The political economy of farmland ownership regulations and land prices

One of the most ubiquitous forms of agricultural regulation is a restriction on farmland ownership. One Canadian example of a farmland ownership restriction is The Saskatchewan Farm Security Act (FSA), passed in 1974. The purpose of this article is to explain, using a political economy framework, why the FSA was implemented and to estimate the effect of the FSA on Saskatchewan farmland values. A Present Value (PV) model is used to estimate the relationship between land values, rents, and the regulation. The Hausman endogeneity test reveals that the regulation variable is endogenous with the land price. The sign of the regulation variable is negative, which fits with the theory, i.e., the more stringent the regulation the lower the land value. We estimate that the regulation lowered Saskatchewan farmland prices by an average of 4 to 34 US$/acre, depending on whether ordinary least squares (OLS) or two‐stage least squares (TSLS) is employed in the estimation, over the period of 1974–2001.     

Inflation,capital markets and the supply of beef

This paper puts forward an explanation for the negative elasticity of supply of beef found in many LDC's. As is explained by Jarvis (1974), the elasticity of supply of beef may be negative in the short run due to the dual role of cattle as both a capital and a consumption good. But in some LDC's, and especially in Latin America, one may find a long-run negative association between slaughter and prices, that cannot be explained by assuming shocks to slaughter are causing changes in prices. It is no coincidence that Jarvis' hypothesis itself was developed to explain developments in Argentina, a country with chronic high inflation. The paper argues that this long-run relationship cannot be explained by the Jarvis hypothesis, and offers an alternative hypothesis based on the demand for cattle as a hedge against inflation. The long-run negative association between slaughter and prices has been found in high inflation countries. High inflation combined with excessive regulation of capital markets cause the well known phenomenon of desintermediation. It is argued here that cattle plays a role in the inflation hedged portfolio that is then demanded. Therefore, with imperfect capital markets the supply of beef is affected by the demand for cattle as an asset, and this demand, in turn, is affected by inflation. This paper will only attempt to prove the link between imperfect capital markets and the supply of beef. The way inflation in a repressed capital market leads to an imperfect capital market is not addressed here, for reasons of brevity. The paper will develop a model that in the context of imperfect capital markets results in a negative elasticity of supply. The model will then be tested with Uruguayan data. Uruguayan data are very adequate to test the hypothesis because they cover both a period without inflation and a period of high inflation. The results support that cattle was used as an alternative to money holdings when inflation signified a big tax on the latter. Inflation therefore affected the demand for cattle, or, conversely, the supply of beef.     

Farmers' Preferences and Social Capital Regarding Agri‐environmental Schemes to Protect Birds

The steady decline of birds living in cereal steppe lands is a worrying situation that the European Common Agricultural Policy is attempting to remedy through the application of agri‐environmental schemes (AES). We assess farmers' preferences towards these AES, which call for a number of environmental practices to protect birds. Using a face‐to‐face survey in farming communities in Aragón (Spain), and through the estimation of an Ordered Logit model (OL), we assess the ranking of AES attributes, and obtain their economic valuation according to the farmers' preferences. We find that social factors are also important in determining farmers' decisions. In particular, the importance of social trust and expectation of compliance by other neighbours, encourage farmers to sign up to AES. These and other results may be used to design more effective AES and help to solve this important biodiversity problem.     

中国土地管理制度存在问题及完善的思考

研究目的：探讨进一步完善中国土地管理制度的战略重点。研究方法：文献资料法,综合分析法。研究结果：未来中国土地管理制度的愿景应该是在各种土地管理法律法规进一步完备的基础上,发挥市场配置土地资源的基础性作用,实行节约优先战略。政府重在监管和服务,重在制度设计。研究结论：目前应进一步更新管理理念,加强土地基础制度建设,发挥市场配置资源的基础性作用,完善土地法制,提高权利保障、市场运行、执法监察的法律保障。     

AGRICULTURAL POLICY ADVICE AND THE PUBLIC INQUIRY PROCESS*

The Industries Assistance Commission came into existence in 1974. It extends to all industries, including the rural industries, the system of public scrutiny of advice regarding assistance. This paper considers the ethos of the IAC's establishment. It discusses some criteria which are features of the IAC's operation, and which are considered to be necessary for an effective public inquiry process. Finally, it comments on the relationship of the IAC to other policy objectives and other advisory instrumentalities.     

Exchange Rate Uncertainty and Agricultural Trade

Using a sample of bilateral trade flows across ten developed countries between 1974 and 1995, this article explores the effect of exchange rate uncertainty on the growth of agricultural trade as compared to other sectors. Based on a gravity model that controls for other factors likely to determine bilateral trade, the results show that real exchange rate uncertainty has had a significant negative effect on agricultural trade over this period. Moreover, the negative impact of uncertainty on agricultural trade has been more significant compared to other sectors.     

910; 7; 365

This paper is an investigatory discussion on the strategies that were adopted during the aftermath of one of the most consequential natural disasters to occur in Brazil: the 2011 Disaster in the Rio de Janeiro Mountain Region. The main purpose of this discussion is to identify possible societal changes that have resulted from the adversities that characterised this event, which included, on one side, intense rain, landslides and floods, and, on the other, improper use of urban land by low income people and governmental connivance. Since early January, 2011, this multitude of tragedies is reported to have killed 910 people in 7 cities: 215 of these people remain missed. This paper is based on a field study that was developed by means of a survey with a group of experts who worked during the emergency situation and had the opportunity to participate in the recovery developments and handle efforts to avoid the repetition of such natural events’ destructive impacts. The field research for this paper was conducted in the concerned cities 365 days after the outbreak of the disaster. Research refers to the contentious hypothesis that although, undeniably, a disaster is never justified, regardless of any possible positive externalities, situations like those observed in this region should be considered not only as a matter of public policy and civil co-responsibility but also as a unique opportunity to develop strategies for significant and long-desired changes in society. The study's conclusion points to the maintenance of this hypothesis and to the necessity of considering it under further scrutiny. However, the conclusion also indicates that expertise must be developed not only so that society can better respond to emergency situations but, primarily, so that society can also strategically consider opportunities that are presented. The paper is structured formally; it begins with an introduction that describes the 2011 Disaster and the cities that were affected by it. Paper presents interviews with the local seven municipalities personnel, State of Rio de Janeiro Civil Defence workers and journalists. It closes with a discussion based on the hypothesis that is adopted here. Theoretical aspects are highlighted throughout the paper.     

Biased Technological Change and Factor Demand in Postwar Japanese Agriculture, 1958-84

The objective of this study is to gain a better understanding of factor substitutions in postwar Japanese agriculture by shedding special light on biased technological change. Such biased technological change is first measured, then associated with the movements of factor prices, and then tested for the Hicksian induced-innovation hypothesis. In addition, a decomposition analysis is carried out in order to quantitatively examine the importance of the biased effects for determining changes in factor-cost shares and factor proportions during the 1958-84 period. A slightly modified Stevenson-Greene model of the translog cost function is employed. This model has at least two important advantages over ordinary translog cost functions. First, it incorporates time into the model such that all coefficients of the ordinary translog cost function may change over time. This is more realistic than the ordinary translog cost function which assumes that all coefficients are constant over the period of estimation. Another attractive feature is that it enables us to test the induced-innovation hypothesis directly. The model is applied to the 1958-84 period by making use of farm-level data. The results show that technological change was biased towards saving labor and other inputs and using machinery, intermediate inputs, and land. This biased technological change is found to be, in principle, consistent with the induced-innovation hypothesis. Furthermore, it is shown through decomposition analyses that the biased technological change had significant impacts on changes in factor-cost shares and factor proportions during these years. The empirical results of this study imply that technological change in Japanese agriculture has, in general, proceeded in a manner consistent with factor endowments conditions since the late 1950s. An implication of this study for agriculture in less-developed countries is that agricultural policies seeking development through technological progress should be carried out so as to take advantage of peculiar factor endowments conditions in the individual countries.     

What comes first,agricultural growth or democracy?

Today, the international community faces two major development challenges: how to ignite growth and how to establish democracy. Economic research has identified two plausible hypotheses regarding this association. The first hypothesis emphasizes the need to start with democracy and institutions that secure property rights. The second hypothesis emphasizes the need to start with physical and human capital accumulation. In this article, we discuss some of the econometric evidence on the relationship between institutions, human capital, and agricultural productivity growth across developed and developing countries with the objective of finding support for one or the other hypothesis. We find that most variables used in the literature to capture the effect of institutions are not independent of the process of growth. While no evidence of causation from political institutions to agricultural productivity growth is found, human capital accumulation emerges as an important source of growth.     

SUGAR PRICES AND HIGH-FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP CONSUMPTION IN THE UNITED STATES

The main explanations of the effect of sugar prices on high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) consumption in the United States are briefly reviewed. A formal model is presented and estimated in a reduced form for the period 1971-88. The hypothesis that sugar prices affect HFCS consumption growth is confirmed. The estimated model is used to analyse both the effect on HFCS consumption of the two peaks in sugar prices which occurred in 1976-75 and in 1980, and the effect of the protection applied to the US sugar market. The model is also used to estimate the extent to which the rapid expansion of US HFCS consumption can be attributed solely to the 1974 peak in the international sugar price.     

Structural changes in Swedish wastepaper demand: a variable cost function approach

The primary purpose of this paper is to analyse the short-run price responsiveness of wastepaper demand in Sweden for four different paper and board products, as well as any structural changes in demand behaviour for these products over time. The analysis is done within a variable Translog cost function model, and we employ data for individual paper and board mills over the time period 1974-1994. The results suggest that the short-run own-price sensitivity of waste paper demand is relatively high compared to those of other input factors, and it has also tended to increase over time for some of the paper products. In addition, wastepaper demand has also become more sensitive to changes in energy prices, and its use increases with increases in the price of energy. However, the relationship between wastepaper and woodpulp is more complex, and in many instances wastepaper and woodpulp are short-run complements. Overall this implies that price based recycling policies will be relatively successful in promoting wastepaper use, but they will not necessarily lead to the conservation of virgin forest resources.     

苦荞茶中非法添加色素及其质量研究

苦荞茶因其富含生物活性黄酮类有效成分而深受人们喜爱。不法商贩在劣质苦荞茶中非法添加色素冒充优质苦荞茶,使苦荞茶存在安全隐患。本文运用高效液相色谱仪对从市面上抽取的20批苦荞茶进行检测,结果发现,仅有2批检出非法添加有柠檬黄;7批芦丁含量0.63~6.24g·kg-1(剩余13批未检出),18批中含有槲皮素含量1.09~17.05 g·kg-1(其余2批未检出),为食品监督部门评价苦荞茶提供依据。     

The declining price anomaly in sequential auctions of identical commodities with asymmetric bidders: empirical evidence from the Nephrops norvegicus market in France

The declining price anomaly for sequential sales of identical commodities challenges auction theory which predicts constant prices within a day. Among other hypotheses explaining the phenomenon stands the dual value of goods including a risk premium in early transactions. We consider that asymmetric bidder groups (primary processors, fishmongers, supermarket buyers) and seasonal landings may also affect the daily price pattern. On the basis of stylized facts and several panel data models, this hypothesis is tested on a Redundant French fish market of homogenous goods (live Nephrops norvegicus) when the time effects (high and low seasons, weekday effect) affecting the demand and supply conditions are taken into consideration. All models support the evidence of a daily declining pattern, but not to the same extent for all days and seasons, and all categories of buyers. Our results also show an earlier and steeper decline on periods of lower supply (or higher demand), supporting the theoretical hypothesis of risk‐averse behaviors of bidders, especially fishmongers with respect to primary processors and supermarkets.     

Development and application of a planning support tool in the municipal wastewater sector: The case study of Italy

Financing investment needs during the next 20 years for Integrated Water Service facilities which includes aqueducts, sewers, drinking water as well as wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), is a significant challenge for government institutions all over the world. There is an urgent need for new approaches to help decisions makers in order to evaluate the quality and efficiency of these infrastructures and consequently planning investments in the best possible way. Taking into account only the municipal wastewater sector in Italy, the aim of this study was to develop and apply a planning support tool to numerous WWTPs based on secondary biological processes, able to: (i) assess the plants efficiency identifying also their environmental and technological critical issues; (ii) propose technical solutions through the definition of appropriate Action Plans; (iii) simulate WWTPs improvements quantifying the results of the proposed upgrade and; (iv) extend the results of the WWTPs efficiency evaluation on a regional scale comparing the performance of each District by means of specific indices (technological equipment, legal requirement compliance, treatment capacity). Our main hypothesis was that the evaluation of quality as well as the efficiency of the wastewater treatment facilities is the basis for the estimation of investments. We applied this methodology to large Italian municipal WWTPs with a treatment capacity greater than a 50,000 population equivalent (PE) even though it is possible to consider smaller facilities (excluding small wastewater treatment systems generally with a PE less than 2000 inhabitants). Our results demonstrate that the tool can be implemented using official data such as those provided by the National Institute of Statistics (ISTAT) although some verification is required. Finally, the paper addresses the policy implications due to the methodology application highlighting the importance of having well-defined planning support tools especially for those areas needing further social cohesion policies. The developed case study shows the suitability of our proposal for governmental institutions and water utility companies in Italy, however it could also be extended to other countries.     

Land consolidation in Cyprus: A vital policy for rural reconstruction

Like many old peasant societies, Cyprus has suffered from the fragmentation of landholdings. Beginning in 1969, the government has pursued an active policy of land consolidation. Drawing on the author's investigation of schemes introduced into five villages between 1969 and 1974, this paper examines the economic, social and psychological effects of the consolidation policy. It is found that as a legislative tool for the reform of Cypriot agrarian structure land consolidation has been a resounding success. There have been rapid economic and social changes, which have generally been welcomed by those affected. It is noted that in the longer term re-fragementation of holdings may occur, and questions arise over the long-term viability of the scheme. However, other Mediterranean countries are encouraged to study the Cypriot experience.     

Estimating the mediating effect of privately-supplied green space on the relationship between urban public green space and property value: Evidence from Shanghai,China

Much of the housing in China’s cities built since the opening up of housing markets in the 1990s is organized in residential clubs, with neighbourhood civic goods and services constructed by private developers, financed by residents’ fees, managed by property-management companies and governed by resident associations. This means that there are now three important types of green space in Chinese cities: public green space (open-access parks), private green space (gardens, exclusive to a private home) and club green space (greenery exclusive to fee-paying estate residents). We ask a simple but profound question: how does this three-fold green space morphology and economy influence housing prices and, by implication, locational preferences in the city? More specifically, we test the hypothesis that the privately supplied green spaces withing club-communities substitute for publicly supplied green spaces in the public realm. We find evidence in support of this hypothesis, showing for example, that unlike other kinds of green space, public district parks have no measurable use value to Shanghai home-buyers, using a hedonic valuation model. If urban planners in China understood that their cities have become ‘cities of clubs’, then they would plan open space differently and scarce public funds could be redirected to other public goods and services with measurable demand.     

城市土地价格膨胀的影响

研究目的:近年来我国许多城市的土地价格已经很高且上涨速度很快,有的城市已经出现经济泡沫,危害了国民经济的发展。研究方法:联系实际进行理论分析。研究结果:城市地价上涨,加深了土地供给与需求之间的矛盾,影响社会和经济的发展。研究结论:土地价格持续、迅速的增加给经济带来的影响是巨大的,如不采取有力措施遏止土地价格上涨的趋势,势必会成为我国经济发展的一大障碍,国家有关部门及相关专家应密切关注这一问题的发展动向,及时出台相关合理的、科学的土地政策,消除隐患。     

基于耕地多功能的江苏省耕地保护补偿标准研究

[目的]耕地保护补偿是耕地保护约束性政策的有力补充。文章基于耕地的多功能属性及不同功能在耕地保护中的作用,以江苏省为研究区域,探讨江苏耕地保护补偿标准。[方法]该文首先从生产、生态和社会3个层面构建耕地多功能评价指标体系,用熵权法评价得到耕地多功能指数,然后通过当量因子法和替代法计算得到耕地外部性价值,再结合耕地多功能评价和耕地外部性价值,将生态功能和社会功能指数的比重分别作为权重,对耕地生态价值和社会价值加权求和,并进一步修正得到江苏各市耕地保护补偿标准。[结果]以2018年为基期,计算得到基于耕地多功能评价的江苏省平均耕地保护补偿标准为0.859 7万元/(hm²·年),其中补偿标准最高的地区为连云港市,为1.144 6万元/(hm²·年),最低的为无锡市,为0.520 3万元/(hm²·年)。[结论]研究得出的耕地保护补偿标准兼顾耕地自身功能和价值,反映了耕地功能与补偿标准之间的联系,今后可从补偿资金供给、资金分配及利益调整机制等方面加以落实。     

“五结合”生态温室生命周期评价及比较分析

[目的]通过"五结合"生态温室生命周期评价及比较分析,发现各类温室潜在的环境影响及其关键要素,探索各模式改进提升的重点及未来发展方向。[方法]应用生命周期评价方法,将"五结合"生态温室与国内典型地区节能日光温室和国外同类模式进行环境综合评价,在此基础上分析"五结合"生态温室替代常规模式的可能性。[结果]较节能日光温室,生态温室单位产品的能源消耗、水资源消耗、气候变化、潜在的环境酸化、富营养化、人体、水体和土壤毒性分别降低了27%, 64%, 27%, 32%, 43%, 97%, 99%和99%,综合环境指数降低98.6%,环境效益大幅度提升。与国外同类模式相比,由于充分利用太阳能,中国常规模式在降低能源消耗和温室气体减排方面优势明显,其他各项环境指数与国外相比还存在较大差距,但"五结合"生态温室各项指数全面优于或接近国外同类模式。[结论]以"五结合"生态温室为代表的生态模式能够解决国内外温室发展面临的众多瓶颈问题,具有极大的发展潜力和应用价值。     

社会保障价格法测算征地补偿若干问题探讨

研究目的：探讨社会保障价格法测算征地补偿存在的问题。研究方法：综合分析法与文献资料法。研究结果：从现代社保理论、社会保障价格法假设前提、征地实质、操作中潜在问题等4方面论述了该方法的缺陷与不足。研究结论：虽然社会保障价格法能够适度提高征地补偿,也可暂时缓解征地双方矛盾,但该方法并不是一种科学客观的评估法,它不能妥善处理征地中复杂的利益关系,不能为失地农民建立长久可靠的社会保障。