From prices to incomes: agricultural subsidization without protection?

Drawing on experience with direct income-support programs recently introduced in the European Union, Mexico, and the United States, the authors highlight problems that may arise when a developing economy's agricultural sector moves from price-based subsidies to income support programs. They conclude that income-support programs, despite their theoretical appeal, have many shortcomings and that developing countries may lack the support mechanisms needed to make them effective. The consequences of delinking support from current production decisions, even though fully expected, may be perceived as negative. Producers will undoubtedly face greater variation in prices, and as the ratio of output to input prices will be lower, a negative supply response for the crops affected may in turn reduce demand for agricultural labor. Finally, as with many types of support, the lion's share of support may go not to the target group most in need of support but to large producers. It is important to remember what a direct income-support mechanism does and does not do. Although it increases the income of subsistence landholders, it is not supposed to be a poverty reduction program. Nor is it supposed to be an investment program (as there is no provision for where and how the money will be spent). And because of its association with lower producer prices, it is not expected to induce sectoral growth. Instead, it is a transitional income-redistribution mechanism that could eventually transform agriculture into a fully liberalized sector that helps allocate resources more efficiently. And because it is linked to an asset -land- the lion's share of the payments will inevitably go to large farmers, subject to an upper limit (if such is in place).Economic Theory&Research,Environmental Economics&Policies,Payment Systems&Infrastructure,Agricultural Knowledge&Information Systems,Labor Policies,Economic Theory&Research,Agricultural Knowledge&Information Systems,Agricultural Research,Agribusiness&Markets,Environmental Economics&Policies

Simulation of mixed bond graphs and block diagrams on personal computers using TUTSIM

The TUTSIM simulation program for continuous dynamic systems accepts (nonlinear) block diagrams, bond graphs or a free mix of both. The simulation is “hands on” interactive, providing a direct contact with the model. The implementation of the program on existing personal computers (Apple II, IBM PC) requires small memory size and has a high computational speed, due to its assembler source code. A slower FORTRAN CP/M version is available. It is shown how bond graphs can be used as an input language. An example using bond graphs as a modelling tool is presented

Josef se Gebeente.

Daar trek die slawevolk,verlos deur wonderdade,die wye ruimtes in,met skatte ryk belade

Aandhemel

Die son sink neer in sterwensweeEn maak die weste ’n vuur’ge see. En toon aan my— wat neergang vrees—Dat sterwe in heerliklieid kan wees

Clean pressure drop of non-Newbonian liquid flow across stacked-disc filters

The present paper deals with clean pressure drop and power-law liquid across stacked-disc filters. Firstly, from mass and momentum (Darcy's law) balances the governing equations of the process are derived. Subsequently, these equations are reduced to a single dimensionless differential equation whose solution is governed by three dimensionless groups. Numerical and analytical solutions of the equation reveal the effect of these dimensionless groups on flow and related pressure drop. Finally, the theoretical model of the filter is found to be in good agreement with the performed experiments

Aid for the Medically Indigent

In the following paper we discuss the ability of low income groups to purchase needed care, consider the private alternatives to government action, find these deficient, and hence review various proposals made to the Congress. Finally, we examine a proposal which, while originally propounded in the early Fifties, has received little attention in the recent debates. To the authors, it would seem the best approach to care for the indigent