PURCHASE OF DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS (PDR) PROGRAMS: HAVE WE PAID TOO MUCH?

While many states such as Vermont have adopted the Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) programs to protect farmland, few studies have examined how the prices of such development rights are determined and whether the prices are close to the market value. Using data from the state of Vermont, this study first examines the effects of development restrictions on the market price of rural and semi-rural properties and then addresses the question of whether the prices paid for development rights are close to the market value. Our results based on an hedonic model suggest that development restrictions do reduce the market value of rural and semi-rural properties in Northern Vermont but the prices paid by Vermont's PDR programs are significantly higher than the estimated market value.Agricultural and Food Policy, Land Economics/Use,

CONSUMER PREFERENCE AND DEMAND FOR ORGANIC FOOD: EVIDENCE FROM A VERMONT SURVEY

While organic farming has been identified as an effective way to improve food safety and environment quality, the adoption of organic production and processing is highly determined by the market demand for organic food products. To assess the market potential for organic apples and milk, a conjoint analysis is conducted in the state of Vermont to examine consumer evaluation of major product attributes and their tradeoffs. Results suggest that there is likely a significant niche market for organic apples and milk and many consumers, especially people who have purchased organic food products, are willing to pay more for organic apples and milk produced locally and certified by NOFA.Environmental Economics and Policy, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety,

CHANGES IN CHINA'S URBAN FOOD CONSUMPTION AND IMPLICATIONS FOR TRADE

Detailed data from 3,500 urban Chinese households are used to estimate demand elasticities and the impacts of regional and demographic variables for 17 food products through a two-stage budgeting procedure with complete demand systems. Results suggest that China's food consumption patterns will continue to shift from grains to high value food products and the ongoing transition in food consumption will affect China's domestic food markets and trade behavior.Consumer/Household Economics, Demand and Price Analysis,

CHANGES IN INCOME AND WELFARE DISTRIBUTION IN URBAN CHINA AND IMPLICATIONS FOR FOOD CONSUMPTION AND TRADE

While China's economic reform has brought about significant economic growth, there is a considerable debate about the impact of such market-oriented reform on income and welfare distributions. This paper examines the changes in income and welfare distributions in urban China from 1981 to 1998 and discusses implications for China's food consumption patterns and trade behavior. While the Lorenz curves estimated using Kakwani's interpolation method indicate that the level of income inequality in urban China has increased significantly since 1981, welfare comparisons based on generalized Lorenz curves suggest that the rise in real average income has more than compensated for the increase in inequality and has therefore brought about continuous improvement in welfare since 1981, except in 1988 and 1989 due to high inflation rates. Nevertheless, it becomes very critical for China to develop welfare programs and a social security system to provide a guaranteed living standard for low-income households. China's increasing income will continue to shift its food consumption from grains to animal products and, at the same time, the increasing income inequality will make food demand significantly different across regions and income groups.Community/Rural/Urban Development, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, International Relations/Trade,

Agricultural and Small Business Retirement Plans and Needs for Information: Evidence from a Vermont Survey

A survey of Vermont agricultural and small business owners and managers was conducted to examine their retirement plans and needs for information. Results from 828 respondents indicate that 42% of them do not have any retirement plan and 45% of the surveyed businesses do not offer any retirement plan for their employees. Results also suggest that most small business owners and managers who do not have a retirement plan are not very interested in more information on retirement planning.Consumer/Household Economics,

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN RETAILER AND CONSUMER CONCERNS ABOUT SEAFOOD SAFETY: EVIDENCE FROM SURVEY DATA

Seafood, retailer and consumer safety concerns, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety,

CHINA'S INTERNATIONAL TOURISM UNDER ECONOMIC TRANSITION: NATIONAL TRENDS AND REGIONAL DISPARITIES

China's Tourism industry, especially international tourism, has expanded rapidly since its market-oriented economic reform started in 1978. There has been limited information regarding the trends and regional disparities. This paper examines the national trends of China's international tourism since 1982 and analyzes the changes in regional disparities since 1995. While the trend analysis suggests that China's international tourism is likely to keep growing at a significant rate, the analysis of regional disparities based on Gini coefficient indicates that the regional inequality in the number of international tourists and income has shown a downward trend since 1995. Findings from this study suggest that China's economic reform has stimulated the growth in international tourism and the international tourism has contributed to its economic growth and business development.Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

Profitability of Northeast Organic Dairy Farms

Livestock Production/Industries,

IMPACTS OF THE NORTHEAST INTERSTATE DAIRY COMPACT ON SUPPLY, RETAIL PRICES AND THE WIC PROGRAM: AN INTRODUCTION

Demand and Price Analysis, Food Security and Poverty,

Characteristics of the Crop-Paulownia System in China

This paper reviews the crop-paulownia (Paulownia elongata) system in China. We focus on the system\u27s characteristics and the impact of government policies on its development. When paulownia is intercropped with winter wheat, their different growth periods and root distributions result in more efficient use of water and other limited resources. In addition to timber production, paulownia trees on cropland enhance the microclimate and therefore improve wheat yield and quality. Intercropping also stabilizes farm income and reduces farm risk by diversifying agricultural activities and providing windbreaks and shelters that stabilize crop production over time. China\u27s rural reform initiated in 1978 is a major source of the rapid development of the system in the past decade. The reports of the great performance of the crop-paulownia system, along with its high tolerance to natural conditions, are likely to make it attractive and adoptable to other countries