Measuring Heterogeneous Preferences for Cattle Traits among Cattle-Keeping Households in East Africa

This study employs mixed logit and latent class models to examine preferences for cattle traits with a focus on heterogeneity among cattle keepers, using choice experiment data of 506 cattle-keeping households in Kenya and Ethiopia. The findings indicate the existence of preference heterogeneity based on cattle production systems. Highly valued cattle traits for the cropping systems include traction fitness and trypanotolerance, while traits associated with herd increase are considered important in pastoral systems. Considering heterogeneity within population segments provides a framework for adapting breeding policy interventions to specific producer segments, by integrating preferred traits in a breed improvement program.     

A Holistic vs. an Attribute‐based Approach to Agri‐Environmental Policy Valuation: Do Welfare Estimates Differ?

Different economic valuation methodologies can be used to value the non‐market benefits of an agri‐environmental scheme. In particular, the non‐market value can be examined by assessing the public’s willingness to pay for the policy outputs as a whole or by modelling the preferences of society for the component attributes of the rural landscape that result from the implementation of the policy. In this article we examine whether the welfare values estimated for an agri‐environmental policy are significantly different between an holistic valuation methodology (using contingent valuation) and an attribute‐based valuation methodology (choice experiment). It is argued that the valuation methodology chosen should be based on whether or not the overall objective is the valuation of the agri‐environment policy package in its entirety or the valuation of each of the policy’s distinct environmental outputs.     

Serial Nonparticipation in Repeated Discrete Choice Models

We consider alternative econometric strategies for addressing serial nonparticipation, that is, repeated choice of the same alternative or same type of alternative across a series of choice occasions, in data typically analyzed within the repeated discrete choice framework. Single and double hurdle variants of the repeated discrete choice model are developed and applied to choice experiment and multisite seasonal recreation demand data. Our results suggest that hurdle models can generate significant improvements in statistical fit and qualitatively different policy implications, particularly in choice experiment applications where the proper treatment of serial nonparticipation is relatively more ambiguous.     

退耕还林工程管理与公共选择理论

文章运用公共选择理论中的外部性、公共商品、免费搭车、市场失灵等基本概念,阐述了退耕还林工程是准公共商品。同时,根据公共选择理论的要求,提出退耕还林工程管理中应把准政府行为与市场调节的边际,以便运用现代经济学的逻辑与方法完善现有政策,做好工程规划和预算工作,完善工程建设的补助标准,制定一项合理的林业生产经营政策。     

Building an empirically-based framework to value multiple public goods of agriculture at broad supranational scales

Agricultural landscapes deliver multiple, highly valued goods such as cultural amenities, biodiversity conservation and climate stability. These goods are often delivered as side-effects of farmers' production decisions driven by broad-scale, supranational changes in agricultural, trade or other policies. Human well-being is thus affected in ways not taken into account in these macro-policy decisions. To avoid this policy failure, there is a growing demand for the valuation of broad-scale changes in public goods by the general public. For this purpose, context-rich valuation scenarios at this broad scale need to be developed which are empirically-based, policy-relevant and understandable by the general public. In this way, respondents are focused on actual trade-offs rather than invited to give symbolic reactions. This paper presents and discusses a valuation framework developed to fulfil these criteria. The approach is based on a typology of Macro-Regional Agri-Environmental Problems (MRAEP). Each MRAEP is defined by: (1) prevailing farming systems and agricultural landscapes; (2) current levels of public-good delivery; (3) expected direction of land-use change; and (4) expected effects of such change on public-good provision in each macro-region. Multivariate analysis of EU-wide data on agricultural landscapes and farming-systems led to identify thirteen macro-regions in the EU. Current public-good provision was described using public-good indicators. Only those public goods that are expected to change or could be improved by available policy options (core public goods) were used to generate choice alternatives for survey respondents. The paper ends by discussing innovative elements in the proposed approach, achievements, shortcomings and possible policy uses.     

农村公共产品供需的非均衡性及其成因分析

充足而有效的农村公共产品供给是改善农民生产生活奈件的基本保障。当前我国农村公共产品供给和需求之间存在着巨大缺口，公共资金投入不足、自上而下的供给决策机制、供给主体错位严重是产生供需不均衡的主要原因。为解决这一矛盾，应加大公共资金投入、合理界定不同供给主体的职责、建立完善的需求表达机制。     

国助民营是中国特色的林业发展之路

在对森林的自然、经济和社会属性进行认真研究分析的基础上,论证了森林是陆地生态系统的主体,是人类社会最大的和最重要的公共物品的观点,进而将公共管理理论同中国林情相结合,运用新的公共物品概念和分类方法,得出国助民营是中国特色的林业发展之路的重要结论,并提出了相关政策建议,对制定中国林业发展战略提供一个新的视角。     

中央与地方分权关系——以农村公共产品供给为视角

中央和地方的关系是国家政治生活中基本和重要的关系之一，正确处理央地之间的关系，对于实现国家的长治久安、社会经济发展具有重要意义。本文以农村公共产品供给的视角作为切入点，通过分析农村公其产品供给中存在的问题，考察目前中央和地方之间分权的合理性，将存在的问题具体化，并提出相应的思考与对策。     

基于公共物品特征视角的自然保护区政策研究

本研究从一个全新的角度应用公共物品特征分析了自然保护区的外部性特点,在此基础上应用公共物品特征进一步分析了保护区内利益相关者之间的关系。本研究最后从理论上解决外部性的途径出发,针对自然保护区产生的外部性特点,提出中国自然保护区制定政策的建议:(1)明晰产权;(2)建立健全生态补偿机制;(3)解决保护区资金供给不足;(4)共享保护区的利益。