bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Efficacité privée et publique de la gestion du risque phytosanitaire : le rôle de l'information
Authors: Carpentier Alain
Published: March 2022

The analysis of farmers' phytosanitary information use requires the specification of information as an input that is produced and used on the farm. The information input is assumed to consist in a signal that is correlated with (future) pest infestation of the farmers' fields. This signal is received by farmers before they choose their pest applications. The quality of information is measured by the accuracy of the signal in predicting the actual infestation. Using this approach it is easily shown that farmers' attitude toward risk, information quality and pesticide application costs play crucial roles in farmers' crop protection decisions.

In order to study farmers' information use decisions we also consider the production cost of this input for farmers. Within this framework, although they appear inefficient from a public standpoint, it is assumed that systematic pesticide applications may be chosen by economically efficient farmers. Showing that the information production cost is likely to be high for a large part of French farmers' population we conclude that this cost is likely to be one of the most determinant factor explaining the current use of systematic pesticide applications by French farmers.

Despite their weaknesses, the models developed in this paper provide some guidelines for pesticide use reduction policy design. Within the current European economic context, the use of information relative to pest infestation should result in a decrease in farmers' pesticide uses. This result is, to a large extent, supported by the fact that pesticides appear relatively cheap. As a consequence, the implementation of instruments aimed at the promotion of the use of phytosanitary information could be used as a policy intended to decrease farmers' pesticide applications. However, the promotion of information use can only be viewed as a medium or long term policy. Infortnation use by farmers requires adjustments in quasi-fixed factors (human capital, labour) and/or structural adjustments (creations of public or private firms producing expertise services). It is also shown that farmers' willingness to pay for phytosanitary information is an increasing function of pest application costs. This result implies that farmers' pesticide demand elasticity could be important (in absolute value) in the long run, i.e. due to adjustments in information uses. It also implies that a tax on the price of pesticide would strengthen the effects of policies aimed at reducing the information production costs for farmers.
L'évaluation contingente : controverses et perspectives
Authors: Amigues Jean-Pierre , Desaigues Brigitte , Vuong Quang H.
Published: March 2022

Contingent valuation : controversial issues and perspectives

In recent years, increasing public awareness of the detrimental effects of the economy on the environment has forced policymakers to assess the value of various public goods such as clean air and water, plant and animal species preservation, recreational sites and activities, scenic beauties, etc....

Over the last two decades, economists have developed and applied the method of contingent valuation to measure the value of various public goods. Recently a debate has raised among economists about the validity and rationality of the method. This debate pointed out some difficulties of contingent valuation studies. Measurement of the so called non use or preservation values has proved difficult. People may be sensitive to the warm-glow effect, and their answers may reflect more their willingness to pay for the environment in general than for the environmental good they are asked to value. Various solutions have been proposed to deal with these problems. We present and discuss them and we analyse the prominent elements of the current debate around the contingent valuation method. We develop the idea that currently used referendum methods have a too poor information content to provide reliable answers when the value of the good exhibits an important non use value component. We then explore the conjecture that the lack of imitations in the procedure may be a cause of unreliability of answers in contingent studies. Going back to the auction tradition of contingent valuation, we propose alternative ways of resolving some of the difficulties encountered in the practice of contingent valuation studies.
Nouvelle PAC et nouveaux projets d'irrigation
Authors: Cohen Juliette , Dupraz Pierre , Vermersch Dominique
Published: March 2022

New CAP and investments in irrigation facilities

In France, there is an increasing trend in irrigated land, especially where there are cereal and oil seed crops. In connection with the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy, major changes have affected irrigating farmers. This reform combines a decrease in farm prices with compensatory direct payments and a land set-aside scheme (restricted to professional farm operators). The implementation of the scheme takes into account regional diversity since payments are based on a flat rate per hectare which is determined using a reference yield for each "départements". Besides, special reference yields concerning irrigated crops are set apart in 55 "départements" to reflect the higher yields of irrigated land. Nevertheless there is an upper limit for this compensation, since only land equipped with irrigation facilities by 1992, is considered. The potential behaviour of a representative farmer facing this scheme is derived from a single microeconomic model. There is some evidence that it would not be profitable to develop facilities in order to irrigate more land. This conclusion holds for a drop in price as well as for the upper limit of total subsidy. It is questionable where there is a significant difference between reference and actual yields. A dramatic increase in world prices similar with the increase of 1995 could make profitable investing in irrigation facilities.

This scheme involves a top premium part on water input which benefits irrigating farmers. They are entitled with property rights over water resources which are revealed through the payment scheme. Farmers' rights may prevail upon the rights of other categories of water users. This distribution of property rights does not reflect the social value of water in its alternative uses. Thus the CAP reform leads to paying pecuniary externalities, and results in a monetary transfer which benefits intensive cropping systems. This scheme does not benefit low input farming which creates amenities. Such a mechanism supports farm concentration, cost-competitive farming systems while environmental friendly practices are not encouraged.
Les services d'environnement fournis par la forêt : évaluation et régulation
Authors: Després Alain , Normandin Dominique
Published: March 2022

Environmental amenities provided by forests : evaluation and regulation

Considering the growing demand for environmental quality, forest management practices are now discussed at various institutional levels (regional, national and international). The dramatic situation of tropical countries involves to protect forested areas. Nevertheless, in Europe and especially in France, the problem emerges in a different context. The main questions concern the choice between an efficient timber production and non-market benefits. As the importance of timber as raw material is recognised, society seems to be more and more involved in protecting ecological and landscape quality of forests. This paper examines the various problems induced by this new demand. The first section gives indications on the definition of non-market benefits of forest and precises some useful concepts for forest management. The role of timber industry is mentioned because environmental quality in forest should not be studied without considering the economic importance of timber.

The second section examines and discusses the traditional microeconomics analysis of forest harvesting facing constraints of environmental protection. The basis of the analysis is the so-called Faustman model able to calculate the optimal forest rotation when only concerning timber value. The hypothesis are discussed : objectives of the forest owners refer to a world without uncertainty, but the very long term of timber returns restricts the relevance of such a viewpoint.

Finally, the third section gives some examples of regulation as applied in France. For a long time, French government has been intervening to protect forests, by imposing legal restrictions to limit harvesting and to control forest management. Nevertheless, this intervention does not proceed by a regulation of non-market benefits, but only consists in protecting a traditional use of rural territory. . Some examples of practices which are applied in Germany are presented.
Institutions d'aide et enquêtes sur la pauvreté en Afrique
Authors: Sindzingre Alice-Nicole
Published: March 2022

La décennie des années 90 a connu un renouveau des projets de lutte contre la pauvreté de la part des agences d'aide. À partir d'exemples tirés des économies d'Afrique sub-saharienne, on montre que ces projets méconnaissent certains mécanismes qui peuvent faire basculer dans l'état de pauvreté, et par conséquent les catégories réellement vulnérables. En particulier, les conceptions sous-jacentes aux actions d'aide demeurent dans un contexte de traduction monétaire et statique du revenu. Elles prennent peu en compte les environnements instables spécifiques à ces économies. Cet article examine les multiples réseaux qu'acquièrent les individus pour se couvrir, eu égard à ce que ceux-ci génèrent des coûts. Les situations de pauvreté sont issues de l'échec de ces processus, à côté d'autres situations structurelles dérivant de l'incapacité d'accéder au travail en raison d'aléas affectant les individus ou la configuration démographique de la parenté.
Modélisation et estimation de la demande alimentaire d'huiles et de graisses dans l'Union européenne. Un système complet de demande semi-flexible
Authors: Morin Laurent , Surry Yves
Published: March 2022

Cet article examine la sensibilité, par rapport aux prix et aux dépenses, de la demande alimentaire d'huiles et graisses dans l'Union européenne. Un système d'équations de demande conditionnelle, conforme à la théorie néo-classique du consommateur, est spécifié et estimé pour dix huiles et graisses. La version empirique de ce système de demande repose sur l'estimation d'un modèle de Rotterdam semi-flexible caractérisé par un nombre réduit de paramètres. Les résultats empiriques mettent en évidence de nombreuses relations de substitution entre les huiles et graisses, et en particulier entre les huiles de coco et de palmiste ainsi qu'entre les huiles de palme et de colza.
Production, protection et professions truffières
Authors: Byé Pascal , Chazoule Carole
Published: March 2022

Truffle production, protection and social organisation.

This article stresses the analysis of the relationships between domestication truffle process and social organisation evolution. Today, despite low yields and instability, truffle production is always considered more than an agricultural production than an experimental one.

All along nineteenth and tiventieth centuries, producers, scientists and traders tried to improve the know-how of this production. The general tendancy of such social oragan- isations is based also on a real ability to maintain and valorize the natural image of the mushroom and to protect the "secret" of its production.

Three periods can be distinguished. The first one from 1920 to 1970 testifies the slow dilution of empirical knowledge, induced by the creeping disparition of traditional agriculture. The second period from 1970 to 1990 stresses the importance of new plant variety in a modification of cultivation methods. The third one insists upon the debate between a "statu quo" position and doubt ness induced by the groiving lack of production.
De la technicisation des connaissances : une lecture de l'histoire des sciences de la vie.
Authors: Mignot Jean-Pierre , Poncet Christian
Published: March 2022

L'histoire des sciences est souvent présentée comme une succession de découvertes qui, en se sédimentant, permettent de lever un voile sur les secrets de la nature et des hommes. La recherche d'un «sens» dans la construction des connaissances est précisément au cœur de cet article : nous partons de l'hypothèse que ce « sens » se révèle par la prise en compte de l'introduction progressive de la technique dans les sciences modernes. Cette technicisation des connaissances appliquée aux sciences de la vie se substitue progressivement aux constructions philosophiques concernant la connaissance de la vie. En plus d'introduire l'idée de progrès dans la construction des sciences, ce mouvement s'affirme en rapprochant peu à peu objet de connaissance et objet technique, ce qui conduit à une forme d'industrialisation des connaissances. Nous montrons, au travers de quelques auteurs représentatifs des idées développées depuis le XVIIIe siècle pour la physiologie, que la conception moderne des sciences de la vie permettra l'accueil de la technique dans le champ du connaître. Nous traduisons la mise en place de cette capacité de réception de la technique par le passage du discours de la méthode (R. Descartes) à la méthode expérimentale (C. Bernard).
Évaluation contingente de l'usage récréatif d'une réserve naturelle humide
Authors: Júdez Lucinio , De Andrés Rosario , Pérez Hulgade Carlos , Urzainqui Elvira , Ibánez Miguel
Published: March 2022

Contingent valuation of the recreational use of a wetland.

This paper presents a procedure used to estimate the recreational use value of "Tablas de Daimiel" National Park by applying the Contingent Valuation Method (CVM) with single dichotomous choice, using the truncated mean as welfare measure. This valuation is based on 433 interviews of visitors made during the spring and summer 1996. The sample allocation among the bids offered in the surveys is based on the Duffield and Patterson's method which allows to get the minimal variance of the truncated mean estimator.

The recreational values of the Park are not significantly different for the two periods in which the surveys have been carried out. Finally, the tests to study the "interviewers effect" and to analyse the relations between the willingness to pay (WTP) and various interviewees' features don't invalidate the procedure adopted to determine the recreational use value of this National Park.
The BSE crisis and the reaction of Norwegian consumers
Authors: Gustavsen Geir W.
Published: March 2022

L'effet de l'ESB sur la demande de viande bovine en Norvège.

L'éventuelle existence d'une relation entre la maladie de la vache folle et la maladie de Creutzfeldt-Jalcob a sérieusement entamé la confiance du consommateur quant à la garantie sanitaire de la viande bovine dans la plupart des pays européens en 1996.

L'industrie norvégienne de la viande bovine n'a pas été exposée à l'ESB et, compte tenu des importations limitées, le risque de contamination y est relativement faible.

Cependant, en raison d'une demande croissante de viande bovine, des prix à la baisse et d'une production constante, les importations ont eu tendance à augmenter au cours des dernières années. Ce changement, conjugué aux informations diffusées par les médias à propos de l'ESB, pourrait affecter la consommation norvégienne de viande de bœuf.

Trois façons d'examiner si l'information médiatique concernant l'ESB en 1996 a eu un effet sur la demande de viande bovine en Norvège sont ici présentées. Un modèle à correction d'erreur pour la demande de viande de boeuf est estimé à partir de données quadrimestrielles, de 1984 à 1995. Il est utilisé pour prévoir la de¬ mande de viande bovine pour chacune des 3 périodes de 4 mois de 1996. Les écarts constatés entre les prévisions et les ventes enregistrées au cours de chaque période se situent dans l'intervalle attendu.

Le modèle est ensuite réestimé sur toute la période, 1996 inclus.

Un test prédictif de Chow est utilisé pour tester l'hypothèse de stabilité du modèle lorsque les nouvelles observations sont prises en compte : celle-ci n'est pas rejetée. Enfin, une variable muette est incluse dans le modèle pour tester la présence de changements dans l'élasticité-prix directe et l'élasticité-dépense. Là-encore, le test de stabilité n'est pas rejeté. Ainsi, ni le modèle de prédiction, ni le test de Chow, ni le test basé sur la variable muette n'indiquent que les informations diffusées par les médias concernant la relation ESB/maladie de Creutzfeld-Jacob aient suscité une perte de confiance chez le consommateur en 1996.
Différenciation des produits et segmentation de marché : l'exemple de la viande bovine en France
Authors: Sans Pierre , Fontguyon Guy de
Published: March 2022

Product differentiation and market segmentation : the example of French beef meat.

The beef meat supply chain recently underwent a major exogenous shock : the publication of the possible transmission of the Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) agent to human led to a rapid and extended change in the relationship between the different protagonists in the whole supply chain. For the consumers the consequence of this evolution was the sudden appearance of several distinctive judicious labels (Viande Bovine Française -VBF, Critères Qualité Contrôlés -CQC) in order to reassure and advise them while purchasing. The purpose of this paper is to analyse the process of segmentation of the fresh beef meat market.

In the first part, the authors make a brief inventory of the supply chain before the crisis. They show that this supply chain presents some characteristics (heterogeneity of the upstream product, low added value of the processing industry ) which explain why the vertical differentiation of the beef is weak. The vertical differentiation concerns only very limited market segments and can use collective labels (Label Rouge, Bœuf Verte Prairie) or private labels (such as Charal, a meat packer's brand with great notoriety) : both generate a guarantee on the product tenderness.

Then, the authors propose an analysis of the vertical differentiation of the product after the BSE crisis in which they show that this differentiation is mainly based on a collective brand (CQC) developed by the inter professional body and based on the communication of reliable information to consumers (reliable because based on controlled regulation). This communication focuses on the product safety and is only possible because of an organisational innovation present in the whole supply chain (i.e. breeders and meat packers). This collective designation is used jointly with private brands, mainly developed by modern retailers, who inform about the upstream supply chain practices.

Lastly, the analysis of the reasons of this rapid diffusion of the vertical differentiation of the beef leads the authors to suggest a new configuration of the beef shelf for the future. On this shelf, a product, which will offer only health guarantee, will be found next to differentiated products with retailers' brand names. These brands will adopt or not the collective signature CQC. The industrial brands mainly relate to the convenient goods market (such as minced meat and vacuum-packed fresh meat for example).
Households' response to groundwater quality degradation. Results from a household survey in Quebec.
Authors: Traoré Namatié , Amara Nabil , Landry Réjean
Published: March 2022

Réaction de ménages du Québec face à la dégradation de la qualité des eaux souterraines.

Cette recherche étudie la réaction de ménages québécois face à la dégradation de la qualité des eaux souterraines. Plus spécifiquement, elle tente d'identifier les déterminants qui i) motivent les décisions des ménages en ce qui a trait aux activités de protection encourus pour se protéger contre les problèmes occasionnés par cette dégradation et ii) expliquent les différences entre les coûts engagés par les ménages ayant entrepris des activités de protection. Parmi les ménages déclarant souffrir de problèmes de qualité de l'eau, ceux jugeant subir des nuisances qui renvoient à la couleur, à l'odeur et au goût désagréable, sont moins enclins à prendre des mesures de protection et dépensent, en moyenne, moins pour ces mesures que ceux estimant souffrir de problèmes de contamination de l'eau. Les facteurs qui déterminent le comportement de protection des ménages sont la localisation géographique, la proximité des activités agricoles, l'orientation environnementale du chef de ménage et la présence d'enfants de moins de 18 ans au sein du ménage. L'ampleur des coûts de protection est influencée par la localisation géographique, la source d'approvisionnement en eau potable, le revenu, le niveau d'éducation et l'âge du chef de famille, aussi bien que le nombre d'enfants de moins de 18 ans que compte le ménage.
La programmation mathématique positive dans les modèles d'exploitation agricole. Principes et importance du calibrage
Authors: Gohin Alexandre , Chantreuil Frédéric
Published: March 2022

Positive mathematical programming in agricultural economics. Principles and importance of calibrating.

The modelling of agricultural producer behaviour using mathematical programming has a long tradition in agricultural economics. The linear mathematical programming approach has been prevalent in this field for a long time. But linear programming models, that are tightly constrained to reproduce agricultural producers' choices observed at the base period, are often unacceptable and also inappropriate under policy changes. Several researchers have alluded to this problem in the past and came up with several solutions such as incorporating risk or considering "flexibility" constraints. Furthermore, to solve this problem, new methodological developments also occurred, including Positive Mathematical Programming (PMP). PMP emerged more than ten years ago but its formal presentation is relatively recent. In this article, we first present the principles of PMP, using a simple example of an arable crop producer. It appears that the two main advantages of PMP are its perfect calibration to base period levels of endogenous variables and its derivation of smooth simulation results, both resulting from the incorporation of non linear terms in the objective function. Empirical implications of the standard PMP' s parameter calibration process are then discussed.
Agricultural productivity growth and convergence among countries
Authors: López Gutiérrez Luciano
Published: March 2022

Agriculture productivity varies dramatically in different regions of world. New intellectual interest has been shown and new efforts have been made to analyse the sources of agricultural growth in recent years. The article considers three questions. First, has labour productivity in the agricultural sector been converging in the last twenty years ? Second, which factors influence growth in the agricultural sectors ? Third, have member countries of regional trade agreements benefited from spillover or agglomeration effects by growing faster ? We find evidence of conditional convergence for a broad sample of countries, but the convergence rate is very low. Other things being equal, countries with higher amounts of technical inputs and more educated people grow faster. There is evidence that the European Union has stimulated productivity.
Modelling the CAP arable crop regime in Italy : degree of decoupling and impact of Agenda 2000
Authors: Moro Daniele , Sckokai Paolo
Published: March 2022

Modélisation du régime de la PAC appliqué aux cultures arables en Italie : degré de découplage et impact de l'Agenda 2000.

Dans cet article, nous modélisons le régime de la PAC appliqué aux cultures arables, en utilisant une approche duale qui nous permet de mesurer en termes d'élasticités la réponse de la production et des décision d'allocation des surfaces au schéma des paiements compensatoires. Nous appliquons cette méthodologie à un échantillon d'exploitations du Nord de l'Italie, sur la pé¬ riode de transition de la réforme de la PAC. Le modèle estimé nous permet d'évaluer, pour la région considérée, les effets, en termes d'offre et d'allocation des surfaces, de la réforme de 1' "Agenda 2000" et d'analyser son degré de dé¬ couplage.
Prévisions à court terme du niveau des aquifères : le cas de la nappe de Beauce
Authors: Bonnal Liliane , Favard Pascal
Published: March 2022

Groundwater level short-term forecasts : the case of the Beauce water table.

The objective of this article is to establish short term forecasts year), on the level of groundwater using conventional time series models. The interest of this work is to give policy makers reliable information on the evolution of groundwater levels. The forecasts which are essentially based on previous levels of groundwater are quite satisfactory. Indeed, the maximum forecast error is about half percent.
Positive mathematical programming with multiple data points : a cross- sectional estimation procedure
Authors: Heckelei Thomas , Britz Wolfgang
Published: March 2022

Programmation mathématique positive avec observations multiples : estimation en coupes transversales

Cet article présente une approche visant à spécifier des fonctions de coût non linéaires dans le cadre de modèles de programmation régionaux. La méthodologie en question peut être considérée comme une application de la programmation mathématique positive (PMP) à des observations multiples. L'application de la PMP dans les modèles d'offre des produits agricoles s'est sensiblement développée au cours de ces dix dernières années. Cependant, beaucoup de modélisateurs n'ont pas fait état du comportement arbitraire et potentiellement invraisemblable des modèles résultant de l'application standard de l'approche PMP. Paris et Howitt (1998) interprètent la PMP comme étant l'estimation d'une fonction de coût non linéaire et généralisent sa spécification en utilisant un procédé de «maximisation de l'entropie». Néanmoins, leur approche manque d'une base empirique suffisante. Elle comporte toujours une paramétrisation nécessaire pour imposer les bonnes conditions de coubure de la fonction de coût, ce qui pose d'importants problèmes dans les applications. La méthodologie que nous proposons est conçue pour exploiter l'information contenue dans un échantillon de données en coupes pour spécifier des fonctions de coût quadratiques régionales avec des effets croisés entre les activités. L'approche apporte également une solution au problème de la courbure de la fonction de coût. Elle est appliquée ici à des modèles de programmation régionaux sur 22 régions françaises. Une simulation a posteriori de la réforme de la Politique agricole commune de 1992 produit des résultats plausibles. Des prolongements de cette méthode ainsi que des améliorations possibles sont également identifiés.
Agglomération et marché
Authors: Fujita Masahisa , Thisse Jacques-François
Published: March 2022

Agglomeration and market interaction.

The most salient feature of the spatial economy is the presence of a large variety of economic agglomerations. The purpose of this paper is to review some of the main explanations of this universal phenomenon, as they are proposed in urban economics and modern economic geography. Because of space constraints, we focus on the most recent contributions. Since models of comparative advantage have been extensively studied by international and urban economists, while models of spatial competition have attracted a lot of attention in industrial organization, we restrict ourselves to multiregional models of industrial agglomeration based on monopolistic competition. The paper is organized as follows. In the first part, we show why the competitive framework can hardly be the foundation for the economics of agglomeration. We then briefly review the alternative modeling strategies. In the hope to make our paper accessible to a broad audience, the second part presents in detail the two (specific) models that have been used so far to study the spatial distribution of economic activities. This leads us to put aside non-market institutions and mechanisms that stand at the source of various agglomeration externalities. Several extensions of these models are then discussed. This includes the comparison of market and optimum outcomes, the impact of forward-looking migrations and of urban costs, as well as the role of a heterogeneous labor force and of intermediate commodities. We conclude with some suggestions for further research together with some policy implications.
Localisation des productions agricoles et concentration géographique de la demande
Authors: Daniel Karine
Published: March 2022

Location of agricultural outputs and geographical concentration of demand.

This paper investigates the contributions of spatial and variety dimensions to agri-food prices and location of agri-food productions between regions. It presents a stylised model of multiple producers, supplying differentiated products to consumers in different regions. This model describes long run location processes. Production is characterised by aspects that give rise to both increasing and decreasing returns to scale. Marginal cost pricing is inappropriate in this context. The long run equilibrium price received will reflect the premium paid by consumers who value variety, and one type of transport cost inner to farms. The price paid by consumers also includes two other transport costs. One is a traditional exportation cost. The other one is a collection cost of outputs in farms, it is an element of the competitiveness of agri-food industries.

One implication is that the optimal size of a farm reflects a trade off between increasing returns that arise from fixed costs and decreasing returns due to internal transportation costs. Another implication is that there is a potential to increase returns to fixed factors (land) by capitalising on consumers' ability to distinguish varieties. Products are differentiated according to their geographical origin of production. The final equilibrium solution generates cultivated areas in both regions. Those areas depend on the competitiveness of farms and agri-food industries (traditional competitive advantages). Those areas also depend on the structural parameters of the economy. One of those parameters is the location of the population, which determines the location of demand.

Given this model framework, we simulate the impact of a population concentration process in one of the regions on the location of agricultural activities. If the agricultural area is not restricted the concentration of the population in one region induces a relocation of the agricultural activities in this region. If this area is restricted, an improvement of land productivity (yields) in the area where the population increases allows production to increase without increasing the cultivated area. This technical progress contributes to increase the amount of production per farm. It also modifies the initial equilibrium in terms of labour force distribution between sectors.
Modèles économétriques des configurations des aires urbaines françaises
Authors: Péguy Pierre-Yves
Published: March 2022

Econometric models of spatial urban structure : the case of French metropolitan areas.

This paper presents different econometric models that account for the changes or urban spatial structures in France over the last decades. These changes are characterised by a decline of population densities in city centers and by an urban sprawl for population and employment. The monocentric model offers a relevant framework to study household location choices. This model not only identifies some factors that have an impact on these choices but also predicts that population density is represented by a negative exponential function. A two-pronged empirical approach is adopted in this article. We first estimate negative exponential population densities for each of the 112 French metropolitan areas selected from the last four population censuses (1975, 1982, 1990 and 1999). These metropolitan areas count over 8000 communes (commune is the smallest administrative entity in France). Taking the gradient of this negative exponential density function allows to measure patterns of household location over time. Any econometric work based on spatial data needs to take into account spatial interactions among observations and thus to use appropriate econometric tools. Therefore, we estimate two types of spatial econometric specification for this negative exponential density function : a spatial autoregressive model and a spatial error model with two different spatial weight matrices. Estimated spatial model specifications are assessed using different statistical tests such as Lagrange multiplier and Kelejian-Robinson tests. Compared to the conventional ordinary least squares estimation results (with no spatial autocorrelation), estimated spatial models indicate that the estimates of the density gradients and central den¬ sities are lower, hence resulting in a much smoother urban sprawl trend.

In the second stage, we introduce in the previous model of population densities additional explanatory variables such as the size of central city area, income and size of households, housing benefits, the infrastructures and natural amenities of the communes. As it was done previously, different spatial models are estimated. Because of technical constraints associated with the econometric procedure, we select two samples of communes, one with communes belonging to small metropolitan areas and one representing communes of great metropolitan areas. The various statistical test results led us to accept a spatial autoregressive model specification with a spatial autocorrelation of errors. Compared to the foregoing econometric results, we can observe that these new estimated models offer a better goodness-of-fit. Furthermore, these additional explanatory variables work either as agglomerative forces or dispersion forces.
Australia's wine industry : recent growth and prospects
Authors: Anderson Kym
Published: March 2022

Le secteur viti-vinicole en Australie : croissance et perspectives.

Dans cet article, nous posons quatre questions. Quelle a été la performance réelle du secteur viti-vinicole australien depuis la fin des années 80 ? Comment ce dernier se positionne-t-il par rapport à ses concurrents étrangers ? Quels sont les défis qui attendent les producteurs australiens pour les années à venir, sachant que la consommation de vin par tête, à l'échelle nationale et mondiale, n'a pas augmenté, et que la production de vin de qualité supérieure se développe dans beaucoup de pays ? Quelles sont les leçons à tirer de l'actuelle vague de prospérité que connaît le secteur viti-vinicole australien ?

En termes absolus, et comparativement aux autres activités de l'économie australienne, le secteur viti-vinicole se porte extrêmement bien, depuis la fin des années 80, quant à sa performance à l'exportation. L'Australie est à présent le second exportateur de vin dans le monde après l'Union européenne. Cependant, si on compare ces résultats à ceux des autres exportateurs de vin du Nouveau Monde, les performances australiennes à l'exportation ne sont pas exceptionnelles. Les exportations des États-Unis, et de plusieurs autres producteurs de l'hémisphère Sud, ont aussi augmenté rapidement, en quantité et en qualité, alors qu'elles partaient d'un niveau plus bas. Etant donné la concurrence des autres pays du Nouveau Monde, et l'amélioration de la qualité dans plusieurs grandes régions viticoles d'Europe, le secteur viti-vinicole australien est confronté à de nombreux défis pour maintenir son actuelle prospérité. Nous suggérons, pour y faire face, plusieurs stratégies. Dans notre conclusion, nous mettons l'accent sur les facteurs-clés qui contribueront au maintien de cette prospérité.
Incitation à la qualité dans la relation vignoble-négoce
Authors: Gaucher Séverine , Soler Louis-Georges , Tanguy Hervé
Published: March 2022

La mise en œuvre de contrats visant à relever le niveau qualitatif des vins d'Appellation régionale (notamment en Bourgogne) bute sur de nombreuses difficultés liées aux aléas de production et de demande qui induisent des renégociations aboutissant à la rupture de la relation contractuelle. Cet article, en étendant un résultat récent de la théorie des contrats incomplets à des fonctions de production typiques de la relation vignoble-négoce (processus de production longs, intérêt d'un engagement précoce sur un itinéraire technique visant la qualité mais volatilité importante de la demande), montre que l'efficacité d'une structure verticale intégrée pourrait cependant être rétablie à l'aide de contrats renégociables. Pour cela, le négoce doit investir en premier et disposer de tout le pouvoir de négociation dans l'instauration de la relation contractuelle.
Instruments économiques de politique environnementale et choix technique du pollueur. Le traitement des eaux résiduaires dans l'industrie de vinification
Authors: Farolfi Stefano , Tidball Mabel
Published: March 2022

Economic instruments for environmental policy and polluter's technical choice. Wastewater abatement in the wine industry

Winery wastewater pollution can be reduced by a Water Agency through economic instruments such as taxes and subsidies. According to the «efficiency without optimally» approach, which aims at reaching a sub-optimal environmental objective at the lowest cost to Society, these instruments should act as an incentive for firms to adopt the best available pollution control technology. As there exists little knowledge of pollution damage functions, the computation of the water agencies' pollution charges is based on pollution abatement costs instead. In order to determine the level of charges, the Water Agency first computes the necessary expenses in terms of investment subsidies (for public and industrial treatment plants) and then determines the costs required to balance its budget.

In defining its policy objectives, the Water Agency acts under conditions of information asymmetry. For instance, the Agency does not really know the pollution abatement cost at the sector level or for different kinds of technology. As a result, its policy, although effective because pushing the producers to invest, is inefficient : the cost to Society is higher than the lowest possible cost, and there is a poor redistribution of subsidies among the polluters. In order to reduce this asymmetry of information of the Water Agency (regarding pollution costs), we propose a sector-based approach. This paper studies the wine producers' response — his choice of a wastewater abatement technology — to the use of economic instruments defined by the Water Agency in the south of France. It is assumed that the producers/polluters behave rationally and minimise their pollution control costs.

In the second part of the paper, we will look at the individual firm, underlying the importance of fixed costs for the choice of a wastewater control strategy. Consequently we will propose a modified model of polluter's behaviour in which fixed costs are considered and the underlying cost function follows the law of diminishing returns.

The analysis of the individual choice between bearing pollution abatement costs (technical investment) and paying pollution costs (taxes) allows us to examine, in addition, the possibility of a partial treatment of wastewater.
Signes de qualité et qualité des signes : une application au marché du camembert
Authors: Hassan Daniel , Monier-Dilhan Sylvette
Published: March 2022

Les consommateurs sont confrontés à une multiplication des signes de qualité sur les produits alimentaires. Un même bien peut ainsi être le support de plusieurs signaux : un label officiel et une marque privée de réputation nationale, par exemple. Comment ce chevauchement de signes affecte-t-il la valorisation de chacun ? Le camembert nous permet d'illustrer notre propos : ce produit peut bénéficier ou non d'une appellation d'origine contrôlée (AOC) et être vendu sous marque de fabricant ou sous marque de distributeur. Nous montrons que la valorisation des signaux de qualité obéit au principe des rendements décroissants.
Science and public participation in regulating genetically-engineered food : French and American experiences
Authors: Post Diahanna L. , Da Ros Jérôme
Published: March 2022

Science et participation publique dans la réglementation des aliments génétiquement modifiés : les expériences françaises et américaines

Cet article analyse trois expériences menées par le décideur public pour intégrer les différents acteurs concernés dans le processus d'élaboration des politiques publiques en matière d'aliments génétiquement modifiés. Nous étudions les interactions entre les scientifiques, les citoyens et les décideurs publics dans le cadre de ces trois initiatives, ainsi que la manière dont ces derniers ont traité la question complexe des aliments génétiquement modifiés. Ces processus nous apparaissent déficients dans la mesure où la participation publique semble ne pas avoir d'impact substantiel sur la définition des réglementations et des politiques publiques. Nous examinons comment ces processus pourraient être améliorés, en nous appuyant sur les apports de l'analyse sociale des sciences et sur la théorie des organisations. Une meilleure combinaison de ces deux disciplines ouvrirait de nouvelles perspectives à l'étude des sciences et des organisations publiques, spécialement en matière de régulation de systèmes technologiques complexes et incertains.
Will the success of trade policy undermine the world trading system ?
Authors: Victor David G. , Weiner Rebecca U.
Published: March 2022

A great transformation is under way in international relations. The influence of non-state actors is rising, and the focus of intergovernmental coordination is shifting from border measures, such as tariffs, to a myriad of policies that traditionally have been the sole province of national decision making, such as food safety standards. This transformation is most evident where international cooperation has been most successful : international trade, in particular the efforts within the World Trade Organization (WTO) to manage non-tariff barriers to trade. In many cases it has proved extremely difficult for nations to comply with WTO strictures on non-tariff policies because these policies are embedded within an array of political supporters and institutions that democratic governments find difficult (and politically costly) to unravel. We focus on these "problem cases" — where the goal of liberalizing trade conflicts with popular consumer preferences — and suggest that these pose a threat to the legal integrity and political sustainability of the WTO. Ironically, cases marked by relatively low economic stakes may pose the greatest threats because these cases are less likely to be linked to other important benefits of international cooperation, and thus governments are less likely to seek an intergovernmental solution to avert non-compliance in such situations. We suggest that formal remedies to this problem are unlikely to be successful ; rather, restraint by key states is likely to be the most effective way for the world trading community to learn to avoid and abate these problem cases before they overwhelm the world trading system.
Revenue insurance as an income stabilization policy: an application to the Spanish olive oil sector
Authors: Sumpsi José M. , Garrido Alberto , Bielza M.
Published: March 2022

This paper analyses five combinations of agricultural policies and revenue and yield insurance for the Spanish olive sector : (1) non-intervention ; (2) the policy currently in force with production aid and yield insurance ; (3) revenue insurance ; (4) revenue insurance combined with production aid ; (5) aid per tree combined with revenue insurance. Each combination is tested with respect to various criteria : average revenue and its variability, growers’utility, taxpayers cost, and the transfer efficiency of support. We performed Monte-Carlo simulations on 100 statistically significant groups of growers. Three rankings of the five policy scenarios show that the current regime of EU production aids on olive oil eliminates the advantage of extending the current yield insurance to a revenue insurance at a reasonable cost. We also show that the level of support delivered by production aids can by no means be reached with revenue insurance even with 100% subsidized premia, and that scenario (5) exhibits good results based on all criteria.
Capital intellectuel des fondateurs, réseaux sociaux et stratégies des nouvelles entreprises de biotechnologies françaises
Authors: Corolleur Frédéric , Catherine David
Published: March 2022

During the creation of their company, high technology start-up founders mobilize their intellectual and social capital. If in the entrepreneurship field, some works show that this capital is one of the determinants of firms’ performance, the studies that highlight the link between the founders’ intellectual and social capital at the firm creation time and its strategy of growth in the first years of its existence, are very few. This paper wonders about these links and more particularly with the founders of the new biotechnology firms and with works which were devoted to them. The study of 129 founders of 61 new biotechnology firms in France illustrates the thesis according to which different intellectual and social capital lead the founders to develop distinct strategies.
Les industries de la conserve dans la planification des années 60: acteurs et instruments de l’élaboration et de la diffusion d’un nouveau modèle productif
Authors: Lamanthe Annie
Published: March 2022

This paper focuses on the economic and industrial planning policies that took place in France after the Second World War. These policies aimed at reshaping the entire French industrial organization through the spreading of a new productive organizational model. Its purpose was to build an industry capable of getting into the mass-production and mass-consumption system which was related to the increase of the wage-earner status in the population. The case study of fruit and vegetable food processing is at the centre of this analysis. The first part of the paper shows how, at the beginning of the sixties, this industry was very different from this new model and how the IVth (1962-1965) and Vth (1966-1970) Plans restructured it. Special commissions reported on the sector situation and recommended a modernization programme. In order to achieve this, they chose to help finance more industrial firms while clearly encouraging the smaller ones to drop out. The second part of the paper focuses on firstly, the main protagonists and how they related to each other during this process and secondly, how the government, needing help to realize its planning policy objectives, made a deal with the industry leaders which allowed them to adapt the policy so as to protect the interests of the firms they managed, that is to say the medium-sized companies. Moreover they also had to convince many other managers who were opposed to the planning policies objectives, and it is from this point of view that the paper examines the expanding process of the new industrial models. It should be noted however, that it was a social process which resulted from the social actors’ relationships based on power and influence – some of whom were able to impose their own point of view –, conflicts and alliances.