The ultimate impact of climate change on human systems will depend on the natural resilience of ecosystems on which societies rely as well as on adaptation measures taken by agents, individually and collectively. No sector of the economy is more reliant on climate than agriculture. Evidence from the American settlement process suggests that societies can successfully adapt to new climatic environments. Whether and how much agriculture will manage to adapt to a changing climate remains an open question in the empirical economics literature, however. This article reviews the existing evidence on weather and/or climate impacts on agricultural outcomes from the economics literature, with a focus on methodological questions. Some key econometric issues associated with climate impact measurement are discussed. We also outline important questions that have not been adequately addressed and suggest directions for future research.
"This paper draws on the theory of product differentiation in a trade context and uses three case studies to highlight the conditions necessary for a successful geographical-origin branding strategy for farm produce in the United States. In so doing, the U.S. country-of-origin labeling (COOL) scheme as a branding strategy for produce is assessed. The paper argues that the use of geographic identifiers to achieve product differentiation is viable, but any claim that such differentiation will prove useful at the country level for farm produce seems likely to be misplaced. In order to raise prices, a key complement to branding is some restriction on the volume of product going out under the brand name. These restrictions may be accomplished by supply controls, quality controls, or entry barriers, but will not be available to all U.S. products currently hoping to gain from mandatory COOL." Copyright 2006 Canadian Agricultural Economics Society.
Two types of public choice models have been applied to model the political economy of farm programs: the self-willed government (SWG) model and the clearinghouse government (CHG) model. In terms of theory, the two models are very similar but most analysts prefer the CHG model. In terms of empirical work, the CHG model has done a little more-but not much more-to further our understanding of the causes of farm programs. Reviewing the theoretical and applied literature indicates that one should extend and refine the models so as to allow explicitly for a larger number of interest groups (especially agribusiness and foreign interests), to allow multiple policy instruments to be applied jointly, and to explain the choice(s) of policy instruments jointly with the rate of protection. Copyright 1991 Western Economic Association International.
With economic growth, the share of backyard hog production has declined in China over the past two decades. However, as backyard hog production fell in the rich, coastal regions, the backyard hog production from less wealthy, inland provinces has increased. In this paper, we illustrate the linkage between market development and patterns of household livestock production in rural China. The results indicate that rural labor and grain market developments have significant effects on household hog production. Using household-level survey data, we find a distinctive inverted-U relationship between backyard livestock production and the stage of market development. Hence, market developments might foster the contraction of hog production in rich coastal areas and at the same time lead to an expansion in hog production in poor inland areas.
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