摘要:

AbstractGardner's popular model of perfect competition in the marketing sector is extended to a conjectural‐variations oligopoly with endogenous entry. Revising Gardner's comparative statics on the “farm‐retail price ratio,” tests of hypotheses about food industry conduct are derived. Using data from a recent article by Wohlgenanr, which employs Gardner's framework, tests are made of the validity of his maintained hypothesis—that the food industries are perfectly competitive. No evidence is found of departures from competition in the output markets of the food industries of eight commodity groups: (a) beef and veal, (b) pork, (c) poultry, (d) eggs, (e) dairy, (f) processed fruits and vegetables, (g) fresh fruit. and (h) fresh vegetables.

ISSN:0002-9092    

DOI:10.2307/1242425

出版商:Oxford University Press    

年代:1991

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractThis paper provides a conceptual and empirical framework for analyzing marketing margins in a noncompetitive food‐processing industry facing output price uncertainty. The framework allows the decomposition of observed margins into components reflecting the marginal cost of the processing industry, oligopoly/oligopsony price distortions, and an output price risk component. The empirical procedure is applied to a time series of spreads between wholesale pork prices and farm prices of market hogs. The principal finding is that, while farm/wholesale margins are more consistent with competitive performance now than they were fifteen years ago, the output price risk component persisted throughout the sample period.

ISSN:0002-9092    

DOI:10.2307/1242426

出版商:Oxford University Press    

年代:1991

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractEconometric results show that prior to the 1970s the Philippine coconut oil export market was competitive but that legal and institutional changes in the early 1970s, which centralized control of the Philippine coconut oil‐refining and exporting industries, allowed the Philippines to exercise some of its potential dominant firm market power.

ISSN:0002-9092    

DOI:10.2307/1242427

出版商:Oxford University Press    

年代:1991

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractWhen federalist nations are signatories to international economic agreements, potential problems arise because of the inherent conflicts between federal law and legitimate state interests. This paper presents a conceptual framework for analyzing problems surrounding negotiation, ratification, and implementation of international agreements when federations are signatories. The economic model isolates three factors (the variance of state net benefits under an agreement, individual states' opportunity costs associated with the agreement, and state‐supported opportunism) as cost‐increasing impediments to the successful institution of international economic agreements and highlights opportunism containment as fundamental to credible commitments in international agreements.

ISSN:0002-9092    

DOI:10.2307/1242428

出版商:Oxford University Press    

年代:1991

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractA multiperiod hedging model is developed that is simpler than other multiperiod models in the literature. The model permits periodic adjustment of the hedge while minimizing the producer's profit variance. Minimum risk hedge ratios are calculated for steers, cows, hogs, com, and soybeans using the full model with hedge adjustments every two months. These ratios are compared to those using the model without periodic hedge adjustments and to a simple single‐period model. The results suggest that simple models may work well for simple hedges, while the full model is best for more complex hedging situations such as cross hedges.

ISSN:0002-9092    

DOI:10.2307/1242429

出版商:Oxford University Press    

年代:1991

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractLabor recruitment and management is critical to agricultural production. Dependence on hired labor is growing, even in states and regions where farm labor needs were traditionally met by family members. Employment in agriculture is governed by a large number of complex federal and state regulations. A computerized information system designed to facilitate compliance with these regulations is described. A user survey shows that the system is widely and effectively used.

ISSN:0002-9092    

DOI:10.2307/1242430

出版商:Oxford University Press    

年代:1991

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractRecently, two independent studies have produced contradicting evidence regarding the extent of price discrimination in developing countries. The objective of this study is to reexamine the evidence of direct and indirect distortion in cereal producer prices. Nominal protection coefficients for wheat, maize, and rice are calculated for fifty‐one developing countries spanning the period 1980–86. Black market exchange rates are used to adjust the nominal protection coefficients to reflect the indirect effect of price interventions through exchange rate policies. The results confirm the conventional wisdom that, although developing countries tend to protect domestic cereal producers, taxation caused by overvaluation of official exchange rates exceeds any direct price protection offered domestic producers.

ISSN:0002-9092    

DOI:10.2307/1242431

出版商:Oxford University Press    

年代:1991

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractSeed replacement choices differ from decisions about other inputs, such as fertilizer, because the farmer can reproduce seed. Assumptions about rates of improvement in yield potential and depreciation of retained seed are combined with behavioral assumptions and price and technical information to develop a model predicting the number of years before a farmer will buy new seed. Parameter estimates for wheat in Pakistan are fed into the model and results compared with observed replacement times. Time horizon strongly conditions effects of model parameters. To speed varietal change, better information for farmers is likely to be preferred to seed subsidies.

ISSN:0002-9092    

DOI:10.2307/1242432

出版商:Oxford University Press    

年代:1991

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractThe Conservation Reserve (CRP) and Conservation Compliance Programs could divide the soil conservation burden between farmers and taxpayers. In a highly erodible southeastern Washington region, however, a uniform region‐wide CRP bid cap and relaxed compliance requirements resulted in little or no projected burden for farmers in arid, less productive subregions. In contrast, farmers in a more productive subregion were projected to bear 50% or more of the costs of soil conservation. The projected government cost per ton of soil conserved also increased threefold from the most to the least productive subregion.

ISSN:0002-9092    

DOI:10.2307/1242433

出版商:Oxford University Press    

年代:1991

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

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.

ISSN:0002-9092    

DOI:10.2307/1242434

出版商:Oxford University Press    

年代:1991

数据来源: WILEY