Method of Computing Parity Prices for Farm Products

Excerpt: The parity price for any agricultural commodity is defined in Section 401 of the "Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938", as "that price for the commodity which will give to the commodity a purchasing power with respect to articles that farmers buy equivalent to the purchasing power of such commodity in the base period; and, in the case of all commodities for which the base period is the period August 1909 to July 1914, which will also reflect current interest payments per acre on farm indebtedness secured by real estate, tax payments per acre of farm real estate, and freight rates, as contrasted with such interest payments, and freight rates during the base period.

Spatial and economic determinants of different food consumption patterns around the world

This paper addresses the spatial differentiation of food consumption patterns. The objective is to identify the economic and natural determinants of consumption levels and of differences in foodstuffs consumed around the world in the 2000s. The study was based on data delivered by FAOSTAT and the World Bank. An analysis was performed of global correlation trends between economic factors (GDP per capita), natural and geographic factors (agricultural land per capita, and the food availability status. Also, cluster analysis was used to group the countries around the world by percentage share of plant, animal and aquaculture products in the dietary energy consumption (kcal/capita/day), and by agricultural land per capita. Based on the analyses, the economic factor was found to significantly prevail as a determinant of food security for different nations. The size of the dietary energy consumption and the share of animal products in it depend primarily on the domestic product per capita. Also noticed was the relatively low importance of natural conditions, expressed in this paper as agricultural land per capita. Based on previous research, the suitability of land for agricultural purposes was found to be historically important for human settlement around the world, though currently it is not the key determinant of food security. Also, the importance of aquaculture in addressing the global population’s food needs was found to be marginal though spatially differentiated

Dochody i wydatki w budżetach rolnych polski w mijającej perspektywie finansowej 2007-2013

We wstępie artykułu wskazano na cel rozważań, ich zakres czasowy oraz przyjęte metody badawcze, a także źródła, z których korzystali autorzy. Rozważania skoncentrowano na analizie struktur i dynamiki dochodów krajowego budżetu rolnego, zarówno na poziomie centralnym, także z podziałem na cztery jego główne części (rolnictwo, rozwój wsi, rynki rolne oraz rybołówstwo), jak i budżetów wojewodów. Kolejno, w tej samej konwencji, zostały przebadane wydatki budżetowe w przyjętym okresie finansowania 2007-2013. Zidentyfikowano również realne spadki i wzrosty jego szczegółowych tytułów budżetowych, podejmując próbę oceny tych zjawisk. Konkluzje dotyczą zmian, które zaszły w badanym czasie w zakresie kierunków i dynamiki wydatkowanych środków oraz ich oceny i perspektywy

Prawne aspekty rozwoju przedsiębiorczości i innowacji w polsce

Na wstępie artykułu zaprezentowano podstawowe pojęcia związane z tematem opracowania. Artykuł koncentruje się na przesłankach i ideach kreowania przedsiębiorczości i innowacji. Z jednej strony, opracowanie ma ukazać czytelnikowi podstawowe instrumenty prawne pozwalające podejmować i wykonywać działalność gospodarczą w Polsce oraz wyjawić rolę organów państwa w zakresie wspierania przedsiębiorczości. Z drugiej strony, opracowanie ma na celu wskazywać na regulacje prawne związane z konkurencyjnością oraz wspieraniem innowacyjności przedsiębiorców, z uwzględnieniem bieżących potrzeb i trendów występujących na rynku

Próba pomiaru pozycji konkurencyjnej polskiej branży budowlanej

The article addresses the problem of measuring the international competitive position of various economic sectors. The author describes measures such as the “revealed comparative advantage” indicator, the Grubel-Lloyd index and the Bruellhart measure, all of which are traditionally used to evaluate international sector competitiveness. However, these measures predominantly provide information on the character of intra-industry trade between analyzed countries. That’s why the author subsequently presents her own proposals on measuring international sector competitiveness. One of them is an “export-import” indicator that describes the competitiveness of products and services offered by companies from the analyzed sector on a specific foreign market, compared with the competitiveness of other suppliers competing for this market. The author’s concept is then used to assess the international competitiveness of Poland’s construction sector. The analysis is conducted in reference to European Union and Central and Eastern European markets of key importance for the sector (according to the state prior to May 1, 2004). The proposed methodological solution is supplementary with regard to concepts presented earlier in literature on the subject

Koniunktura na rynku akcji a przyszły poziom aktywności gospodarczej

Stock market trends are a barometer of the overall level of economic activity. The author suggests that there should be a connection between stock market trends in year T and the real rate of GDP growth in year T+1. Research has confirmed this hypothesis. There is a positive correlation between the stock index return in year T and the real rate of GDP growth in year T+1. Expectations involving the future real rate of GDP growth are important to stock market participants. The same applies to expectations about changes in this rate in relation to the previous period. Periods of economic recovery, with an improved real rate of GDP growth, are usually preceded by a much better behavior of the stock index than periods of economic slowdown, when the real rate of GDP growth deteriorates. The actual relationship between stock market trends and the future real rate of GDP growth depends on the role of the stock market in the economy. Mature markets are generally characterized by a greater positive correlation than emerging markets. Research into the nature and intensity of the relationship between the stock index return and select GDP constituents indicates that stock market participants try to predict the future level of economic activity. Among individual factors, market participants pay special attention to the prospective growth of imports, exports and investment expenditure. The research incorporated statistical and econometric methods as well as the theory of probability

Próba oszacowania NAIRU dla Polski

The paper deals with problems linked with calculating an equilibrium unemployment rate. Select issues concerning the theoretical aspects of the Phillips curve and Non-Accelerating Inflation Rate of Unemployment (NAIRU) estimation methods based on the Phillips curve are presented. An expectations-augmented Phillips curve was estimated using quarterly unemployment data, according to the Labor Force Survey (LFS) and core inflation excluding food and energy prices in 1995-2003. On this basis, a NAIRU level of around 12% was determined for the analyzed period using Elmeskov’s procedure. The NAIRU rate obtained in the research is similar to the equilibrium unemployment rate estimated by other authors who used unemployment inflow and outflow balance models. Poland’s NAIRU is at a high level. For example, in the United States, the corresponding rate runs at about 6%. Consequently, it is necessary to determine the causes behind this situation and take adequate measures do decrease NAIRU in Poland in the near future

An Empirical Analysis of Environmental and Climate Inequalities across Italian census tracts

This study offers the first analysis of environmental and climate inequalities at the census tract level in Italy, providing valuable insights into spatial patterns of environmental and social vulnerability. The results highlight significant environmental inequality related to exposure to air pollution (PM2.5), as well as climate inequality linked to thermal discomfort (measured by the Discomfort Index). Among all regions, the Padana Valley stands out as the most severely affected by both stressors, marking its population as particularly vulnerable—regardless of their socioeconomic status. At the national level, the analysis identifies a negative correlation between exposure to environmental stressors and income proxies, and a positive correlation with the presence of non-European foreign residents. These associations remain robust even when the focus shifts to census tracts within the same municipality, suggesting that environmental and social inequalities persist not only across regions but also within local urban contexts

Potenziale und Herausforderungen entlang der Wertschöpfungskette für Fresh-Cut-Produkte in Baden-Württemberg

Unter dem Begriff „Fresh-Cuts“ werden küchenfertig vorverarbeitete Obst- und Gemüseprodukte zusammengefasst. Sie erleichtern den Einsatz und die personalintensive Verarbeitung von Obst und Gemüse in der Außer-Haus-Verpflegung (AHV). Darüber hinaus können sie als integraler Bestandteil einer gesunden und (bio-) regionalen Verpflegung dienen. Ziel des vorliegenden Arbeitsberichts im Rahmen des EIP-Projekts „Fresh-Cut Cluster“ ist es, die Fresh-Cut-Wertschöpfungskette in Baden-Württemberg darzustellen, erste Potenziale und Herausforderungen entlang dieser zu identifizieren sowie zukünftige Chancen und Risiken abzuleiten. Diese Themen werden durch Experteninterviews mit Vertretern aller Stufen der Fresh-Cut Wertschöpfungskette sowie durch einen Expertenworkshop mit Fokusgruppendiskussion bearbeitet. Die Analysen zeigen, dass eine engere Zusammenarbeit zwischen den Akteuren der Wertschöpfungskette notwendig ist, um den Anteil (bio-) regionaler Fresh-Cut Produkte in der AHV zu erhöhen. Die Logistik, insbesondere die Einhaltung der Kühlkette und die schnelle Lieferung der verderblichen Produkte, stellt im preissensiblen Fresh-Cut Markt eine zentrale Herausforderung dar. Politische Unterstützung und gezielte Marketingmaßnahmen können helfen, das Vertrauen der Verbraucher in regionale Fresh-Cut Produkte zu erhöhen und damit die Nachfrage zu stärken. --------------------------------- ‘Fresh cuts’ refers to pre-processed fruit and vegetable products ready to cook. They facilitate the use and labour-intensive processing of fruit and vegetables in out-of-home catering. They can also be integral to healthy and (organic) regional catering. The aim of this working report as part of the EIP project ‘Fresh-Cut Cluster’ is to present the fresh-cut value chain in Baden-Württemberg, identify initial potential and challenges along it, and outline future opportunities and risks. These topics will be analysed through expert interviews with representatives from all stages of the fresh-cut value chain and through an expert workshop with focus group discussions. The analyses show that closer cooperation between the players in the value chain is necessary to increase the proportion of (organic) regional fresh-cut products in the AHV. Logistics, particularly maintaining the cold chain and the rapid delivery of perishable products, is a crucial challenge in the price-sensitive fresh-cut market. Political support and targeted marketing measures can help to increase consumer confidence in regional fresh-cut products and thus boost demand