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NEP: New Economics Papers
Caribbean Economics
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Edited by: Angelo Zago
Universita degli Studi di Verona
Date: 2005-01-23
Papers: 3
This document is in the public domain, feel free to circulate it.
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In this issue we have:
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1. Multilateral Agricultural Trade Liberalization: The
Contrasting Fortunes of Developing Countries in the Doha Round
Antoine Bouet; Jean-Christophe Bureau; Yvan Decreux;
Sebastien Jean
2. Small-Scale Irrigation Dams, Agricultural Production, and
Health: Theory and Evidence from Ethiopia
Lire Ersado
3. THE ECONOMICS OF NATURAL RESOURCE SCARCITY AND IMPLICATIONS
FOR DEVELOPMENT POLICY AND INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION
Edgar L. Feige; David M. Blau
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1. Multilateral Agricultural Trade Liberalization: The
Contrasting Fortunes of Developing Countries in the Doha Round
Antoine Bouet
Jean-Christophe Bureau
Yvan Decreux
Sebastien Jean
An applied general equilibrium model is used to assess the
impact of multilateral trade liberalization in agriculture, with
particular emphasis on developing countries. We use original data,
and the model includes some specific features such as a dual
labor market. Applied tariffs, including those under preferential
regimes and regional agreements, are taken into account at the
detailed product level, together with the corresponding bound
tariffs on which countries negotiate. The various types of farm
support are detailed, and several groups of developing countries
are distinguished. Simulations give a contrasted picture of the
benefits developing countries would draw from the Doha
development round. The results suggest that previous studies that
have neglected preferential agreements and the binding overhang (
in tariffs as well as domestic support), and have treated
developed countries with a high level of aggregation have been
excessively optimistic about the actual benefits of multilateral
trade liberalization. Regions like sub-Saharan Africa are more
likely to suffer from the erosion of existing preferences. The
main gainers of the Doha round are likely to be developed
countries and Cairns group members.
Keywords: CGE model; Doha Round; agriculture; tariff preferences;
domestic support; Foreign Direct Investment
JEL: F12 F13 D58 Q17
Date: 2004-11
URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cii:cepidt:2004-18&r=agr
2. Small-Scale Irrigation Dams, Agricultural Production, and
Health: Theory and Evidence from Ethiopia
Lire Ersado
Ersado looks at the feasibility and potential of instituting
small-scale irrigation dams to reduce Ethiopia?s dependence on
rainfed agriculture and the associated food insecurity. He
develops a theoretical framework to assess the welfare
implications of irrigation development programs and provides
empirical evidence from microdam construction and reforestation
projects in northern Ethiopia. The author pays particular
attention to health-related costs of establishing small-scale
irrigation dams in areas prone to waterborne diseases. While the
theoretical analyses imply that the net welfare impacts of
irrigation dams cannot be known a priori due to potential health
costs, the empirical evidence shows that current agricultural
yield and farm profit have increased in villages with closer
proximity to the dams than in those more distant. The increased
disease incidence due to standing pools of water has, however,
led to significant declines in the returns from investment in
irrigation water. Households with poor health are less likely to
adopt productivity-enhancing as well as resource-conserving
technologies, which are crucial for achieving the ultimate goal
of sustainable agricultural development. The ensuing sickness has
also led to reduction in labor allocation to off-farm activities.
The findings underline the importance of weighing beforehand the
magnitude of potential economic benefits against health costs of
water development programs. The overall evidence, however,
suggests that carefully designed irrigation dams could
significantly improve agricultural production and food security,
particularly in areas where waterborne diseases pose negligible
risk to health or can be cost-effectively controlled. This
paper?a product of the Poverty Reduction and Economic
Management Sector Unit, Europe and Central Asia Region?is part
of a larger effort in the Bank to achieve global food security
and poverty alleviation.
Keywords: Agriculture; Environment; Health & Population; Labor &
Employment; Public Sector Management; Rural Development
Date: 2005-01-14
URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:3494&r=agr
3. THE ECONOMICS OF NATURAL RESOURCE SCARCITY AND IMPLICATIONS
FOR DEVELOPMENT POLICY AND INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION
Edgar L. Feige (University of Wisconsin-Madison)
David M. Blau (University of Wisconsin-Madison)
This paper analyses the problem of natural resource scarcity and
its implications for economic development and international
cooperation. We examine the meaning and measurement of resource
?scarcity? and its implications for economic growth and
development. The paper describes the conditions required for the
efficient use of exhaustible natural resources and for optimal
inter-temporal efficient paths and considers the consequences of
uncertainty, risk, externalities, disequilibria and institutional
constraints on the market?s ability to achieve efficient
resource utilization. Particular attention is paid to the
implications of the cartelization of natural resource industries
and the disturbing tendency to use political rather than economic
motivations as the basis for resource production and distribution
decisions. Reference: Resources and Development: Natural Resource
Polices and Economic Development in an Interdependent World. P.
Dorner and M.A.El- Shafie (eds), University of Wisconsin Press,
1980
Keywords: Natural resource scarcity, cartels, OPEC, energy
prices,economic development,non-renewable resources,
efficiency
JEL: Q3 Q4 L1 L41 D6 D8
Date: 2005-01-19
URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wpa:wuwpot:0501004&r=agr
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