This study utilized a semiparametric panel model to estimate environmental Kuznets curves (EKC) for carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) in 15 Latin American countries, using hitherto unused data on forestry acreage in each country. Results showed an N-shaped curve for the region; however, the shape of the curve is sensitive to the removal of some groups of countries. Specification tests support a semiparametric panel model over a parametric quadratic specification.
We provide a new integrated approach to analyzing risk in a setting where both exogenous and endogenous risks are present. We explicitly model these risks to understand their implications to the precautionary principle. We find that, among other things, the increase of exogenous risk in the presence of endogenous risk has a different impact on precaution than the increase in exogenous risk in the presence of only exogenous risk. While the latter is known to decrease precaution, the former unambiguously increases the precaution in the presence of stock effect.
Recommendations for Resource Managers• Two kinds of risk are prevalent. Endogenous risk is created by human action. Exogenous risk is created by nature.• If there is only exogenous risk, managers can do nothing. Therefore, managers should allow for the depletion of resources.
We tested agricultural productivity convergence in the United States using the state level total factor productivity data and utilizing new estimation and cluster identification methods to identify convergence in the data. The empirical investigation did not indicate any evidence of agricultural total factor productivity (TFP) convergence at the state level. However, we found the evidence of TFP convergence at the regional level for some regions/clusters.
This study provides a quantitative estimate of grain that would be available for biofuel production under different scenarios of dietary requirements in the world in 2050 based on the projected information available in 2007 on population, productivity increase, dietary requirements, and land use types. Our major findings are as follows: (1) if dietary requirements do not increase by more than 20% from the current level, crop yields from current cropland must increase by more than 57% just to meet dietary demand; (2) the restriction of pastureland for milk and meat production purposes would imply insufficient food production for a moderate diet consumption scenario in 2050; (3) If food demand increases by 20% of the current consumption level, a 60% increase in crop yield and a 16% conversion of pasturelands would meet grain demand and leave surplus grain to supply 23% of liquid fuel demand. We also highlight the potential roles played by biotechnology, research and development fundings, irrigation, and cropping intensity to boost crop production and ultimately make more land available for biofuel production if such an option continues to be considered in future.
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