A macroeconomic analysis of the farmland value determinants in Italy

The determinants of farmland value and the factors that have caused its changes over time have been discussed extensively in the economic literature. This studies offer different classifications of the determinants of the farmland value. The aim of this paper is to investigate the influence on the farmland value of the some macro-economic variables related to the agricultural sector both directly and indirectly. A multiple regression model is adopted to answer the research questions. The results showed, on the one hand, a strong influence of agricultural productivity, a regional expenditure allocated to the sector and an increasing diffusion in the regions of protected areas on the farmland value. On the other hand, we notice a lack of significance of the agricultural credit allocated. This results is unlike the expectations of growth in land values resulting from the realization of long-term investment

Intensità degli scambi agroalimentari tra i Paesi del bacino del Mediterraneo

The Mediterranean has always been an area of strategic interest for the European Union (EU), since its establishment, has woven with his partners of the South and East of the Mediterranean a dense network of relationships, by signing agreements cooperation, first, and association, then. The study aims to present an evolutionary picture of the agro-food trade network between the countries of the EU's Mediterranean partners and his neighbours in North Africa and the Near East. Using specific indicators, widely used in the economic literature that analyse trade in sectors, however, different from the agro-food, to measure the intensity of the trade. In particular, the analysis by the application of bilateral trade indices according to Frankel and Rose (1997) and Traistaru (2004) showed, on the whole, a progressive weakening of the intensity of agro-food trade in the period 1996-2010. The analysis of indices of intensity of bilateral trade between the partners in the area, helped to identify the main factors that regulate the commercial relations, and in particular the historical and colonial relations, as in the case of France, and geographical distance, which determines the phenomena of border trade. Conversely, the Association Agreements and the Stabilisation and Association Agreement signed between the EU on the one hand, and the Mediterranean partners, on the other, have played a marginal role in almost all trade in food products, distinguishing itself not a relation between the positive trend of the intensity of trade and the signing and entry into force of the agreements

AGRI-FOOD TRADE INTENSITY IN THE MEDITERRANEAN SCENARIO

In recent years, a political, economic, commercial, social and cultural dialogue get intensified among the Mediterranean countries. In particular, the establishment in 2008 of the Union for the Mediterranean, under the impulse of the French Presidency, represents the last act of the Euro-Mediterranean integration process, that binds more strongly the EU and Mediterranean countries, in particular those of the Southern and Eastern shores. The agriculture is an economic activity of great interest in the Mediterranean area due to the weight of employment and the contribution to the richness it brings to certain countries. In this work we analyze the intensity of agri-food trade among the EU Mediterranean states (Italy, Spain, France, Greece, Cyprus, Malta and Slovenia) and the partner countries of the Southern and Eastern shores by using the Traistaru index, widely used in literature. All agri-food products (24 two-digit classes of the harmonized system) are examined during a 15-years period from the Barcelona Process (1996 to 2010). The results show, even if empirically, that some factors affect on the intensity of bilateral trade, in particular the geographic proximity, and moreover that some products are more sensitive on specific markets, highlighting a certain competitiveness among Mediterranean countries

The quality perception of fresh berries: an empirical survey in the German market

The present work aimed to investigate the main quality attributes that influence the purchase decisions of fresh berries. To this regard, an empirical survey has been conducted by interviewing 200 consumers of fresh berries at the exit of the main centers of the large scale retail trade in the city of Munich (Germany). An econometric model has been adopted to examine the relationship that single attributes has on the purchase frequency of fresh berries. Results showed that nutraceutical properties and health benefits of berries have a strong appeal to the consumers and confirmed that intrinsic attributes are determinants of consumer purchase decisio

The determinants affecting the internationalisation of the Italian SMEs producing sparkling wines: An empirical study on the RBV of the firms

In the last few years, wine industry has been characterised by profound changes that have determined an intensification of competition on a global scale. The aim of this study is to identify the firms' internal factors that most influence the export intensity and the ability to fit into the international market of the Italian wineries producing sparkling wines through a resource-based view (RBV) approach. Results of our study supporting the findings of previous empirical researches presented in this paper. In particular, the main factors affecting export intensity are: innovation degree and intensity of investment in advertising and promotion, among firms' characteristics, and abroad experience, proficiency of foreign languages, educational level, and perception barriers, among managers' characteristics

CAN COOPETITION BE A WINNING STRATEGY FOR SMALL FRUITS PRODUCTION COMPANIES IN SICILY?

In the last few years the agriculture sector has shown a significant slowdown due to economic crisis. On the one hand, the reduction in the purchasing power of households has determined a decrease in the demand for food and agricultural products, on the other hand, there has been a reduction in the income of the farmers. This has inevitably led to implement business strategies to counter the exponential reduction in profitability required to survive in an increasingly competitive environment. The literature on corporate strategies is particularly large, however, the majority of authors identify competition and cooperation as "the driving forces" for economic and social progress (Hurta and Hilda, 2007). The aim of this paper is to verify if a co-opetition can represent a strategy for the success of small fruits companies operating in Sicily. The study carried out through a two step framework showed, on the one hand, that the co-opetition is an opportunity for the entrepreneurs in the start-up and in the distribution phases, and on the other hand, that the low propensity to invest in the small fruits sector by horticultural producers in the region, leads consequeltly to a non-profitable market