Ex Ante Evaluation ofthe Economic Impact of Agricultural Biotechnology: The C~of Porcine Somatotropin

Introduction of a new growth hormone, porcine somatotropin, will have a significant impact on the U.S. pork industry. Ex ante effects are estimated using a linear elasticity model, which accounts for interrelationships between domestic and international markets for hogs and pork, different adoption rates and lengths of run for supply, and consumer demand shifts from leaner pork. The paper shows how to use experimental data to quantify production function and supply shifts. Results indicate that, for a five-year adjustment period, producers' surplus will increase between $250 million and$720 million; consumers' surplus will increase between $900 million and$1.95 billion

U. K. CONSUMERS' WILLINGNESS TO PAY FOR LEANER PORK PRODUCTS

u. K. consumers I willingness to pay for leaner pork .was estimated using data from 202 in-home intetviews in 1989. Econometric estimates were obtained for four products using Heckman Is two-step estimator. Mean willingness to pay estimates range from 8.55% for sausage to 12.8% for joints

A general two-constraint model of consumer demand

We generalise a two-constraint model of consumer demand so as to make utility a function of both consumption of the good and the time allocated to consumption, to accommodate the fact that the consumer may derive utility from the time spent acquiring and/or consuming the good. We use the comparative static results to specify demand systems consistent with this theory and develop an econometric approach to estimate the demand parameters. The model is used to obtain empirical demand functions for customers visiting pick-your-own fruit farms, where customers choose between harvesting fruit themselves and buying pre-harvested fruit on the farm. Oxford University Press and Foundation for the European Review of Agricultural Economics 2010; all rights reserved. For permissions, please email [email protected], Oxford University Press.

THE IMPACT OF FARM AND PROCESSING RESEARCH ON THE AUSTRALIAN WOOL INDUSTRY

An equilibrium displacement model of the world wool top industry is used to estimate the returns to the Australian wool industry from productivity improvements in farm production, in top making and in textile manufacturing. The returns to the industry from these different types of research and development are sensitive to the extent of substitution possibilities between Australian wool and other inputs used by the wool processing and textile industries but it appears that research resources have to be much more efficient in off-farm activities for the Australian wool industry to receive benefits similar to those from farm research activities

WHO DETERMINES FARM PROGRAMS? AGRIBUSINESS AND THE MAKING OF FARM POLICY

Political-economic analyses of the causes and consequences of agricultural commodity policies typically emphasize farmer and consumer (taxpayer) interests and underplay the role of agribusiness. A more complete understanding of agricultural policy requires paying attention to the important role of agribusiness interests. Policies that benefit farmers (e.g., price supports, supply controls, deficiency payments) may either enhance or reduce agribusiness profits. The type of policy instrument preferred by agribusiness varies among commodities, depending on the technology of the marketing processes beyond the farm gate and the elasticity of final demand. This paper emphasizes the idea that instruments of farm policy are chosen in response to pressures from both agribusiness and farmers at the expense of taxpayers and final consumers

THE IMPACT OF FARM AND PROCESSING RESEARCH ON THE AUSTRALIAN WOOL INDUSTRY

An equilibrium displacement model of the world wool top industry is used to estimate the returns to the Australian wool industry from productivity improvements in farm production, in top making and in textile manufacturing. The returns to the industry from these different types of research and development are sensitive to the extent of substitution possibilities between Australian wool and other inputs used by the wool processing and textile industries but it appears that research resources have to be much more efficient in off-farm activities for the Australian wool industry to receive benefits similar to those from farm research activities.Livestock Production/Industries, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies,