Productivity and international competitiveness of agriculture in the European Union and the United States

This study looks at international competitiveness of agriculture in the European Union and the United States. The most intuitive concept is that of price competitiveness.We calculate relative prices for 11 member states of the European Union and the United States for the period 1973–2002. We assume that markets are perfectly competitive and in long-run equilibrium, so that the observed price always equals average total cost, as measured by the cost dual to the production function. This assumption is used in our calculation of relative competitiveness and productivity gaps between the European Union and the United States and in our decomposition of relative price movements between changes in relative input prices and changes in relative productivity levelsPublicad

Weak Spatial and Temporal Population Genetic Structure in the Rosy Apple Aphid, Dysaphis plantaginea, in French Apple Orchards

We used eight microsatellite loci and a set of 20 aphid samples to investigate the spatial and temporal genetic structure of rosy apple aphid populations from 13 apple orchards situated in four different regions in France. Genetic variability was very similar between orchard populations and between winged populations collected before sexual reproduction in the fall and populations collected from colonies in the spring. A very small proportion of individuals (∼2%) had identical multilocus genotypes. Genetic differentiation between orchards was low (FST<0.026), with significant differentiation observed only between orchards from different regions, but no isolation by distance was detected. These results are consistent with high levels of genetic mixing in holocyclic Dysaphis plantaginae populations (host alternation through migration and sexual reproduction). These findings concerning the adaptation of the rosy apple aphid have potential consequences for pest management

Mise au point. A propos de la rencontre franco-britannique AES/SFER, septembre 1984

Butault Jean-Pierre, Hairy Denis. Mise au point. A propos de la rencontre franco-britannique AES/SFER, septembre 1984. In: Économie rurale. N°168, 1985. p. 48

Assessing the long-term impact of agricultural research on productivity: Evidence from France

This paper analyses the economic impact of agricultural research on productivity in France over the period 1959-2012. Adopting a dynamic time series model, we provide evidence that the impact of French agricultural research is in the range of values estimated for other countries, with the estimated long-run elasticity being 0.16, which corresponds to an internal rate of return of 22%. The estimated elasticity decreases at the beginning of the 1970s. Complementary analyses are developed to take into account the evolution of the priorities of public agricultural research (reorientation towards more fundamental objectives and focus on broader objective than productivity enhancement)

Crise laitière et quotas ; remarques sur la régulation communautaire du marché du lait

[eng] A survey of the history of Common dairy policy ; the developments European dairy production has induced a growing crisis. The quotas policy can be analysed as an apparently « neutral » compromise, but it can deeply change the previous dynamic of dairy production systems in France. [fre] Les auteurs examinent les grands traits de l'histoire de la politique laitière commune. Ils montrent comment la croissance de la production laitière en Europe a été aussi une montée en crise. La politique des quotas constitue une formule de compromis apparemment « neutre », mais qui risque de bouleverser la dynamique passée des systèmes de production du lait en France.

Measuring Real Capital Input in OECD Agriculture

This paper provides a farm sector comparison of levels of capital input for 17 OECD countries. The estimates of capital input are derived by representing capital stock as a weighted sum of past investments. The weights correspond to the relative efficiencies of capital goods of different ages, so that the weighted components of capital stock have the same efficiency. We convert estimates of capital stock into estimates of capital services by means of capital rental prices. Comparisons of levels of capital input among countries require data on relative prices of capital input. We obtain relative price levels for capital input among countries via relative investment goods prices, taking into account the flow of capital input per unit of capital stock in each country.Publicad