AN ANALYSIS OF FARM-RETAIL PRICE SPREAD FOR JAMAICAN FRESH FRUITS

This paper uses the relative price spread model to analyze the farm-retail spread for pineapple, pawpaw and watermelon in Jamaica. Our findings suggest that price increase in the retail market is not being passed down to pineapple and pawpaw farmers and only marginally to watermelon farmers.Demand and Price Analysis,

AN EXAMINATION OF THE EMPIRICAL PROPERTIES OF DUALITY BETWEEN THE RESTRICTED PROFIT, UNRESTRICTED PROFIT, AND PRODUCTION FUNCTIONS

This research examines the empirical properties of duality theory. A comparison of the Hessian matrices calculated from the normalized unrestricted and restricted profit, and production functions indicate that duality is highly sensitive to measurement error and relative price variability. Keywords: duality, restricted and unrestricted profit functionsduality, restricted and unrestricted profit functions, Demand and Price Analysis, Production Economics,

Cost of care of chronic non-communicable diseases in Jamaican patients: the role of obesity

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the economic cost of Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases (CNCDs) and the portion attributable to obesity among patients in Jamaica.METHODS: The cost-of-illness approach was used to estimate the cost of care in a hospital setting in Jamaica for type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, coronary heart disease, stroke, gallbladder disease, breast cancer, colon cancer, osteoarthritis, and high cholesterol. Cost and service utilization data were collected from the hospital records of all patients with these diseases who visited the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI) during 2006. Patients were included in the study if they were between15 and 74 years of age and if female, were not pregnant during that year. Costs were categorized as direct or indirect. Direct costs included costs for prescription drugs, consultation visits (emergency and clinic visits), hospitalizations, allied health services, diagnostic and treatment procedures. Indirect costs included costs attributed to premature mortality, disability (permanent and temporary), and absenteeism. Indirect costs were discounted at 3% rate.RESULTS: The sample consisted of 554 patients (40%) males (60%) females. The economic burden of the nine diseases was estimated at US$5,672,618 (males 37$ 1,157,173 (males 23%; females 77%). Total direct cost was estimated at US$3,740,377 with female patients accounting for 69.9$ 1,932,241 with female patients accounting for 50.6% of this cost. The greater cost among women was not found to be statistically significant. Overall, on a per capita basis, males and females accrued similar costs-of-illness (US$9,451.75 vs. US$ 10,758.18).CONCLUSIONS: In a country with per capita GDP of less than US$5,300, a per capita annual cost of illness of US$ 10,239 for CNCDs is excessive and has detrimental implications for the health and development of Jamaica

Variation in Prices of Food Items in Jamaica: An Exploratory Analysis of Pricing Mechanisms of Supermarkets in Kingston

The Jamaica Agriculture Market Information System reports wide variations in the price of similar food items across supermarkets in the capital city, Kingston. Possible explanations for this phenomenon are explored in this paper. Our findings indicate that supermarkets that practice price smoothing are more likely to persistently sell food items at the highest price. Likewise, supermarkets that are centrally located are prone to consistently have the highest price for food items. Whether or not farmers who supply food items to the supermarkets and consumers who buy from them are sensitive to price smoothing will provide validation for this practice by supermarkets. This constitutes an area of future study

AN ANALYSIS OF FARM-RETAIL PRICE SPREAD FOR JAMAICAN FRESH FRUITS

This paper uses the relative price spread model to analyze the farm-retail spread for pineapple, pawpaw and watermelon in Jamaica. Our findings suggest that price increase in the retail market is not being passed down to pineapple and pawpaw farmers and only marginally to watermelon farmers

ESTIMATION OF RISK AVERSION COEFFICIENTS FOR DRYLAND WHEAT AND IRRIGATED CORN ENTERPRISES IN KANSAS

The risk attitudes of dryland wheat and irrigated corn enterprises in Kansas have been examined in this paper using the nonlinear mean-standard deviation approach. Our results showed that dryland wheat enterprises are characterized by increasing absolute and increasing relative risk aversion. The level of wealth is noted to have an impact on risk attitudes

PUBLIC PERCEPTION OF GENETIC ENGINEERING AND THE CHOICE TO PURCHASE GENETICALLY MODIFIED FOOD

This paper presents the results of a survey conducted on public perception of genetic engineering in Jamaica. Our findings suggest that the safety of genetically modified foods is a major concern for consumers and that the perception of the prospects for genetic engineering to improve the quality of life represents a major factor in a consumer's decision to purchase GM foods

ESTIMATION OF RISK AVERSION COEFFICIENTS FOR DRYLAND WHEAT AND IRRIGATED CORN ENTERPRISES IN KANSAS

The risk attitudes of dryland wheat and irrigated corn enterprises in Kansas have been examined in this paper using the nonlinear mean-standard deviation approach. Our results showed that dryland wheat enterprises are characterized by increasing absolute and increasing relative risk aversion. The level of wealth is noted to have an impact on risk attitudes.Crop Production/Industries, Risk and Uncertainty,