The organisation of urban agriculture in Cape Town,South Africa: A social capital perspective

This article explores urban agriculture in Cape Town and its organisational forms. Based on a literature review of peer-reviewed articles and grey literature, it examines the state of linkages among urban farmers and various supporting organisations of urban agriculture. Moreover, it examines the coordination of activities among key supporting organisations. By analysing the roles of state and non-state actors and linkages, the article discusses implications for the development of urban agriculture. This article suggests that a lack of effective coordination of initiatives among supporting actors presents a significant pitfall in the development of urban agriculture. Furthermore, the failure of farmers to self-organise is identified as equally detrimental. Therefore, it calls for improved synergies between state and non-state actors involved to ensure that the gains of urban agriculture are enhanced.     

Gender wage gaps and economic crisis in Greece

ABSTRACT

We examine gender wage gap (GWG) in Greece for 2013, by using a survey data set. Our findings show first, that the unadjusted GWG is 15.3%, while European Commission reports a value of 15%. Secondly, we derive the ‘adjusted’ GWG, using the Oaxaca and Ransom (OR) and the Juhn, Murphy and Pierce (JMP) methods to be ranging from 10% to 13.6%. Thirdly, looking into the behaviour of the full population, we find a decreasing trend for the discrimination effects, an increasing trend for the residuals effects and a ‘random’ endowments effects while moving to higher deciles. These three effects are associated to the economic crisis 2008–2015. Fourthly, our findings do not show evidence of either a ‘glass ceiling’ effect or a ‘sticky floor’ effect. Finally, that there is strong evidence that investing in higher education reduces the wage discrimination between sexes.     

Evaluation of workplace lactation support among employers in two Pennsylvania cities

A majority of mothers with infants less than 1 year old participate in the labor force. Employers can modify the physical and social environments at work to accommodate breastfeeding employees and enable continued participation in the labor force. The purpose of our article is to (1) characterize breastfeeding policies and programs currently offered at workplaces in two Pennsylvania cities and (2) identify improvement areas to support breastfeeding employees in the workplace. We partnered with two business groups on health in Pennsylvania and electronically administered a survey to their employer members. Responses were aggregated into a workplace lactation support score based on physical space, time, policy, and resources. Higher scores indicate that employers offered a large number of workplace lactation supports. We conclude by offering specific improvement opportunities that include a written policy communicated to all employees and the formal communication of lactation services. Employers can utilize workplace lactation support scores to elect interventions that are feasible for implementation in their organizations.     

Lock‐In Effects in Relationship Lending: Evidence from DIP Loans

Do prior lending relationships result in pass‐through savings (lower interest rates) for borrowers, or do they lock in higher costs for borrowers? Theoretical models suggest that when borrowers experience greater information asymmetry, higher switching costs, and limited access to capital markets, they become locked into higher costs from their existing lenders. Firms in Chapter 11 seeking debtor‐in‐possession (DIP) financing often fit this profile. We investigate the presence of lock‐in effects using a sample of 348 DIP loans. We account for endogeneity using the instrument variable (IV) approach and the Heckman selection model and find consistent evidence that prior lending relationship is associated with higher interest costs and the effect is more severe for stronger existing relationships. Our study provides direct evidence that prior lending relationships do create a lock‐in effect under certain circumstances, such as DIP financing.     

Partnerships and production: Agriculture and polygyny in Tanzanian households

Women make important contributions to household food production in sub‐Saharan Africa. Women's agricultural productivity is often reduced, however, by inefficient intrahousehold allocation of agricultural resources. Complex marital structures found in polygynous households may complicate resource allocation. Using three waves of the Tanzania Living Standards Measurement Survey–Integrated Survey on Agriculture, we measure the effect of the marital structure, wife position, and plot management on agricultural productivity and input allocations. We find evidence of cooperation within polygynous households. Plots managed by husbands and wives in polygynous households produce more valuable crops, have higher yields, and are more likely to use fertilizer than their monogamous counterparts. Within polygynous households, we observe that plots jointly managed by husbands, first wives, and second wives (together) have significantly more family labor than plots managed by husbands and first wives. This result may provide evidence of different production technologies across plot managers within the same households.     

Financial knowledge among Iranian investors

This research is the first to describe financial knowledge in the Islamic Republic of Iran. Data were collected from a convenience sample of investors in the Tehran Stock Exchange. The data were used to examine objective and subjective knowledge as well as overconfidence in one's financial knowledge. The results indicated that compared with other populations, Iranians did not perform well on either basic or advanced financial knowledge questions, especially when the questions dealt with interest rates. This is likely related to the Islamic law ban on usury‐based investing. Regression analysis indicated that demographic charactristics related to basic financial knowledge were income, labour force status and being a student. Demographic characteristics related to advanced financial knowledge were education, labour force status and age. Higher income and education reduced the odds of being overconfident about one's financial knowledge, while being a student and male increased the odds. The article concludes with recommendations about future research as well as building a national financial education strategy.     

平顶山市休闲农业不同区域的发展潜力评价

[目的]对平顶山市休闲农业的空间分布特征及其发展潜力进行分析和评价,以期为平顶山市休闲农业的可持续发展提供参考和借鉴。[方法]文章对平顶山市休闲农业空间布局分区论述,并采用层次分析法构建平顶山市休闲农业发展潜力指标评价体系,确定指标权重,然后根据各指标的游客和当地农民的打分值与权重值加权计算不同区域的发展潜力指数并比较发展潜力大小。[结果]根据区域位置和地理环境以及休闲农业发展速度,将平顶山市休闲农业划分为北部山区休闲农业区、东部城乡休闲农业区、南部现代休闲农业区和西部傍水休闲农业区4个区域,各区域发展特点突出。对各指标权重值与打分值的加权求和计算得到的不同区域发展潜力指数看出,西部傍水休闲农业区的发展潜力最大,其次为北部山区休闲农业区,再者是南部现代休闲农业区,东部城郊休闲农业区的发展潜力最小。[结论]平顶山市休闲农业发展前景广阔,具有可持续发展的巨大潜力。由于地理区位和交通基础设施建设及环境条件和农业基础的差异,平顶山市的休闲农业可分为东西南北4个发展区域,其中西部傍水休闲农业区和北部山区休闲农业区具有较大的发展潜力,平顶山市可将其作为重点发展对象,重点打造水岸和山村休闲农业游,借助发展优势突出区域特色。     

山西省特色农业产业集群集中度和竞争力分析*——以运城苹果、朔州羊肉、晋城大豆为例

[目的]文章选取了山西省3个具有代表性的特色农业产业集群(运城苹果、朔州羊肉、晋城大豆)进行研究,通过探索山西省特色农业产业集群发展的优势与不足,有助于提升产品竞争力和助力区域经济发展,进而达到促进农业发展、带动农民增收的目的。[方法]文章运用2005年、2010年、2015年3个时期的数据,首先基于波特的钻石模型分析了3个产业的发展情况,然后运用区位商和集中系数指标、产业效率优势指数和规模优势指数指标分别分析了3个特色农业产业集群的集中化程度和竞争力。[结果]从集中化程度来看,运城苹果产业发展进入成熟阶段,专业化程度和集中化程度近几年一直较为稳定,进一步提升空间不大;朔州羊肉产业处于大幅上升阶段,集中化程度明显,且优于专业化程度;晋城大豆产业专业化程度优势优于集中化程度优势,但二者均呈先升后降趋势。从竞争力评价角度来看,运城苹果产业已初具产业效率优势且稳定上升,规模优势稳定且变化不明显;朔州羊肉产业具有极高的产业效率优势且高位运行,规模优势稳定且处于成熟阶段;晋城大豆产业正在形成产业效率优势,规模优势近年来稍有下降。从综合比较优势来看,运城苹果产业处于成熟阶段,朔州羊肉产业具有极强的综合比较优势,晋城大豆产业受规模优势下降的影响而下降。[结论]总体来看,3个产业作为山西省的特色农业产业,其集中化程度和竞争力均较高,且具有发展优势和发展空间,区域布局合理,已经形成或正在形成特色农业产业集群,但同时也存在一定的问题。从微观层面来说,农户、企业等微观主体应该继续发挥产品的品质优势,同时努力扩大市场份额和拓展销售渠道,积极延伸产业链,加强与科研院所的合作;从宏观层面来说,应该加强政府支持和引导,减少市场风险的不确定性。     

湖南省农业生态与农业经济耦合性测度

[目的]考察湖南省近9年来农业生态与农业经济系统耦合发展现状,探究二者发展过程中的规律,以期找出二者协调发展模式,并为湖南省农业生态环境保护、农业经济发展提供决策依据。[方法]运用耦合协调度模型,基于熵权法为各指标进行客观确定权重,结合2007~2015年湖南省农业生态与农业经济发展的相关数据,确定农业生态与农业经济的耦合匹配分析模型,采用熵值赋权法确定各项指标的权重,构建农业生态—农业经济耦合协调评价指标体系。[结果]研究结果表明,2007~2015年湖南省农业生态与农业经济的耦合协调发展基本稳定,耦合度值均在0.9以上,二者呈协调发展趋势。其中,2014年和2015年二者的耦合度较高,分别为0.975 3和0.984 3,说明湖南省在这两年的农业生态与农业经济的协调性好,农业经济与农业生态能够相互有效促进彼此的发展。同时,仍需时刻关注生态环境的承载力,降低对自然资源的无序攫取,实现经济的可持续发展。     

Do U.S. citizens support government intervention in agriculture? Implications for the political economy of agricultural protection

The persistence of agricultural protectionism throughout the world is intriguing given the widely recognized benefits of free trade. The political economy literature over the last decades has considered groups’ interest, politicians’ preferences, and their interactions within domestic politics as the primary forces driving agricultural protection. Yet, a growing body of studies suggests that it would be judicious to weigh in consumers’ or taxpayers’ perspectives in deciphering the nature of agricultural protection. This study examines U.S. citizens’ preferences about government intervention in agriculture and trade. Results show that they are in strong support of agricultural protection and their perceptions of national food security, family farms, environmental sustainability, and multifunctionality of agriculture play a significant role in shaping their support/opposition toward government intervention. The conventional political economy literature theorizes that consumers or taxpayers would oppose public policies that increase their tax burden; however, in the case of the farm sector, they have little incentive to voice their objections given the costs of farm programs are spread across a large number of consumers and taxpayers. U.S. citizens’ support for government involvement in agriculture as reported in this and other prior studies does not lend support for such political economy explanation.