3 ) MIRAGE, a Computable General Equilibrium Model for Trade Policy
Analysis
Hedi Bchir & Yvan Decreux & Jean-Louis Guerin & Sebastien Jean
*( 4 ) Multifunctional land use in the city
Rodenburg, C. A. & Nijkamp, P.
*( 5 ) Voluntary Approaches to Nonpoint Pollution Control: Inducing
First-best Outcomes through the Use of Threats
Kathleen Segerson & JunJie Wu
*( 6 ) The Economics of Land Title Reform
Thomas J. Miceli & Joseph Kieyah
*( 7) Decoupled Subsidies and the Localization of Agriculture
Maureen Kilkenny & Karine Daniel
*( 8 ) International Charity: For the Poor?
M. Kilkenny & M. Calmette
*( 9 ) The New Rural Economy: Discussion
Maureen Kilkenny
*( 10 ) Community Credit
Maureen Kilkenny
*( 11 ) The Mobility of English Tenant Farmers, c. 1700-1850
David R Stead
*( 12 ) Decision-Environment and Land Tenure: A Comparison of Argentina
and the U. S.
Marcos Gallacher & Elena Barr=F3n & Daniel Lema & Victor Brescia
*( 13 ) Property Rights, Labour Markets, and Efficiency in a Transition
Economy: The Case of Rural China
Loren Brandt & Dwayne Benjamin
*( 14) Agriculture and Income Distribution in Rural Vietnam under
Economic Reforms: A Tale of Two Regions
Loren Brandt & Dwayne Benjamin
*( 15 ) Technological standards, environmental taxation and pollution
monitoring
Bontems, P. & Bourgeon, J.M.
*( 16 ) Les rapports "producteurs-distributeurs" : puissance d'achat et
marques de distributeurs
Berges Sennou, F. & Caprice, S.
*( 17 ) Regulating nitrogen pollution with risk-averse farmers
Bontems, P. & Thomas, A.
*( 18 ) International R&D Spillovers and Productivity Growth in the
Agricultural Sector. A Panel Cointegration Approach
Luciano Gutierrez & Michele Gutierrez
*( 19 ) Reducing Agriculture Tariffs Versus Domestic Support: What's More
Important for Developing Countries?
Hoekman, Bernard & Ng, Francis & Olarreaga, Marcelo
--------------------
(1) Profit Efficiency Analysis Under Limited Information. With an
Application to German Farm Types
Laurens Cherchye ; Tom Van Puyenbroeck
Abstract: Lack of information about technology and prices often hampers
the empirical assessment of the validity of the profit maximization
hypothesis. We show that the non-parametric Data Envelopment Analysis
(DEA) methodology comprises natural tools for dealing with such
incomplete information. In particular, we focus on the economic
meaning of the DEA model that builds on assumptions of monotone and
convex production possibility sets, and provide some extensions that
further exploit this economic interpretation. This perspective on DEA
is all the more attractive since its original use for technical
efficiency analysis is sometimes questionable given its restrictive
production assumptions. An application to German farm types
complements our methodological discussion. By using nonparametric
tools to test specific hypotheses about profit differences, we
further demonstrate the potential of the non-parametric approach in
deriving strong and robust statistical evidence while imposing
minimal structure on the setting under study.
JEL Codes: C12 C14 D21 P32 Q12
Keywords: profit maximization hypothesis; Data Envelopment Analysis;
non-parametric techniques; agriculture
Downloads:
http://d.repec.org/n?u=3DRePEc:wpe:papers:ces0202&r=3Da
gr
Working Group Public Economics Members' Papers / Katholieke Universiteit
Leuven, Working Group Public Economics
*(2)
Multiple Measures of the Role of Agriculture in Iowa=92s Economy
David A. Swenson ; Liesl Eathington
Abstract:
Downloads:
http://d.repec.org/n?u=3DRePEc:isu:genres:10180&r=3Dagr
Staff General Research Papers / Iowa State University, Department of
Economics
*(3)
MIRAGE, a Computable General Equilibrium Model for Trade Policy
Analysis
Hedi Bchir ; Yvan Decreux ; Jean-Louis Guerin ; Sebastien
Jean
Abstract: MIRAGE is a multi-region, multi-sector computable general
equilibrium model, devoted to trade policy analysis. It incorporates
imperfect competition, product differentiation by variety and by
quality, and foreign direct investment, in a sequential dynamic set-
up where installed capital is assumed to be immobile. Adjustment
inertia is linked to capital stock reallocation and to market
structure changes.
JEL Codes: D58 F12 F13
Keywords: Computable general equilibrium model; trade policy; dynamics;
foreign direct investment; imperfect competition
Downloads:
http://d.repec.org/n?u=3DRePEc:cii:cepidt:2002-17&r=3Da
gr
Working Papers / CEPII research center
*(4)
Multifunctional land use in the city
Rodenburg, C. A. (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Faculteit der
Economische Wetenschappen en Econometrie (Free University Amsterdam,
Faculty of Economics Sciences, Business Administration and
Economitrics) ; Nijkamp, P.
Abstract: The need for urban and spatial sustainability and for an
efftcient urban land use has generated much interest in new forms of
urban architecture. In The Netherlands, at present an intensive
discussion is taking place on so-called multifunctional land use.
This concept aims to concentrate and combine several socio-economic
functions in the same area, so as to save scarce space and to exploit
economies of synergy. In particular in densely populated countries
like The Netherlands, we witness nowadays a shift in attention
towards the development of integrated models and processes of
multifunctional land use within given geographical boundaries. The
present paper describes the concept of multifunctional land use in
more detail, and outlines critically the underlying relevant
backgrounds and related principles. Directions for new research ideas
will also come to the fore, some of which will be dealt with in
subsequent contributions to this special issue.
Downloads:
http://d.repec.org/n?u=3DRePEc:dgr:vuarem:2002-29&r=3Da
gr
Serie Research Memoranda / Free University Amsterdam, Faculty of
Economics, Business Administration and Econometrics
*(5)
Voluntary Approaches to Nonpoint Pollution Control: Inducing
First-best Outcomes through the Use of Threats
Kathleen Segerson (University of Connecticut) ; JunJie Wu
(Oregon State University)
Abstract: In this paper we develop a simple economic model to analyze the
use of a policy that combines a voluntary approach to controlling
nonpoint-source pollution with a background threat of an ambient tax
if the voluntary approach is unsuccessful in meeting a pre-specified
environmental goal. We first consider the case where the policy is
applied to a single farmer, and then extend the analysis to the case
where the policy is applied to a group of farmers. We show that in
either case such a policy can induce cost-minimizing abatement
without the need for farm-specific information. In this sense, the
combined policy approach is not only more effective in protecting
environmental quality than a pure voluntary approach (which does not
ensure that water quality goals are met) but also less costly than a
pure ambient tax approach (since it entails lower information costs).
However, when the policy is applied to a group of farmers, we show
that there is a potential tradeoff in the design of the policy. In
this context, lowering the cutoff level of pollution used for
determining total tax payments increases the likely effectiveness of
the combined approach but also increases the potential for free
riding. By setting the cutoff level equal to the target level of
pollution, the regulator can eliminate free riding and ensure that
cost-minimizing abatement is the unique Nash equilibrium under which
the target is met voluntarily. However, this cutoff level also
ensures that zero voluntary abatement is a Nash equilibrium. In
addition, with this cutoff level the equilibrium under which the
target is met voluntarily will not strictly dominate the equilibrium
under which it is not. We show that all results still hold if the
background threat instead takes the form of reducing government
subsidies if a pre-specified environmental goal is not met.
Keywords: ambient taxes, nonpoint-source pollution control,
cost-minimizing abatement, voluntary approach
Downloads:
http://d.repec.org/n?u=3DRePEc:uct:uconnp:2003-03&r=3Da
gr
Working papers / University of Connecticut, Department of Economics
*(6)
The Economics of Land Title Reform
Thomas J. Miceli (University of Connecticut) ; Joseph Kieyah
Abstract: This paper develops a model of land title reform which shows
that a policy of voluntary adoption of a new system is not likely to
be successful, even if the new system Pareto dominates the existing
one. The problem is the existence of an externality that prevents
individual landowners from fully internalizing the benefits of the
new system. Some evidence for the theory is presented based on
historic efforts to institute land registration in the United States
and England. Implications are also drawn for ongoing attempts by
developing countries to establish formal property rights systems for
land as part of a policy to spur economic growth.
JEL Codes: K11 O17 Q15 R52
Downloads:
http://d.repec.org/n?u=3DRePEc:uct:uconnp:2003-02&r=3Da
gr
Working papers / University of Connecticut, Department of Economics
*(7)
Decoupled Subsidies and the Localization of Agriculture
Maureen Kilkenny ; Karine Daniel
Abstract:
JEL Codes: D5 Q1 R1
Downloads:
http://d.repec.org/n?u=3DRePEc:isu:genres:10184&r=3Dagr
Staff General Research Papers / Iowa State University, Department of
Economics
*(8)
International Charity: For the Poor?
M. Kilkenny ; M. Calmette
Abstract:
JEL Codes: D8 F3 I3 O1
Downloads:
http://d.repec.org/n?u=3DRePEc:isu:genres:5102&r=3Dagr
Staff General Research Papers / Iowa State University, Department of
Economics
*(9)
The New Rural Economy: Discussion
Maureen Kilkenny
Abstract:
Downloads:
http://d.repec.org/n?u=3DRePEc:isu:genres:10185&r=3Dagr
Staff General Research Papers / Iowa State University, Department of
Economics
*(10)
Community Credit
Maureen Kilkenny
Abstract:
Downloads:
http://d.repec.org/n?u=3DRePEc:isu:genres:10186&r=3Dagr
Staff General Research Papers / Iowa State University, Department of
Economics
*(11)
The Mobility of English Tenant Farmers, c. 1700-1850
David R Stead
Abstract: This paper surveys the literature on the mobility of eighteenth
and early nineteenth century English rack rent tenant farmers and
farming families, and provides new quantitative estimates of the
speed of turnover in the market for farm tenure. The evidence
presented should increase the degree of belief in the stylised fact
of relatively low tenurial mobility, although the extent of inertia
should not be exaggerated.
Downloads:
http://d.repec.org/n?u=3DRePEc:yor:yorken:03/02&r=3Dagr
*(12)
Decision-Environment and Land Tenure: A Comparison of Argentina
and the U. S.
Marcos Gallacher ; Elena Barr=F3n ; Daniel Lema ; Victor
Brescia
Abstract:
Downloads:
http://d.repec.org/n?u=3DRePEc:cem:doctra:229&r=3Dagr
CEMA Working Papers / Universidad del CEMA
*(13)
Property Rights, Labour Markets, and Efficiency in a Transition
Economy: The Case of Rural China
Loren Brandt ; Dwayne Benjamin
Abstract: This paper investigates the consequences of imperfect and uneven
factor market development for farm efficiency in rural China during
transition. In particular, we estimate the extent to which an inverse
relationship in farm productivity can be attributed to the
administrative (instead of market) allocation of land, and the extent
of unevenly developed non-agricultural opportunities. Using a
recently collected household survey, we show that a considerable
amount of inefficiency exists in the countryside, especially in the
employment of labour. Our results show that this inefficiency is
alleviated by the development of external labour markets, and that in
the context of the current imperfect market environment,
administrative reallocations help improve on the margin both
efficiency and equity. They do not go far enough, however, which
raises important questions about constraints on rental activity, the
link between admin istrative reallocation and decentralized land
exchange, and property rights formation more generally.
JEL Codes: D23 J43 Q15 O12
Keywords: Rural institutions, property rights, labour markets, transition
economies, farm efficiency
Downloads:
http://d.repec.org/n?u=3DRePEc:wdi:papers:2002-518&r=3
Dagr
William Davidson Institute Working Papers Series / William Davidson
Institute at the University of Michigan Business School
*(14)
Agriculture and Income Distribution in Rural Vietnam under
Economic Reforms: A Tale of Two Regions
Loren Brandt ; Dwayne Benjamin
Abstract: This paper exploits the panel dimension of the Vietnam Living
Standards Survey (VLSS) in order to analyze the main changes
occurring in agriculture in Vietnam over the period 1993- 1998. This
period was marked by a continuation of the reforms that began in 1988
with the implementation of Resolution 10, Vietnam=92s own version of
the Chinese Household Responsibility System. We focus on the impact
of two main policy changes: first, the increase in the rice export
quota and the significant increase in the price of rice, especially
in the south; second, liberalization of the fertilizer market and the
sharp drop in the price of fertilizer. To this end, we document
changes in the empirically observable =93institutional environment,=94
exploring changes in rice and other crop prices as well as fertilizer
prices. With this as background, we explore changes in r ice
production, consumption and marketing, and their links to changes in
prices and incomes. We also estimate the degree to which these
increases can be =93explained=94 by increased use of inputs like
fertilizer, cropping intensity, and increased yields. Finally, we
investigate the distributional impacts of these changes, including a
detailed examination of the linkages between rice marketing and
income distribution using nonparametric econometric techniques. We
find that the agricultural reforms had a largely beneficial impact on
the well being of rural households throughout Vietnam, but that
farmers in the south gained most, consistent with expectations given
the policy changes. More generally, our conclusions suggest that
market reforms can have a significant impact on incentives, without
adverse consequences for income distribution.
JEL Codes: P3 Q12 Q17 Q18
Keywords: economic reforms in Vietnam, trade liberalization, agricultural
productivity, welfare distribution
Downloads:
http://d.repec.org/n?u=3DRePEc:wdi:papers:2002-519&r=3
Dagr
William Davidson Institute Working Papers Series / William Davidson
Institute at the University of Michigan Business School
*(15)
Technological standards, environmental taxation and pollution
monitoring
Bontems, P. ; Bourgeon, J.M.
Abstract: We consider the combine use of environmental taxation and
technological standards of abatement. While it is not necessary to
regulate technology adoption under complete information, we show that
the environmental agency has to impose a technological standard when
monitoring emissions is costly and when pollution benefits are the
firm's private information. Although this policy constrains firms
with low pollution benefits to over-invest compared to laissez-faire,
it leads to a cut in informational rents and a decrease in the
protifs firms would extract from evading taxation. Incentives for tax
evasion are therefore reduced and tax collection is increased.
...French Abstract : Les auteurs consid=E8rent, dans cet article,
l'usage combin=E9 de la taxation environnementale et de la norme de
technologie de d=E9pollution. Alors qu'il n'est pas n=E9cessaire de
r=E9guler l'adoption de technologie en information compl=E8te, ils
montrent que l'agence de l'environnement doit imposer une norme de
technologie de d=E9pollution lorsque la mesure des =E9missions est
co=FBteuse et lorsque le co=FBt d'opportunit=E9 de la pollution est une
information priv=E9e des pollueurs. Bien que cette politique induit un
surinvestissement des firmes ayant un faible b=E9n=E9fice li=E9 =E0 la
pollution =E9mise, comparativement =E0 une politique de laissez-faire,
cela conduit =E0 diminuer le co=FBt d'agence et le profit que les firmes
peuvent potentiellement retirer d'une fraude fiscale. Les incitations
=E0 la fraude sont ainsi r=E9duites et le montant des taxes collect=E9es
est accru.
JEL Codes: D62 D82 H21 H26 H32
Keywords: ENVIRONMENTAL TAXATION; LAW ENFORCEMENT; TECHNOLOGICAL
STANDARD; ADVERSE SELECTION ; ECONOMIE DE L'ENVIRONNEMENT; LUTTE
ANTIPOLLUTION; TAXE; NORME; TECHNOLOGIE PROPRE
Downloads:
http://d.repec.org/n?u=3DRePEc:rea:inrawp:40&r=3Dagr
Economics Working Paper Archive / French Institute for Agronomy Research
(INRA), Economics Laboratory in Toulouse (ESR Toulouse)
*(16)
Les rapports "producteurs-distributeurs" : puissance d'achat et
marques de distributeurs
Berges Sennou, F. ; Caprice, S.
Abstract: This article analyses the impact of recent mergers in the
retailing sector as a mean to improve retailers' buying power. Such
power can lead produce rs to be economically abused by retailers or
more generally to pay them fi xed fees as commercial cooperation
strategies. Private labels, with differ ent situations across
products and countries are a tool for retailers to d iscriminate
markets. These store brands can also be a true negotiation sta ke
with producers. ...French Abstract : Cet article fait le point sur
l'implication des r=E9centes concentrations da ns la grande
distribution qui a renforc=E9 le pouvoir d'achat des distribute urs.
Cela conduit parfois les producteurs =E0 une d=E9pendance =E9conomique ou
p
lus g=E9n=E9ralement =E0 des pratiques commerciales comme les primes de
r=E9f=E9renc ement. Les marques de distributeurs, avec des situations
fort diff=E9rentes selon les pays et les produits, permettent de
segmenter le march=E9 et se r=E9 v=E8lent =EAtre un v=E9ritable enjeu de
n=E9gociation avec les producteurs.
JEL Codes: L10 L20 L40
Keywords: BUYING POWER; PRIVATE LABELS; ECONOMIC DEPENDENCE ; ENTREPRISE
DE DISTRIBUTION; CONCENTRATION D'ENTREPRISES; CONCENTRATION VERTICALE;
POUVOIR D'ACHAT; LABEL DE QUALITE; MARQUE DE DISTRIBUTEUR
Downloads:
http://d.repec.org/n?u=3DRePEc:rea:inrawp:42&r=3Dagr
Economics Working Paper Archive / French Institute for Agronomy Research
(INRA), Economics Laboratory in Toulouse (ESR Toulouse)
*(17)
Regulating nitrogen pollution with risk-averse farmers
Bontems, P. ; Thomas, A.
Abstract: We consider a model of pollution regulation for a risk-averse
farmer involving hidden information, moral hazard and risk sharing.
The representative farmer facing a production risk originating from
nitrogen leaching privately observes the soil capacity in retaining
nitrogen quota, whose decomposition amoung different production
stages is unknown to the regulator. We first characterize the optimal
solution to the regulator's problem. The sequential decision model is
estimated on french crop production data and the results are used to
calibrate and simulate the optimal contract. ...French Abstract : Les
auteurs =E9tudient un mod=E8le de r=E9gulation de la pollution diffuse
=E9mise par un agriculteur averse envers le risque dans un contexte
d'anti-s=E9lection, de risque moral et de partage de risque.
L'agriculteur repr=E9sentatif fait face =E0 un risque de production ayant
pour source le lessivage d'azote et observe de mani=E8re priv=E9e la
capacit=E9 de r=E9tention de l'azote dans le sol une fois la r=E9gulation
mise en place. Le contrat de r=E9gulation sp=E9cifie un transfert et un
quota d'azote, quota dont la d=E9composition selon les diff=E9rents
stades de culture est inconnue du r=E9gulateur. Les auteurs
caract=E9risent le contrat optimal du point de vue de l'agence de
l'environnement. Le mod=E8le de d=E9cision s=E9quentiel est ensuite
estim=E9
=E0 partir de donn=E9es culturales fran=E7aises et les r=E9sultats sont
utilis=E9s pour calibrer et simuler le contrat optimal.
JEL Codes: D82 Q19
Keywords: MECHANISM DESIGN; ASYMMETRIC INFORMATION; RISK AVERSION; MORAL
HAZARD; NON POINT SOURCE POLLUTION ; THEORIE ECONOMIQUE; RISQUE; POLLUTION
DIFFUSE
Downloads:
http://d.repec.org/n?u=3DRePEc:rea:inrawp:43&r=3Dagr
Economics Working Paper Archive / French Institute for Agronomy Research
(INRA), Economics Laboratory in Toulouse (ESR Toulouse)
*(18)
International R&D Spillovers and Productivity Growth in the
Agricultural Sector. A Panel Cointegration Approach
Luciano Gutierrez (The University of Sassari) ; Michele
Gutierrez (The University of Sassari)
Abstract: This paper analyses, within the new growth theory framework and
using panel cointegration techniques, the effect of agricultural
international technological spillovers on total factor productivity
growth for a sample of 47 countries during the period 1970-1992. The
analysis shows that total factor productivity is strongly influenced
by domestic as well as foreign public R&D spending in agricultural
sector and geographical factors matters. Countries located in
temperate zones benefit more than countries located in tropical zones
from technological spillovers. Finally, the analysis shows that the
rate of return to agricultural R&D spending is higher in tropical
countries and this could justify new support and an even greater
investment of funds for agricultural R&D for these countries.
JEL Codes: C14 O30 Q16
Keywords: Technology spillover, agricultural productivity, panel
cointegration.
Downloads:
http://d.repec.org/n?u=3DRePEc:wpa:wuwpem:0302001&r=3Da
gr
Econometrics / Economics Working Paper Archive at WUSTL
*(19)
Reducing Agriculture Tariffs Versus Domestic Support: What's More
Important for Developing Countries?
Hoekman, Bernard ; Ng, Francis ; Olarreaga, Marcelo
Abstract: High levels of protection and domestic support for farmers in
developed countries significantly affect many least developed
countries (LDCs), both directly and through the price-depressing
effect of agricultural support policies. High tariffs and domestic
support may also lower the world price of agricultural products,
benefiting net importers. This Paper assesses the impact of reducing
these distortionary policies for a sample of 119 countries. We find
significant differences in the impact of a 50 percent cut in tariffs
and a 50 cut in domestic support for LDCs as compared to non-LDC
developing countries. However, for both groups of countries tariff
reductions have a much greater positive effect on exports and
welfare.
JEL Codes: D58 F13 F14
Keywords: agriculture trade; developing countries; subsidies; tariffs;
trade negotiations; WTO
Downloads:
http://d.repec.org/n?u=3DRePEc:cpr:ceprdp:3576&r=3Dagr
CEPR Discussion Papers / C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers
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