Economic Analysis of High Fertilizer Input, Over-seeded Clover and Native Pasture Production Systems in the Texas Coastal Bend

This paper examined the cost and risk of three grazing systems to provide information on economically sustainable systems for cattle producers in the Texas Coastal Bend. Results indicate the medium input (over-seeded clover) grazing system displays first degree stochastic dominance relative to the high input and no input grazing systems.grazing system economics, forage production economics, Crop Production/Industries, Livestock Production/Industries, Production Economics,

Rural extension services

The authors analyze the considerations that lead policymakers to undertake extension investments as a key public responsibility, as well as the complex set of factors and intra-agency incentives that explain why different extension systems'performance vary. The authors provide a conceptual framework outlining farmers'demand for information, the welfare economic characterizations of extension services, and the organizational and political attributes that govern the performance of extension systems. They use the conceptual framework to examine several extension modalities and to analyze their likely and actual effectiveness. Specifically, the modalities reviewed include"training and visit"extension, decentralized systems,"fee-for-service"and privatized extension, and farmer-field-schools. The authors also discuss methodological issues pertaining to the assessment of extension outcomes and review the empirical literature on extension impact. They emphasize the efficiency gains that can come from locally decentralized delivery systems with incentive structures based largely on private provision that in most poorer countries is still publicly-funded. In wealthier countries, and for particular higher income farmer groups, extension systems will likely evolve into fee-for-service organizations.Decentralization,Agricultural Knowledge&Information Systems,Environmental Economics&Policies,ICT Policy and Strategies,Health Economics&Finance,Agricultural Knowledge&Information Systems,ICT Policy and Strategies,Environmental Economics&Policies,Health Economics&Finance,Knowledge Economy

ECONOMICS AND MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS

Without exaggeration the basic challenge of management is economics: how to choose to employ scarce productive resources to accomplish limited objectives effectively. It is well recognized today, and increasingly so in post-industrial societies, that information, broadly defined, is a strategic economic resource that must be managed if it is to be productive. A comprehensive literature has developed .in the discipline of economics which concerns information, information systems and information-related phenomena of import to management and the development of management information systems (MIS). Although this literature is vast, this overview attempts to relate some of this work to MIS and MIS research. We highlight results in three general areas: 1) those which concern the effect of information upon economic markets external to the firm; 2) those which concern issues of information and its relation to decision making and the internal organization of the firm; and 3) those which concern questions of allocation and control of information resources within the firm. In particular, attention will be directed to interpretation of the major results related to the effect of information upon markets and upon individual decision making, team theory, agency theory, decomposition theory, resource allocation and pricing, incentives, and information evaluation

TRACEABILITY, TRADE AND COOL: LESSONS FROM THE EU MEAT AND POULTRY INDUSTRY

The traditional food supply chain is arranged as a complex array of producers, handlers, processors, manufacturers, distributors, and retailers. As the food supply chain grew in complexity over time, little emphasis was placed on reserving information regarding the origin of raw materials and their transformation, often by multiple handlers, into consumer ready products. This paper provides case illustrations of the implementation of information systems for support of traceability in Europe. Emphasis is on the firm level costs and benefits as well as the broader market structure and governance issues inherent in information economics of the firm.traceability, economics of the firm, information systems, internet, food supply chain, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, International Relations/Trade, Livestock Production/Industries,

In the economics of information systems

Показано, що економічна інформаційна система, являє собою сукупність організаційних, технічних, програмних та інформаційних засобів. Відзначено, що вона є інформаційною системою, яка виконує збір, зберігання, обробку та видачу необхідної інформації, що призначена для виконання функцій управління.Показано, что экономическая информационная система представляет собой совокупность организационных, технических, программных и информационных средств. Отмечено, что она является информационной системой, которая выполняет сбор, хранение, обработку и выдачу необходимой информации, предназначенной для выполнения функций управления.Economic information system is a set of organizational, technical, policy and media. Economic information system is an information system that performs the collection, storage, processing and output of information required. The information is intended to serve as controls

Acquiring Secure Systems Through Information Economics

Naval Postgraduate School Acquisition Research Progra

Capacity building in economics : education and research in transition economies

The development of the institutional capacity to create and evaluate economic policies remains a critical need-and constraint-in most transition economies if they are to complete the successful passage to fully functioning market economies. To take an active role in the transition process, economic policymakers, business leaders, government officials, and others need a thorough grounding in market-based economics. This requires strengthening economics education and providing support for qualified economists to teach economics at all levels and to carry out high-quality research and policy analysis. Although the education systems in a handful of countries have already risen to the challenge, in many other transition countries, the structure of educational and research institutes remains grounded in the Communist model. This paper presents findings from a comprehensive study assessing the state of economics education and research in 24 countries in East-Central Europe and the former Soviet Union. While 20 countries were initially included because preliminary assessments showed that they lacked the capability to offer high-quality economics education, four additional countries-the Czech Republic, Hungary, Russia, and Ukraine-were included to highlight five centers of excellence that they already host. Based on the experience of these successful centers, the study's findings, and information gathered from a series of donor meetings in Berlin, New York, and Washington, D.C., this paper presents an approach to building new indigenous capacity for teaching and research on market-based economics in regions where the need is particularly critical-the Caucasus, Central Asia, and Southeast Europe.Curriculum&Instruction,Decentralization,Agricultural Knowledge&Information Systems,Teaching and Learning,Public Health Promotion,Tertiary Education,Health Monitoring&Evaluation,Agricultural Knowledge&Information Systems,Teaching and Learning,Curriculum&Instruction

Gender, poverty, and nonfarm employment in Ghana and Uganda

The authors provide evidence that women's non-farm activities help reduce poverty in two economically and culturally different countries, Ghana and Uganda. In both countries rural poverty rates were lowest - and fell most rapidly - for female heads of household engaged in non-farm activities. Participation in non-farm activities increased more rapidly for women, especially married women and female heads of household, than for men. Women were more likely than men to combine agriculture and non-farm activities. In Ghana it was non-farm activities (for which income data are available ) that provided the highest average incomes and the highest shares of income. Bivariate profit analysis of participation shows that in Uganda female heads of household and in Ghana women in general are significantly more likely than men to participate in non-farm activities and less likely to participate in agriculture.Health Monitoring&Evaluation,Public Health Promotion,Agricultural Knowledge&Information Systems,Environmental Economics&Policies,Health Economics&Finance,Health Monitoring&Evaluation,Agricultural Knowledge&Information Systems,Poverty Assessment,Environmental Economics&Policies,Health Economics&Finance

THE CONTRIBUTION OF ENVIRONMENTAL AMENITIES TO AGRICULTURAL LAND VALUES: HEDONIC MODELLING USING GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS DATA

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) data are used in a hedonic model to measure the impact of recreational and scenic amenities on agricultural land values. Results indicate agricultural land values are determined by environmental amenities as well as production attributes. Significant amenity variables included scenic view, elk habitat and fishery productivity.Environmental Economics and Policy, Land Economics/Use,

Network issues and payment systems

Highways, railroads, pipelines—we see or hear about these types of physical networks almost every day. But information systems, such as the Internet, and payment systems, such as ATMs and credit cards, also involve networks. Hence, understanding the economics of networks and the unique features of network-dependent industries is crucial to modern life. In this article, James McAndrews outlines some of the unique features of network-dependent industries. He also analyzes some related payment-system issues and demonstrates that determining appropriate public policy would be difficult without a knowledge of the economics of payment networks.Payment systems