229 research outputs found

    BAYESIAN HERDERS: ASYMMETRIC UPDATING OF RAINFALL BELIEFS IN RESPONSE TO EXTERNAL FORECASTS

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    Temporal climate risk weighs heavily on many of the world's poor. Recent advances in model-based climate forecasting have expanded the range, timeliness and accuracy of forecasts available to decision-makers whose welfare depends on stochastic climate outcomes. There has consequently been considerable recent investment in improved climate forecasting for the developing world. Yet, in cultures that have long used indigenous climate forecasting methods, forecasts generated and disseminated by outsiders using unfamiliar methods may not readily gain the acceptance necessary to induce behavioral change. The value of model-based climate forecasts depends critically on the premise that forecast recipients actually use external forecast information to update their rainfall expectations. We test this premise using unique survey data from pastoralists and agropastoralists in southern Ethiopia and northern Kenya, specifying and estimating a model of herders updating seasonal rainfall beliefs. We find that those who receive and believe model-based seasonal climate forecasts indeed update their priors in the direction of the forecast received, assimilating optimistic forecasts more readily than pessimistic forecasts.Agribusiness, O1, D1, Q12,

    Bayesian Herders: Asymmetric Updating of Rainfall Beliefs in Response to External Forecasts

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    Temporal climate risk weighs heavily on many of the world\u27s poor. Model-based climate forecasts could benefit such populations, provided recipients use forecast information to update climate expectations. We test whether pastoralists in southern Ethiopia and northern Kenya update their expectations in response to forecast information and find that they indeed do, albeit with a systematic bias towards optimism. In their systematic optimism, these pastoralists are remarkably like Wall Street\u27s financial analysts and stockbrokers. If climate forecasts have limited value to these pastoralists, it is due to the flexibility of their livelihood rather than an inability to process forecast information

    The Vehicle, February 1960, Vol. 2 no. 1

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    Vol. 2, No. 1 Table of Contents Editorialpage 2 A White Man\u27s BurdenRobert Mills Frenchpage 4 Passing TrainWayne Bakerpage 8 AutumnMajor Dan Ragainpage 8 Chaos in CulturevilleJ.B. Youngpage 9 Cure-allJerry N. Whitepage 13 Love-Long DistanceMary Ellen Mockbeepage 13 Metropolitan CaravanThomas McPeakpage 14 Ode to the Lion HuntersRichard Blairpage 16 ImmortalityM.E.M.page 16 EntranceSam Martinpage 16https://thekeep.eiu.edu/vehicle/1006/thumbnail.jp

    The Vehicle, February 1960, Vol. 2 no. 1

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    Vol. 2, No. 1 Table of Contents Editorialpage 2 A White Man\u27s BurdenRobert Mills Frenchpage 4 Passing TrainWayne Bakerpage 8 AutumnMajor Dan Ragainpage 8 Chaos in CulturevilleJ.B. Youngpage 9 Cure-allJerry N. Whitepage 13 Love-Long DistanceMary Ellen Mockbeepage 13 Metropolitan CaravanThomas McPeakpage 14 Ode to the Lion HuntersRichard Blairpage 16 ImmortalityM.E.M.page 16 EntranceSam Martinpage 16https://thekeep.eiu.edu/vehicle/1006/thumbnail.jp

    The Vehicle, June 1960, Vol. 2 no. 3

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    Vol. 2, No. 3 To the ReaderRobert Mills Frenchpage 2 Blue-Nosed RobinThomas McPeakpage 3 Forest EtudeJames M. Jenkinsonpage 7 Chant For The MenJerry Whitepage 8 It\u27s OK Now, Chief J.B. Youngpage 9 Magic WordsKathleen Ferreepage 11 SpurnedRay Hoopspage 12 Danger!A. Seerpage 13 GenecideGeorge Fosterpage 14 To a Stern ParentC.E.S.page 14 ReservationNeil O. Parkerpage 14 The Worm and IRichard Blairpage 15 One Way -- Non-TransferableRobert Mills Frenchpage 15 NorthlightEDSpage 16https://thekeep.eiu.edu/vehicle/1007/thumbnail.jp
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