Extreme Measures of Agricultural Financial Risk

This paper is from the Centre for Financial Markets (CFM) Working Paper series at University College Dublin.Agricultural financial risk, Spectral risk measures, Expected Shortfall, Value at Risk, Extreme Value Theory., Agricultural Finance, Risk and Uncertainty, E17, G19, N52,

The Tragic Sense of Life: The Philosophy of Miguel de Unamuno

The major thesis of this research work has been that Unamuno’s life and writings can best be seen in terms of a philosophy of tragedy. Tragedy, in the Unamunian sense, means an agonizing struggle between opposing forces so well matched that no final victory of one over the other is possible. Unamuno wrote about and lived within this “tragic sense of life,” which consists of this agonizing struggle; and it is the centrality of this fact which can be demonstrated in his writings. Unamuno’s own life and the life of the so-called “Generation of 1898” serves as an introduction to the meaning of the tragic sense of life in human existence and in the Christian faith. Moreover, it has also been the concern of this thesis to show that the tragic sense of 1ife, far from being the occasion for resignation, is a source of creativity for Christian existence. In short, I have attempted to demonstrate how conflicting modes of being – heart and head, faith and reason, peace and conflict, life and logic – struggled with each other in the Unamunian universe, and how they could lead to creative courage and meaning

The Tragic Sense of Life: The Philosophy of Miguel de Unamuno

The major thesis of this research work has been that Unamuno’s life and writings can best be seen in terms of a philosophy of tragedy. Tragedy, in the Unamunian sense, means an agonizing struggle between opposing forces so well matched that no final victory of one over the other is possible. Unamuno wrote about and lived within this “tragic sense of life,” which consists of this agonizing struggle; and it is the centrality of this fact which can be demonstrated in his writings. Unamuno’s own life and the life of the so-called “Generation of 1898” serves as an introduction to the meaning of the tragic sense of life in human existence and in the Christian faith. Moreover, it has also been the concern of this thesis to show that the tragic sense of 1ife, far from being the occasion for resignation, is a source of creativity for Christian existence. In short, I have attempted to demonstrate how conflicting modes of being – heart and head, faith and reason, peace and conflict, life and logic – struggled with each other in the Unamunian universe, and how they could lead to creative courage and meaning

The Welfare Effects of Pfiesteria-Related Fish Kills: A Contingent Behavior Analysis of Seafood Consumers

We use contingent behavior analysis to study the effects of pfiesteria-related fish kills on the demand for seafood in the Mid-Atlantic region. We estimate a set of demand difference models based on individual responses to questions about seafood consumption in the presence of fish kills and with different amounts of information provided about health risks. We use a random-effects Tobit model to control for correlation across each observation and to account for censoring. We find that (i) pfiesteria-related fish kills have a significant negative effect on the demand for seafood even though the fish kills pose no known threat to consumers through sea-food consumption, (ii) seafood consumers are not responsive to expert risk information designed to reassure them that seafood is safe in the presence of a fish kill, and (iii) a mandatory seafood inspection program largely eliminates the welfare loss incurred due to misinformation.pfiesteria, seafood demand, non-market valuation, Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

The Welfare Effects of Pfiesteria-Related Fish Kills in Seafood Markets: A Contingent Behavior Analysis

We use contingent behavior analysis to study the effects of Pfiesteria related fish kills on the demand for seafood in the Mid-Atlantic region. We use a phone-mail-phone survey to look at the effects of various information provision mechanisms used to ameliorate the effects of misinformation regarding fish kills. A set of demand difference models are estimated based on individual responses to multiple questions about seafood consumption with and without fish kills present and with various health risk information treatments. Random effects Tobit models are used to control for the panel nature of responses and natural censoring of the stated responses. We find that 1) Pfiesteria related fish kills have a significant negative effect on the demand for seafood, 2) seafood consumers are nonresponsive to expert risk information designed to reassure consumers that seafood is safe in the presence of a fish kill, and 3) a mandatory seafood inspection program completely eliminates avoidance costs incurred due to misinformation. We estimate that the aggregate avoidance costs incurred in the month immediately following a Pfiesteria related fish kill is $50-$130 million.

The Economic Feasibility of Using Georgia Biomass for Electrical Energy Production

This study investigates the potential for using biomass for the production of electricity in Georgia. The volume, important characteristics, and delivered costs per unit of energy are estimated for various locally produced biomass. Production of synthetic fuels using both pyrolysis and gasification technologies is investigated as potential means for converting biomass into electricity. Capital and operating costs for each of these two technologies are projected across three different scales of production. Estimated costs per unit of electricity generated are determined. It appears, under the conditions modeled, these technologies are not cost competitive with currently used technologies. Significant subsidies would be needed to induce the adoption of these technologies under current economic conditions.bio-electricity, bio-feedstocks, biomass, cost, electricity, Agribusiness, Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

Economic Impacts of Ethanol Production in Georgia

Capital costs to construct a conventional ethanol plant producing 100 million gallons per year are $170.593 million. Average annual net returns average$59.216 million with a 1% chance of annual net returns less than $0. Ethanol production stimulates total economic output of$314.221 million in the Georgia economy. Wages and benefits total $20.181 million for 408 jobs in Georgia. State and local governments derive a total of$4.572 million in tax revenues from ethanol production.Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,