The Evolution of Production Structures,Analyzed by a Multi-layer Procedure

In this paper, a new method of so-called qualitative input–output analysis is outlined, which is called minimal flow analysis (MFA). It extracts the characteristic production structure given in an input–output table, on the basis of anendogenized threshold value. Formally, this is achieved by the binarization of the entries of different table layers which are reformulated according to the Eulerian sequence. The condensed characteristic structure of the economy is then obtained by means of graph theoretical methods. The new method is able to uncover production structures, even in highly aggregated tables. If applied to a chronological sequence of tables, as shown for German tables 1978–88 in detail, the MFA method can disclose the evoluton of sectoral structures.     

Indexation of UNCTAD core commodity prices by buffer stocks or export quotas?: A comparison of the benefits for two developing economies

General equilibrium models are used to study the resource allocative and income implications for the Ivory Coast and Kenya of indexation of agricultural commodity prices. Two indexation methods are investigated, (i) buffer stock transactions, and (ii) export quota entitlements. The results suggest that there are efficiency losses associated with the buffer stock option which reduce the GDP gains below that indicated by the pure terms of trade gains. Efficiency gains associated with the export quota method however result in GDP increases above those indicated by the pure terms of trade gains.     

Agricultural policy in developing countries

Development failures are less the result of “natural” short-comings, but are caused instead by false conceptions and by the misapplication of experience from highly-developed economic systems to countries in the initial development stage. The following article points out the pit-falls and discusses some alternative strategies.     

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Impacts of increased bioenergy demand on global food markets: an AgMIP economic model intercomparison

Integrated Assessment studies have shown that meeting ambitious greenhouse gas mitigation targets will require substantial amounts of bioenergy as part of the future energy mix. In the course of the Agricultural Model Intercomparison and Improvement Project (AgMIP), five global agro‐economic models were used to analyze a future scenario with global demand for ligno‐cellulosic bioenergy rising to about 100 ExaJoule in 2050. From this exercise a tentative conclusion can be drawn that ambitious climate change mitigation need not drive up global food prices much, if the extra land required for bioenergy production is accessible or if the feedstock, for example, from forests, does not directly compete for agricultural land. Agricultural price effects across models by the year 2050 from high bioenergy demand in an ambitious mitigation scenario appear to be much smaller (+5% average across models) than from direct climate impacts on crop yields in a high‐emission scenario (+25% average across models). However, potential future scarcities of water and nutrients, policy‐induced restrictions on agricultural land expansion, as well as potential welfare losses have not been specifically looked at in this exercise.     

Anthropomorphized artificial intelligence,attachment, and consumer behavior

Marketing Letters - The increasing humanization and emotional intelligence of AI applications have the potential to induce consumers’ attachment to AI and to transform human-to-AI...