Inconsistent Objectives of Agricultural Export Credit Disciplines

Negotiated disciplines on export credits in agriculture are intended to (1) eliminate any subsidy element caused by preferential financing or low fees and (2) provide special and differential treatment for developing countries. Inconsistent foundations of these two objectives limit the potential for negotiations on the disciplines to succeed. The subsidy element cannot be eliminated without agreement on the benchmark. Eliminating all advantage relative to private institutions precludes any reason to continue government support. Favourable financing to developing countries would introduce a prohibited subsidy. In their capacity to provide special and differential treatment, export credits fall well short of the requirements for food aid.International Relations/Trade,

Charging into the Blend Wall: Conjoint Analysis of Consumer Willingness to Pay for Ethanol Blend Fuels

Ethanol use in the U.S. rose sharply in recent years due to public policy and a spike in petroleum prices, and remains high. Public support for ethanol includes mandated minimum levels of use nationwide. However, rather little is known about consumer demand for ethanol and much less about demand by type of blend and ethanol source. We used trial survey data and conjoint analysis to overcome the lack of historical data on consumers’ preferences for ethanol blend fuels. Preliminary findings based on responses from vehicle drivers in Missouri suggest that price is the primary factor behind fuel preferences. The disclosure of ethanol originated from woody feedstocks had a significant effect on preferences ceteris paribus. Ethanol blends of 20 percent had a negatively non-significant statistical effect compared to no-ethanol fuels or those with a 10 percent content. These findings will be tested using different models expanded to a nationwide pool of motor vehicle drivers.Ethanol blend fuels, consumers’ willingness to pay, choice-based model, Consumer/Household Economics, Environmental Economics and Policy, Production Economics,

EPA MANDATE WAIVERS CREATE NEW UNCERTAINTIES IN BIODIESEL MARKETS

Biodiesel, Biofuel Mandate, Waivers, Resource /Energy Economics and Policy, Q11, Q16, Q42, Q48,

Implications of the Low Carbon Fuel Standard for State and National Ethanol Use

Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

Biofuels: Impact of Selected Farm Bill Provisions and other Biofuel Policy Options

Agricultural and Food Policy, Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

US BIOFUEL AND CLIMATE POLICIES DUEL OVER CELLULOSIC BIOMASS

Agricultural and Food Policy, Crop Production/Industries, Environmental Economics and Policy, International Relations/Trade, Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

Model of the US Ethanol Market

This report estimates the effects of public policy options and external conditions on ethanol and agricultural commodity markets, farm income and government costs.Agricultural and Food Policy, Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

The future of biofuel (panel discussion)

Biomass energy - United States ; Environmental policy

Implications of the Low Carbon Fuel Standard for State and National Ethanol Use

This is a partial analysis of the Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) setting out carbon emission reduction targets for California. Emission estimates of the California Air Resources Board (CARB) are explored in a two-step analysis that (1) sets out various fuel mixes that could satisfy the LCFS targets based on fixed fuel costs and (2) test the implications of these fuel mixes for national markets relative to existing national mandates. Also explored are the implications if the LCFS is applied in California alone or if it is adopted more widely