bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Fertilization under Uncertainty: An Analysis Based on Producer Yield Expectations
Authors: SriRamaratnam S. , Bessler David A. , Rister M. Edward , Matocha John E. , Novak James 
Published: July 2006

AbstractOptimal nitrogen fertilizer levels are computed for a sample of Texas Coastal Bend grain sorghum producers based on their assessed subjective conditional yield and price probabilities, utility measures, and cost information. Producers' mean yield expectations were substantially greater than experimental yield response and their perceptions of the effects of nitrogen on yield variability were contrary to usual characterization of nitrogen as a risk‐increasing input. Optimal fertilizer levels based on expected utility maximization represent actual fertilizer use somewhat better than those based on expected profit maximization. However, both calculated levels were high relative to actual fertilizer use.
Bootstrapping in Applied Welfare Analysis
Authors: Kling Catherine L. , Sexton Richard J. 
Published: July 2006

AbstractBootstrapping procedures are used to estimate the statistical properties of common empirical welfare measures. Results from a Monte Carlo experiment indicate that welfare estimates such as Marshallian consumer surplus often exhibit significant bias. Standard errors of welfare estimates are found to often exceed the magnitude of the point estimate for typical cross‐section data sets and are generally larger than the difference between comparable Hicksian and Marshallian measures. Precision of welfare estimates can be markedly enhanced through generating larger data sets, obtaining better model fits, and through imposition of innocuous inequality restrictions on the demand function parameters.
Theoretical and Empirical Advantages of Truncated Count Data Estimators for Analysis of Deer Hunting in California
Authors: Creel Michael D. , Loomis John B. 
Published: July 2006

AbstractTruncated Poisson and truncated negative binomial count data models, as well as standard count data models, OLS, nonlinear normal, and truncated nonlinear normal MLE were used to estimate demand for deer hunting in California. The truncated count data estimators and their properties are reviewed. A large sample (N = 2223) allowed random segmenting of the data into specification, estimation, and out‐of‐sample prediction portions. Statistics of interest are therefore unbiased by the specification search, and the prediction results allow comparison of the statistical models' robustness. The new estimators are found to be more appropriate for estimating and predicting demand and social benefits than the alternative estimators based on a variety of criteria.
Quasi‐Experimental Price Elasticity of Liquor Demand in the United States: 1960–83
Authors: Baltagi Badi H. , Goel Rajeev K. 
Published: July 2006

AbstractThis paper uses sixty‐five recent tax changes on liquor in private licensed states over the period 1960–83 to update Simon's quasi‐experimental price elasticity of liquor. Three alternative measures for liquor price are used, and the sensitivity of this price elasticity to border effect purchases as well as market changes over time are examined. Our results support a liquor price elasticity estimate of −.7. However, the confidence interval on this estimate is wide. Border effect purchases as well as changes in the liquor market over time are statistically insignificant.
The On‐Farm Costs of Reducing Groundwater Pollution
Authors: Johnson Scott L. , Adams Richard M. , Perry Gregory M. 
Published: July 2006

AbstractAgricultural chemicals ate a source of groundwater pollution in some areas. Regulatory options to reduce such nonpoint pollution imply costs to producers. By integrating plant simulation, hydrologic, and economic models of farm‐level processes, this study evaluates on‐farna costs of strategies to reduce nitrate groundwater pollution. The empirical focus is on intensively managed, irrigated farms in the Columbia Basin of Oregon. Results suggest that changes in timing and application rates of nitrogen and water reduce nitrate pollution with little loss in profits. Once such practices are adopted, further reductions in nitrates can be achieved only at increasing costs to producers.
Allocable Fixed Inputs as a Cause of Joint Production: A Cost Function Approach
Authors: Leathers Howard D. 
Published: July 2006

AbstractThe multiproduct cost concepts of Baumol, Panzar, and Willig are used to explore the contention of Shumway, Pope, and Nash that allocable fixed inputs cause joint production. Allocable fixed inputs may create an interdependence in the short‐run cost function when none exists in the long run; however, this will not necessarily lead to joint production. For joint production to occur in the short run, either the short‐run cost function must exhibit economies of scope, or stand‐alone production of one of the commodities must exhibit diseconomies of size. The issue of whether allocable fixed inputs cause joint production is an empirical question.
Unstable Models from Incorrect Forms
Authors: Alston Julian M. , Chalfant James A. 
Published: July 2006

AbstractParametric tests for structural change are conditional on the joint hypothesis of functional form and other aspects of the model specification. This problem is often disregarded. Monte Carlo evidence using three data sets indicates that apparently innocuous specification errors can lead to substantial increases in the probability of finding structural change when it is not present in the data‐generating mechanism. Significant Chow tests and autocorrelation are much more likely when the wrong functional form is used. Maximum Chow tests falsely reject stable preferences much more often than their nominal size suggests, even when the correct model is estimated.
Testing for Disequilibrium in the Hired Farm Labor Market
Authors: Duffield James A. , Coltrane Robert 
Published: July 2006

AbstractProducers of labor‐intensive crops fear labor shortages if sanctions under the Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA) of 1986 are strictly enforced. They argue that special government programs are necessary to insure an adequate labor supply. On the other hand, farm labor advocates argue that such policies create an oversupply of workers and depress wages. A model of the farm labor market was tested for disequilibrium using cusum and cusum squares criteria. Results give no evidence that the hired farm labor market is chronically out of balance or unable to make equilibrium adjustments.
A Selectivity Model of Household Food Marketing Behavior in Sub‐Saharan Africa
Authors: Goetz Stephan J. 
Published: July 2006

AbstractThe agricultural household's discrete decision of whether to participate in coarse grain markets is separated here from the continuous decision of how much to sell or buy, conditional on participation. Failure to participate in markets results from high fixed transactions costs. A selectivity model endogenously switches households into alternative market participation states, correcting for bias caused by the exclusion of unobservable variables affecting both discrete and continuous decisions. Improved market information increases the probability of participation by sellers, while access to cereals‐processing technology increases quantities transacted by both sellers and buyers, conditional on participation.
Toward a More Comprehensive Theory of Food Labels
Authors: Caswell Julie A. , Padberg Daniel I. 
Published: July 2006

AbstractFood labels play important third‐party roles in the food marketing system through their impact on product design, advertising, consumer confidence in food quality, and consumer education on diet and health. However, current analysis focuses overwhelmingly on the label's direct use as a point‐of‐purchase shopping aid, even though such use is limited by consumers' information processing abilities and time. In rewriting label regulations, policy makers should consider the benefits and costs of the broad array of roles labels serve, with evaluation of alternative regimes based on their impacts on consumer behavior and seller strategy.
Objectives and Constraints of Government Policy: The Countercyclicity of Transfers to Agriculture
Authors: Bullock David S. 
Published: July 2006

AbstractEstimates of government transfers to typical U.S. corn, wheat, and cotton farms are regressed on estimates of market‐derived farm income to show that U.S. farmers receive greater government transfers when they face relatively unfavorable market conditions. This transfer countercyclicity is shown to be unrelated to potential deadweight losses constraining government transfers. It is argued that prevailing political economy models have difficulty explaining transfer countercyclicity because they focus on political agents' constraints to the neglect of political agents' objectives.
Demands for Local Public Sector Outputs in Rural and Urban Municipalities
Authors: McMillan Melville L. , Amoako‐Tuffour Joe 
Published: July 2006

AbstractLittle is known about local public services demands in rural municipalities and how they differ from demands in urban municipalities. Local public sector output demands in rural and urban municipalities in Victoria, Australia, are studied here using a system of equations approach based on the translog model. Expenditure, price, and substitution elasticities are reported. Demands differ between rural and urban municipalities and even among the (especially urban) subclasses.
Economic Impacts, Value Added, and Benefits in Regional Project Analysis
Authors: Hamilton Joel R. , Robison M. Henry , Whittlesey Norman K. , Ellis John 
Published: July 2006

AbstractThis paper addresses five issues encountered when estimating secondary benefits in regional project analysis: (a) the correction for opportunity cost of factors used, (b) the treatment of mobile factors, (c) the effect of economies of size, (d) the role of forward linkages, and (e) the role of spatial structure of economic regions. The first four are reasons that only a small part, if any, of regional impacts can be treated as regional net benefits. The fifth is a reason that, when secondary benefits or damages do exist, their correct estimation can depend on the spatial structure of the affected areas.
Tax Reform and Land‐Using Sectors in the U.S. Economy: A General Equilibrium Analysis
Authors: Boyd Roy , Newman David H. 
Published: July 2006

AbstractA computable general equilibrium model of the U.S. economy is used to assess the effects of the Tax Reform Act of 1986 on land‐using sectors (forestry and three classes of agriculture). The model's components include twelve production sectors, six consumer groups, a balanced‐budget government sector, and a zero surplus foreign sector. In relative terms, Tax Reform reduces total value added output in land‐using sectors to a greater extent than other sectors in the economy. Experiments are also performed comparing partial and general equilibrium specifications of the economy and the impact of choice of input substitution elasticities.
An Empirical Analysis of Economic Performance under the Marketing Order for Raisins
Authors: French Ben C. , Nuckton Carole Frank 
Published: July 2006

AbstractThis study utilizes a dynamic econometric model of the California raisin industry to compare predictions of prices, production, profits, and related measures under the volume control program with predictions under several no‐control scenarios. The outcomes are evaluated in relation to performance criteria proposed by a USDA study team. The twenty‐two‐year comparisons suggest that the public interest may have been well served by the raisin volume control program, or at worst there was no significant welfare loss.
Application of Computer Graphics to Undergraduate Instruction in Agricultural Economics
Authors: Debertin David L. , Jones Larry D. 
Published: July 2006

AbstractThis article outlines are experience in building a freshman‐level course in agricultural economics employing computer graphics imaging. Lecture material is displayed with a computer connected to a large‐screen projector producing high‐resolution graphics. The complete course consists of approximately 1,200 computer‐generated text, chart, or graphics images. An evaluation of the new method was conducted. Results indicate that most students prefer lectures that employ computer graphics to those that use a chalkboard or an overhead projector. Evidence supports the hypothesis that students perform better on exams when the innovations described in this paper are adopted.
The Competitive Structure of U.S. Agricultural Exports
Authors: Pick Daniel H. , Park Timothy A. 
Published: July 2006

AbstractThe competitive structure of U.S. agricultural exports is examined using a model of exporter behavior based on pricing decisions across destination markets. Market power is revealed in the adjustment patterns of export prices in response to exchange rate movements. The results reject the hypothesis that the export pricing decisions by U.S. firms are consistent with price discrimination across destination markets for cotton, corn, and soybeans. The strongest evidence against the competitive market structure is obtained for international trade in wheat, where results indicate that the two largest importers (Soviet Union and PRC) may exert market power to obtain lower prices.
Hedonic Estimation of Quality Factors Affecting the Farm‐Retail Margin
Authors: Parker Douglas D. , Zilberman David 
Published: July 2006

AbstractA model of the farm‐retail marketing margin is tested using producer and retail prices of a perishable product in which time during season and quality characteristics are variable. Empirical analysis verifies that the marketing margin of California fresh peaches decreases during the season and increases with improved quality. Results identify potential producer gains from improving product quality early in the season, and from price signals compensating producers for quality characteristics other than weight.
The Impact of Information on Environmental Commodity Valuation Decisions
Authors: Bergstrom John C. , Stoll John R. , Randall Alan 
Published: July 2006

AbstractA conceptual model is developed which provides insight into how information affects willingness to pay for environmental commodities. A refutable hypothesis of the effects of a specific information type on the magnitude of willingness to pay for an environmental commodity is developed. This hypothesis is tested using a contingent valuation method experiment. Results indicate that information affects willingness to pay in a theoretically plausible manner. The results support the contention that information is important for accurate environmental commodity consumer valuations.
Using the Wrong Discount Rate to Allocate an Exhaustible Resource
Authors: Rowse John 
Published: July 2006

AbstractWhat are the social welfare implications of using the wrong discount rate to allocate an exhaustible resource? Utilizing a simple numerical model, it is found that, over the (real) discount rate range of 6% to 9%, the welfare losses of employing a rate no more than 3% different from the social rate are small and decline as the social rate rises, even for stringent supply circumstances. However, substantial transfers of surplus between producers and consumers occur as the improper rate deviates from the social rate. Other issues such as income distribution immediately loom larger when a discount rate is chosen.
Production Risk and Optimal Input Decisions
Authors: Ramaswami Bharat 
Published: July 2006

AbstractThe paper examines the impact of production risk on a producer's optimal input decisions. Whether producers use more or fewer inputs in a yield‐risky environment depends on the sign of the marginal risk premium, which is determined by risk preferences and technology. I present the weakest condition on technology that is sufficient to sign the marginal risk premium for all risk‐averse preferences. If this condition fails to hold, the marginal risk premium is not of the same sign for all risk averters. Results are used to explore the properties of an estimated technology.
Production Subsidy and Countervailing Duties in Vertically Related Markets: The Hog‐Pork Case Between Canada and the United States
Authors: Moschini Giancarlo , Meilke Karl D. 
Published: July 2006

AbstractThis paper analyzes U.S. countervailing import duties aimed at offsetting the effects of a Canadian hog production subsidy. Approximate countervailing duty formulae for two alternative objectives are derived, the permissible range of these duties is illustrated, and empirical evidence is provided. To restore equilibrium at the presubsidy level in the U.S. hog market, a countervailing duty on hog imports suffices; this duty should be less than the unit hog production subsidy. To restore equilibrium in both the U.S. hog and pork markets, countervailing duties on both hog and pork imports are required. Such duties should be less than the unit subsidy, and the duty on pork should be less than the duty on hogs.
Modeling Multiple Adoption Decisions in a Joint Framework
Authors: Dorfman Jeffrey H. 
Published: July 2006

AbstractA multinomial probit (MNP) model is applied to the modeling of adoption decisions by farmers facing multiple technologies which can be adopted in various combinations. This model allows for full investigation of the interactions between decisions to adopt or not adopt several technologies. Estimation is carried out in a Bayesian framework employing Gibbs sampling to circumvent past difficulties encountered in maximum likelihood estimation of the MNP model. The model is estimated for a sample of U.S. apple growers with four possible sustainable production technology bundles. The results show that adoption decisions are most significantly influenced by off‐farm labor supply.
Effect of Carbon Taxes and Subsidies on Optimal Forest Rotation Age and Supply of Carbon Services
Authors: van Kooten G. Cornelis , Binkley Clark S. , Delcourt Gregg 
Published: July 2006

AbstractCarbon taxes and subsidies will affect the optimal forest rotation and, consequently, the carbon stored in forests. Unlike the Hartman rotation, where externality benefits are a function of the volume of timber growing on a site at any time, carbon benefits are a function of the change in biomass. Theoretical and empirical results (for coastal British Columbia and northern Alberta) indicate that, under some tax regimes, it may be socially optimal never to harvest the trees. In general, inclusion of the external benefits from carbon uptake results in rotation ages only a bit longer than the financial (Faustmann) rotation age.
Attribute and Safety Perceptions in a Double‐Hurdle Model of Shellfish Consumption
Authors: Lin C.‐T Jordan , Milon J. Walter 
Published: July 2006

AbstractIndividuals' perceptions of food product attributes such as safety may influence decisions about whether to consume and how much to consume. Survey data from southeastern U.S. adults were used in a double‐hurdle model to evaluate effects of health risk and other attribute perceptions on shellfish demand. Results indicate that attribute perceptions were important in both participation and consumption decisions. However, responses to new health risk information were not the same for each decision. Findings suggest that efforts to reduce shellfish health risks with an improved U.S. inspection program may have little influence on existing shellfish demand.
Quasi Maximum Likelihood Estimation of Multivariate Probit Models: Farm Couples' Labor Participation
Authors: Kimhi Ayal 
Published: July 2006

AbstractJoint estimation of farmers' farm and off‐farm work participation requires a multivariate probit model, in which the number of equations is twice the number of household members. Where there are more than two such equations, I suggest a quasi maximum likelihood method which requires only two levels of numerical integration. The method maximizes the use of sample information given this numerical feasibility condition. It is used for estimating a joint participation model of farm couples' farm and off‐farm work. The model yields conclusions about comparative advantages of men and women in farm, off‐farm, and housework, which cannot be obtained with a more limited setup.
Adoption of Emerging Technologies Under Output Uncertainty
Authors: Atanu Saha , Love H. Alan , Schwart Robert 
Published: July 2006

AbstractA model of divisible technology adoption under incomplete information dissemination and output uncertainty is developed. We identify economic and subjective factors affecting technology adoption and its intensity. Empirical estimation employs a mixed dichotomous‐continuous framework with nonrandom sample selection. Producers' adoption intensity is conditional on their knowing about and deciding to adopt the new technology. Using survey data on bST (bovine somatotropin) adoption among Texas dairy producers, we find that larger and more educated operators are likely to adopt more intensively. Traditional dichotomous adoption models without sample selection significantly overestimate the adoption rate.
Uncoordinated Agricultural and Environmental Policy Making: An Application to Irrigated Agriculture in the West
Authors: Weinberg Marca , Kling Catherine L. 
Published: July 2006

AbstractAgriculture and the environment are linked by a mutual reliance on scarce resources and prevalent market distortions. In this paper we examine the efficiency costs of policies that correct distortions in one sector while ignoring those in another. The dual distortions of an environmental externality and water subsidies are studied in the context of irrigated agriculture in California. The welfare costs associated with independent action by either a water agency or an environmental authority when that policy maker attempts to correct the respective market distortion without consideration of the distortion in the other market are estimated. Policies to correct the two distortions are found to be complementary. Under these conditions, the independent correction of either distortion improves welfare by at least $@@‐@@118 per acre. In most cases, the simultaneous adoption of various second‐best policies further reduces welfare losses associated with these distortions.
Social Supply and the Evaluation of Food Policies
Authors: Scandizzo Pasquale L. , Knudsen Odin 
Published: July 2006

AbstractThis study develops a model of social supply, based on the hypothesis that society desires that efficient producers remain in business even if their enterprise is too small to withstand the losses caused by extreme price declines. The analysis shows that this concept can be linked to the desire of society of maintaining small producers' income above a minimum level and is consistent with a well‐behaved social welfare function. The study further argues that both social demand and social supply functions may be useful for evaluating policies and projects with socially relevant effects.
Welfare Measurement in Single and Multimarket Models: Theory and Application
Authors: Brännlund Runar , Kriström Bengt 
Published: July 2006

AbstractIn this paper we provide an analysis of tax reforms along the lines of the multimarket welfare measurement techniques suggested by Just, Hueth, and Schmitz. A key purpose of our analysis is to shed light on the approximating features of partial equilibrium models. We derive a result on the difference between single and multimarket welfare measurement, showing how the difference boils down to a set of key parameters. We use our approach to analyze a proposal put forward by the Swedish Commission of Environmental Charges regarding chlorine emissions from the Swedish pulp and paper industry.