Compliance and market exclusion in Brazilian agriculture: Analysis and implications for “soft” governance

“Soft” or “hybrid” governance holds considerable promise in attempts to reconfigure state-market-society relationships toward improved environmental outcomes. “Soft” governance processes in Brazil's globally competitive, high-input/output agriculture sector have major implications for landuse policies. Here we identify and analyze two emergent processes, a compliance regime and bioregion-based market exclusion approach, that stand out amid a background of conflicts between agricultural land uses and environmental regulation. We address the effectiveness of “soft” governance, using a framework that focuses on interactions among state and non-state actors, use of geographic information, relations to global processes, and discourse. These policies may play an important role in bridging the divide between environmental and agricultural interests, but market and state actors, and the uneven effects of globalization, will influence effectiveness. Our framework for analyzing governance processes should complement future work that directly measures environmental outcomes.     

Controlling deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon: Regional economic impacts and land-use change

Brazil confirmed targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in 2008, including an 80% reduction in deforestation in the Amazon by 2020. With this in mind, we investigated the trade-off between environmental conservation and economic growth in the Amazon. The aim of this study is to project the economic losses and land-use changes resulting from a policy to control deforestation and the rise in land productivity that is necessary to offset those losses. We developed a Dynamic Interregional Computable General Equilibrium Model for 30 Amazon regions with a land module allowing conversion between types of land. The results have shown that the most affected regions would be soybeans and cattle producers as well as regions dominated by family farms. To offset these impacts, it was estimated that an annual gain of land productivity of approximately 1.4% would be required.     

Farm size,productivity and returns to scale in agriculture revisited: a case study of wine producers in South Africa

The inverse relationship between farm size and productivity has almost become a ‘stylised fact’ in the economic development literature. Most of the studies contributing to this preception have been Hawed by methodological shortcomings and the request is that these studies be treated with caution. Using recent farm survey data from the wine producing areas of the Western Cape of South Africa, this study attempts to overcome some of the methodological problems, distinguishing between partial and total productivity measures. Using data envelopment analysis, most of the wine grape producers were found to operate under constant returns to scale. Co-operative membership seemed to overcome the economies of scale associated with processing and marketing. The inverse relationship between farm size and both land productivity and total factor productivity is weak, not consistently negative and differs between regions. Thus, caution must be used when advocating rural development policies based on the inevitability of an inverse relationship existing in all sectors and production regions of agriculture.     

Land change in the Brazilian Savanna (Cerrado), 1986–2002: Comparative analysis and implications for land-use policy

The Brazilian Cerrado, a biodiverse savanna ecoregion covering 1.8 million km² south and east of the Amazon rainforest, is in rapid decline because of the expansion of modern agriculture. Previous studies of Cerrado land-use and land-cover (LULC) change imply spatial homogeneity, report widely varying rates of land conversion, use ambiguous LULC categories, and generally do not attempt to validate results. This study addresses this gap in the literature by analyzing moderate-resolution, multi-spectral satellite remote sensing data from 1986 to 2002 in two regions with identical underlying drivers. Unsupervised classification by the ISODATA algorithm indicates that Cerrado was converted to agro-pastoral land covers in 31% (3646 km²) of the study region in western Bahia and 24% (3011 km²) of the eastern Mato Grosso study region, while nearly 40% (4688 km² and 5217 km², respectively) of each study region remained unchanged. Although aggregate land change is similar, large and contiguous fragments persist in western Bahia, while smaller fragments remain in eastern Mato Grosso. These findings are considered in the current context of Cerrado land-use policy, which is dominated by the conservation set-aside and command-control policy models. The spatial characteristics of Cerrado remnants create considerable obstacles to implement the models; an alternative approach, informed by countryside biogeography, may encourage collaboration between state officials and farmer-landowners toward conservation land-use policies.     

论中国传统农业的"效率空间"及相关问题

本文提出一个“效率空间”的概念 ,然后从农业起源方式、生活方式和继承制度等三个方面 ,论证中国传统农业不存在效率空间 ,是一种“效率”较高但是没有“效率空间”的农业类型 ,而西方古代农业是一种“效率”较低但是有“效率空间”的农业类型。文章还认为 ,黄宗智教授的“过密型增长”是一种比较典型的、晚期的表现形式。实际上 ,早在秦汉时期 ,中国单一种植业占主导地位的生产模式 ,无需太多的土地即可养活较多的人口 ,对劳动力有较高的需求 ,局部地区已经出现“过密型增长” ,只是因为存在异地移民 ,才使得这种“过密”表现得较隐蔽。近代以后 ,中国东南地区已经无可垦之地 ,才会出现典型的“过密型增长”。     

基于DEA的家庭农场生态经济效率评价——以公安县长江村为例

农户是农业生产的基本单元,开展农户的农业生态经济效率评价是控制农业面源污染、实现农业科学经营的关键。通过构建农业生态经济效率的评价指标体系,运用数据包络分析的方法对红安县长江村的农户生态经济效率进行分析评价。得出长江村农户的农业生态经济规模效率较高、纯技术效率较低,生态经济效率达到最优的农户相对较少。应加强农业的技术支持,提高农业的科学管理。     

The agricultural,environmental and socio-political repercussions of Brazil's land governance system

Although many contemporary studies of agriculture associate larger properties with higher relative productivity, this assumption has limited relevancy for the analysis of situations in which property owners profit more from large-scale property accumulation itself rather than any superiority in exploitation opportunities offered by increased size. In Brazil, the efficiency-of-scale paradigm has been used to criticize peasant agriculture as unproductive and hide contradictions deriving from land concentration. As this paper argues, however, small-scale agriculture is actually responsible for most of Brazil's food production, rural employment and agricultural income. The paper utilizes a land governance perspective to analyze the implementation of structural reforms aimed at turning back the land monopolization tide as well as efforts to weaken long-standing legal principles that socially condition individual property “rights” in Brazil.     

Farm size,relative efficiency and agrarian policy in Côte d'Ivoire: profit function analysis of rice farms

This paper examines the relative economic efficiency of small and large rice farms in Côte d'Ivoire using a profit function approach. No differences in the relative economic efficiency of small and large farms were found. This conclusion is robust under alternative model specifications. Agrarian reforms directed towards further concentration of landholding for large farms in Côte d'Ivoire cannot be justified based on economic efficiency. Results show that access to credit and use of modern rice varieties significantly increase profits. To improve technical efficiency of rice farms, an accelerated program to provide information, credit, improved seeds and other inputs is needed. When all the farms (i.e. large and small) are taken together, there is evidence of allocative inefficiency. Strategies are needed to remove such management related inefficiencies in rice production either through the development of a better market price information system or effective farmer-oriented technical training programs by rice extension workers.     

港口体制改革前后中国港口效率演化研究

论文利用数据包络分析法(DEA)对我国主要港口2000~2010年间的经营效率进行分析。结果表明,港口体制改革之后我国港口吞吐量增长迅速,但运营效率变化并不十分明显。通过生产率指数分析和效率改进分析发现,港口平均综合技术效率的变化并不明显,并且实际投入值远远大于有效投入值。这说明港口体制改革之后,我国港口行业出现了无序竞争、港口建设规模不合理、投入拥挤等问题。最后有针对性地提出了改善我国港口营运效率的政策建议。     

The Extent, Pattern, and Degree of Market Integration: A Multivariate Approach for the Brazilian Rice Market

The extent, pattern, and degree of integration are analyzed in a multivariate system with cointegrating restrictions. The extent of the market is found by identifying locations that are linked by trade and where prices share identical long run information (permanent component). The pattern of integration characterizes interdependence and is analyzed by estimating a vector error correction model. The degree of integration is calculated with persistence profiles of the long run relations. We demonstrate that bivariate models are inadequate for capturing the spatial dynamics of price adjustment. The methodology is applied to the Brazilian rice market and policy implications are discussed.     

Farm size,land ownership,and fertility in rural Egypt

The purpose of this paper is to present the findings of a household level analysis of land availability and fertility variation among farm families in rural Egypt. Data were drawn from a survey conducted in 2 predominantly rural governorates in Lower Egypt in 1978, Beheira and Kafr El Sheikh. They were purposely selected in an attempt to obtain areas representing a range of socioeconomic and demographic conditions. The analytical model that underlies the study postulates that fertility variation in rural areas is influenced by family access to land for cultivation purposes and the conditions governing that access, as well as socioeconomic and demographic control variables. Among the 561 households sampled, the mean value for land ownership was .47. The mean value for household income measured in Egyptian pounds was 112.83 with a standard deviation of 84.76 pounds. The females had been employed 9.7% of the years since marriage. On the average, women had completed less than 3 months of formal education--.32 years. Access to land cultivation was significantly related to the other variables. Land ownership increased with farm size. Family income was closely linked to cultivated area. Landless laboring families had the lowest fertility. Wives of landless laborers were on the average younger, slightly better educated, and less likely to have worked for wages since marriage. The results support the hypothesis that the amount of land available to the family for cultivation is positively related to fertility. Land ownership was negatively related to children ever born. Per capita family income also exerted a negative influence on the number of children ever born. This indicates that income levels were such that the positive nutrition-induced income effect on fertility does not seem to prevail. Age at marriage was negatively associated with fertility and was statistically significant. The strongest variable was the woman's age.     

山东省渔业生产效率及其变动趋势的测算与分析

论文采用1997～2008年山东省及我国渔业生产投入和产出数据,运用数据包络分析以及Malmquist指数方法,对山东省渔业生产效率及其构成的变动趋势进行了测算。研究结果表明：山东省渔业生产虽总体发展趋势较好,但仍存在着技术效率低下、粗放式经营等问题。论文针对这些问题提出了建议和对策,以期为山东省渔业生产效率的改善提供参考。     

黑龙江省国有林区生物质能源发展模式研究

利用超效率DEA分析法对黑龙江省国有林区的40个林业局发展生物质能源绩效进行评价,结果表明:选择具有黑龙江省特色的生物质能源二元梯度发展战略模式,通过此模式能协调高低梯度区域的发展水平,重点发展生物质能源,推进黑龙江省国有林区能源、经济、环境协调发展,最终达到林业可持续发展的目的。     

Cost and environmental efficiency of rice farms in South Korea

We examine cost and nutrient use efficiency of farms and determine the cost to move farms to nutrient‐efficient operation using Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) with a dataset of 96 rice farms in Gangwon province of South Korea from 2003 to 2007. Our findings show that improvements in technical efficiency would result in both lower production costs and better environmental performance. It is, however, not costless for farms to move from their current operation to the environmentally efficient operation. On average, this movement would increase production costs by 119% but benefit the water system through an approximately 69% reduction in eutrofying power (EP). The average estimated cost of each EP kg of aggregate nutrient reduction is approximately one thousand two hundred won. For technically efficient farms, there is a trade‐off between cost and environmental efficiency. We also find that the environmental performance of farms varies across farms and regions. We suggest that agri‐environmental policies should be (re)designed to improve both cost and environmental performance of rice farms.     

城镇土地利用结构效率的数据包络分析

研究目的:如何判断城市土地利用结构的合理性,需要从新的视角并采用新的方法加以研究.研究方法:数据包络分析(DEA)方法.研究结果:(1)沿海城市的用地结构有效性不如内陆城市;(2)不同等级的城市用地结构不合理的用地类型不同;(3)高级别城市土地利用结构效率高于低级别城市和城镇;(4)县级市城区的道路广场用地失调明显.研究结论:判定城市土地利用结构是否合理,必须考虑其历史、社会经济水平,盲目类比国外是不可取的.DEA方法可以较好地定量刻画城镇土地利用结构效率.提出了中国的城镇用地结构的建议标准.     

基于DEA和Malmquist指数分析的四川省农业生产效率时空分析

四川是农业大省,农业生产效率是关乎农业快速健康发展的关键问题。本文以四川省21个地级市为决策单元进行农业生产效率的数据包络分析和Malmquist指数分解以及空间可视化分析。2010年后四川省农业生产效率有所下降,主要归因于规模效率的下降,而纯技术效率并未随着技术进步得到较大的提升。21个地级市农业生产效率呈现不同的发展态势,格局并未表现出与地形的空间耦合。四川省农业生产应当科学配置资源投入,提高农民农业管理与技术水平,充分利用科技进步来提高农业生产效率。     

Impact of land fragmentation and resource ownership on productivity and efficiency: The case of rice producers in Bangladesh

The paper analyzes the impact of land fragmentation and ownership of resources on productivity and technical efficiency in rice production in Bangladesh using farm level survey data. Results reveal that land fragmentation has a significant detrimental effect on productivity and efficiency as expected. The elasticity estimates of land fragmentation reveal that a 1% increase in land fragmentation reduces rice output by 0.05% and efficiency by 0.03%. On the other hand, ownership of key resources (land, family labour, and draft animals) significantly increases efficiency. The mean elasticity estimates reveal that a 1% increase in family labour and owned draft animal improve technical efficiency by 0.04% and 0.03%, respectively. Also, a 1% increase in the adoption of modern technology improves efficiency by 0.04%. The mean technical efficiency in rice production is estimated at 0.91 indicating little scope to improve rice production per se using existing varieties. Policy implications include addressing structural causes of land fragmentation (e.g., law of inheritance and political economy of agrarian structure), building of physical capital (e.g., land and livestock resources), improvements in extension services and adoption of modern rice technology.     

基于DEA的财政农业支出资金绩效评价

本文借助数据包络分析(DEA)模型,对1995—2004年财政农业支出资金绩效分别作了DEA检验,结果证实我国财政农业支出资金整体效率不高,并存在逐年下降的趋势。文章认为财政农业支出资金结构偏差是其整体绩效低水平运行的最主要原因。     

开发区土地利用对市域社会经济发展有效性分析--以江苏省为例

研究目的:研究江苏省开发区土地利用对市域社会经济发展的有效性.研究方法:利用DEA(Data EnvelopmentAnalysis)数据包络模型,选取输入指标开发区占市域土地面积比重、开发区生产总值指数、开发区地均财政收入指数、开发区地均固定资产投资指数,选取与市域社会经济发展相关指标体系为输出指标.研究结果:(1)区域差异:苏南有效性大于苏中,苏中有效性大于苏北地区;(2)无效原因:以开发区土地比重和开发区地均财政收入指数为主;(3)工业化的联动发展机制趋势尚不明显;(4)江苏省开发区对区域经济社会的发展主要集中表现为对市域生产总值和财政收入的贡献.研究结论:DEA模型分析开发区对市域社会经济发展的有效性具有可行性.