\u3ci\u3eTrimerotropis Huroniana\u3c/i\u3e (Orthoptera: Acrididae), a New Record for Wisconsin

(excerpt) Trimerotropis huroniana Walker (Subfamily Oedipodinae), is a distinctive species first described by Walker (1902) from a small area of open dunes near Southampton, Ontario. Studies by Cantrall (1968), Hubbell (1929) and Otte (1984) have suggested that T. huroniana is endemic to the sand dune communities of the northern Great Lakes region

First Report of \u3ci\u3eAllonemobius Griseus\u3c/i\u3e and \u3ci\u3ePsinidia Fenestralis\u3c/i\u3e in Ohio (Orthoptera: Gryllidae and Acrididae)

Occurrences of Allonemobius griseus and Psinidia fenestralis in Ohio are pub- lished for the first time. Apparent restriction of these species to the sand deposits of northwestern Ohio, their localized distribution in scattered, non-contiguous blow- outs, and habitat loss presently occurring from residential and commercial development nearby, are justifications provided for the formal state listing and conservation of these Orthoptera in Ohio

Trust in Scientists and Food Manufacturers, with Implications for the Public Support of Biotechnology

The purpose of this paper is to determine what factor affect trust in scientists and food manufacturers, and to examine how trust in these institutions affects public support for biotechnology. Data from the U.S. Biotechnology Study reveal that benefits from biotechnology and expectations of trustworthiness are correlated with trust in scientists, but benefits and costs of biotechnology, and expectations of trustworthiness and competence of biotechnology institutions, are important determinants of trust in food manufacturers. The data also reveal that trust in scientists and food manufacturers has a large and important effect on public support for biotechnology, but trust in scientists is more important for public support than trust in food manufacturers.Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, L65, Q18,

For a Sustainable Agriculture, We Need More Adam Smith, Not Less

There are two competing approaches sustainability in agriculture. One stresses a strict economic approach in which market forces should be allowed to guide the activities of agricultural producers. The other advocates the need to balance economic with environmental and social objectives, even to the point of reducing profitability. This paper shows how the writings of the 18th century moral philosopher Adam Smith could bridge the debate. First, he is recognized by those advocating the economic approach as an architect of modern economics. Second, his writings are consistent with many aspects of sustainable agriculture. Smith argues that people ought to exercise restraint in their pursuit of self-interest. He also recognizes the need to balance economic with environmental and social considerations. One implication is that advocates of sustainable agriculture might be more effective by actively promoting the work of Adam Smith.Environmental Economics and Policy, Political Economy,

THE EFFECT OF TRUST ON PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR BIOTECHNOLOGY: EVIDENCE FROM THE U.S. BIOTECHNOLOGY STUDY, 1997-1998

The purpose of this paper is to examine the extent to which trust directly affects public support for biotechnology, particularly in applications to food production and genetic modification of crop plants. Unlike previous research in which trust is assumed to be exogenous, this paper posits that trust is endogenously determined. An econometric model is developed that controls for the endogeneity of trust using instrumental variable and selection correction techniques. Using data from the U.S. Biotechnology Study, this study finds that the effect of trust on public support is substantially stronger than previous estimates.Political Economy, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies,

Trust in Scientists and Food Manufacturers: Implications for the Public Support of Biotechnology

An analysis of data from the U.S. Biotechnology Study, 1997S1998 reveals that few variables affect public trust in scientists, while variables representing perceived benefits, risks, trustworthiness, and competence affect trust in food manufacturers on matters of biotechnology. Both trust in scientists and trust in food manufacturers have a large and important effect on public support for biotechnology, although trust in scientists is found to be more important than trust in food manufacturers. Findings of this analysis suggest that trust in scientists is relatively generalized, while trust in food manufacturers is particularized.biotechnology, genetic modification, public support of biotechnology, public trust, trust, Agribusiness, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety,

FINDING SOLUTIONS TO ETHICAL PROBLEMS IN AGRICULTURE

This paper distinguishes between two types of ethical Problems. A Type I ethical problem is one in which there is no consensus as to what is ethical. A Type II ethical problem is one in which there is a consensus as to what is ethical, but incentives exist for individuals to behave unethically. This paper shows that Type I ethical problems can only be resolved by making, challenging and reasoning through moral arguments, and Type II ethical problems can only be resolved by changing the institutional environment so that people do not have incentives to behave Unethically. Applications to and examples from agricultural and environmental problems are provided.Political Economy,

FARMING FOR ETHICS: AN EXAMINATION OF THE ETHICAL CHALLENGES OF MISSOURI CORN AND SOYBEAN PRODUCERS

Interviews with Missouri corn and soybean farmers reveal what farmers feel are the most important ethical challenges in agriculture. In contrast to the literature, which characterizes ethical challenges in term of philosophical debates about soil conservation, the use of pesticides and genetically modified seeds, or the treatment of animals, for instance, this research finds that farmers perceive ethical challenges in behavioral terms. The reason is rooted in the industrialization of agricultural production, which creates tensions for farmers between doing what they believe to be right and doing what they feel they must in order to survive.Crop Production/Industries, Institutional and Behavioral Economics,

Is the Just Man a Happy Man? An Empirical Study of the Relationship Between Ethics and Subjective Well-Being

In this paper I consider the question of whether ethical decision-making affects a person’s happiness. Using cross-country data from the World Values Survey, I find that people who agree that it is never justifiable to engage in ethically-questionable behaviors report that they are more satisfied with their life than people who are more tolerant of unethical conduct, even after controlling for other factors known to affect self-reported happiness. The size of the ethics effect is roughly similar to that of a modest increase in income, being married and attending church, while the effect is smaller than that of having poor health or being dissatisfied with one’s personal finances. These results are robust across the four countries studied (the US, Canada, Mexico and Brazil), although there is variation in the ethics and happiness relationship across countries. One implication of this study is that a consideration of a society’s ethical norms will improve our understanding of the subjective well-being of people.Happiness, subjective well-being, ethics, World Values Survey, Labor and Human Capital, D63, D99, Z13,

THE EFFECT OF TRUST ON PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR BIOTECHNOLOGY: EVIDENCE FROM THE U.S. BIOTECHNOLOGY STUDY, 1997-1998

The purpose of this paper is to examine the extent to which trust directly affects public support for biotechnology, particularly in applications to food production and genetic modification of crop plants. Unlike previous research in which trust is assumed to be exogenous, this paper posits that trust is endogenously determined. An econometric model is developed that controls for the endogeneity of trust using instrumental variable and selection correction techniques. Using data from the U.S. Biotechnology Study, this study finds that the effect of trust on public support is substantially stronger than previous estimates.Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies,