PEOPLE LEFT BEHIND: TRANSITIONS OF THE RURAL POOR: DISCUSSION

Community/Rural/Urban Development,

GRANTSMANSHIP AND CONSULTING POLICY: DISCUSSION

Teaching/Communication/Extension/Profession,

People left behind : transitions of the rural poor : discussion

The theme of my discussion is that we have seriously underinvested in information and knowledge systems to serve both the needs of the poor and of the practitioners addressing rural development problems. Such problems are exciting for social scientists, but we must recognize that the plight of the people we're addressing causes serious pain from harsh social and economic conditions. The authors of this paper effectively describe the continuing plight of "the people left behind" and the human pain associated with poverty and inequality. In marshalling an impressive array of appropriate data, they effectively dispelled some widely held myths, and reinforced some important concerns

MIGRATION AND RETURN MIGRATION: A NEW LOOK AT THE EASTERN KENTUCKY MIGRATION STREAM

Labor and Human Capital,

CONCEPTUAL UNDERPINNINGS OF POLICY ANALYSIS FOR RURAL DEVELOPMENT

Community/Rural/Urban Development,

FEASIBILITY OF INTEGRATING SHEEP AND CROPS WITH SMALLHOLDER RUBBER PRODUCTION SYSTEMS IN INDONESIA

Diversified production systems are considered important tools for stabilizing the income of smallholder rubber producers in Indonesia. Based on empirical data collected from smallholder rubber producers in the Nucleus Estate Smallholder (NES) development project, estimations were made of the economic feasibility of integrating sheep and selected crops into smallholder rubber production plantations. The dynamic optimization procedure is used as an evaluation technique. This study finds that integration of sheep and crops into smallholder rubber production is economically feasible, particularly for those who utilize family labor for hand harvesting grass and grazing sheep. Integrating sheep alone increases the net present value of future income by 20%. The combination of sheep and soybeans with smallholder rubber production increases the net present value of future income by 38%.bioeconomic model, diversification, dynamic optimization, Indonesia, rubber, sheep, smallholder, Farm Management,

THE WELFARE CONSEQUENCES OF CERTIFIED LABELING FOR CREDENCE ATTRIBUTES

Certified labeling for credence attributes is examined using the concepts of pooled and separating equilibria. The analysis addresses a latent credence good demand that differs from a conventional good demand by willingness to pay for the credence characteristic. Third-party certified labeling vertically differentiates the two products and a two separate markets replace a single pooled market. Market outcomes are examined theoretically and with empirical simulations. Costless labeling is net welfare improving, but impacts are highly asymmetric. Credence producers gain largely at the expense of conventional producers. Costly labeling may reduce welfare even with rather modest labeling costs.Marketing,

PUBLIC OPINIONS ABOUT FARMLAND AND FARMLAND PRESERVATION: RESULTS FROM A SURVEY IN KENT COUNTY, MICHIGAN

Retention of agricultural land has become a principal goal for Michigan and its local governments. Purchase of Development Rights is one farmland preservation policy option being considered by many local units of government. Maximizing the benefits from such a program requires an understanding of why the public is interested in farmland preservation. The type and magnitude of benefit will differ depending upon which land is targeted for preservation. This paper reports the results of a survey conducted to ask residents of Kent County, Michigan, what characteristics of farmland are important and how farmland preservation programs should be targeted. The survey also asked whether respondents would support farmland preservation. Results indicate that characteristics of farmland do matter and that support of a farmland preservation program is likely driven by program cost.Land Economics/Use,

UNDERSTANDING THE DEMAND FOR FARMLAND PRESERVATION: IMPLICATIONS FOR MICHIGAN POLICIES

The diversity of opinion on farmland preservation suggests that a close look at the issue is warranted as state and local governments consider how best to preserve the state's farmland resource. Public support for farmland preservation programs will be required if those programs are to be successful and will only be forthcoming if there is greater agreement about questions that underlie the policy debate. These questions include whether farmland loss is occurring, whether farmland preservation is needed, how farmland preservation programs should be designed, and what farmland should be preserved. This paper discusses each of these issues, in turn, and describes how current Michigan farmland preservation efforts are or are not addressing them.Land Economics/Use,