High global food prices The challenges and opportunities: IFPRI 2007-2008 Annual Report Essay

"High food prices are not only causing a humanitarian crisis, but also putting at risk the development potential of millions of people. Global agriculture markets are undergoing structural changes, and the next three to four years will pose great challenges for achieving an affordable and accessible food supply for the world's most vulnerable. Soaring food and fuel prices are creating a "perfect storm" for the world's most vulnerable. The consequence is that the bottom billion could become the bottom 2 billion overnight, as those living on US$1 a day see their purchasing power cut in half." from TextFood prices, Poverty reduction, Globalization, Food security Developing countries, Agricultural systems, trade, Markets, Natural resources, World food situation, Social protection, Science and technology, Nutrition, Capacity strengthening,

Economic Costs of Historic Overfishing on Recreational Fisheries: South Atlantic & Gulf of Mexico Regions

Ocean fish are a vital renewable resource for human populations, providing food, employment, and recreation. Many fish stocks worldwide, however, are in a state of serious decline due to overfishing, environmental degradation, climate change, and other stressors. Fishing effort worldwide has remained relatively constant with only slight increases recorded, while the global production of marine fisheries has decreased (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 2010). The South Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico regions of the United States have witnessed significant declines in fish stocks that are important to recreational and commercial fisheries. As of 2011, nine fish populations across the two regions were officially classified as "overfished." An additional 12 populations were classified as "subject to overfishing." Biological overfishing occurs when harvest rates from fishing exceed the growth rates of fish stocks. The resulting declines in fish populations can impact the economy at large. This study examines an important component of the costs of overfishing in the South Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico regions -- recreational catch losses from historic overfishing and their associated economic impacts. Our analysis covers nine federally managed overfished stocks in these two regions over the period 2005–2009, the most recent years for which the necessary data were available prior to the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf. Those stocks are black sea bass, red grouper, red porgy, red snapper, and snowy grouper in the South Atlantic; and gag, gray triggerfish, greater amberjack, and red snapper in the Gulf of Mexico. Recreational fishing has long been an important economic activity in these regions. The money spent by recreational fishermen on charter fishing excursions, tackle, bait, fuel, and other expenses supports employment and economic activity across those regions. Our analysis assumes that recreational fisheries could have contributed more to regional economic activity had the stocks been capable of producing greater yields over the study period of 2005–2009. We estimate the size of the recreational catch loss for each species for each year and the economic activity that could have resulted had that catch been available. To arrive at our estimates of recreational catch loss, we compared average annual recreational harvests and effort for each stock for each year over the study period to potential estimated harvests and effort had the stocks been producing at optimum yield. We sourced our measures of optimum yield and maximum sustainable yield for each individual stock from regional stock assessments and fishery management plans. We valued the resulting catch loss by using data on trip expenditures by recreational fishermen in the South Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico. Effort and expenditure data were sourced from the Marine Recreational Fisheries Statistics Survey and includes trips that caught, targeted, or caught and/or targeted the stocks in our analysis.1 Economic multipliers were used to estimate the total direct, indirect, and induced economic activity that could have been generated by those recreational fishing expenditures. Our estimates of catch loss and associated economic impacts are not additive across stocks since trips and their respective expenditures may be associated with multiple stocks. Our analysis finds that recreational fisheries in the South Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico could have contributed millions of dollars more in additional recreational expenditures and associated economic activity had the fish species been producing at optimum yield over the study period. The greatest direct losses were associated with South Atlantic black sea bass and South Atlantic red snapper. Recreational fishermen in the South Atlantic spent $41.7 million on average annually to realize 44$52.8 million greater each year over the five-year study period had the stock been producing at optimum yield. An additional $52.8 million in recreational expenditures each year could have generated an additional$138 million in economic output and $40.3 million in income, and supported 896 jobs annually for the region. In the case of South Atlantic red snapper, fishermen spent$9.2 million on average annually over the study period to catch 37% of the recreational catch that could have been available under optimum yield. We estimate that recreational expenditures on South Atlantic red snapper could have been $15.9 million greater each year and could have contributed an additional$41.6 million in economic output and $12.2 million in income, and supported 270 jobs for the region annually between 2005–2009. In the Gulf region, the greatest losses were associated with red snapper, where recreational fishermen spent$22.4 million to realize 64% of the optimal catch that could have been available. We estimate that recreational expenditures on Gulf red snapper could have been $12.7 million greater each year had the stock been producing at optimum yield. An additional$12.7 million in recreational expenditures each year could have generated an additional $33.2 million in economic output and$9.7 million in income, and supported 215 jobs annually for the region. Our findings support the conclusion that overfished stocks can lead to significant economic losses for regional economies through forgone recreational fishing expenditures. This is only one component of the cost of overfishing. Our analysis does not estimate the value of catch losses in commercial fisheries or the broader impacts on ecosystems and biodiversity. The total value of catch losses resulting from historic overfishing would be greater still if other impacts had been considered. Despite these limitations, this study provides strong economic evidence in support of maintaining healthy ocean fish populations and continuing efforts to rebuild stocks currently subject to overfishing or classified as overfished

Side Payments of Exceptions: The Implications for Equitable and Efficient Climate Control

The Kyoto Protocol prioritizes equity in international climate control by exempting developing countries from compulsory emissions reductions, though at a loss to efficiency. Using game theoretic models, this paper demonstrates that an efficient climate treaty must provide side payments to countries with lower marginal abatement costs and (or) benefits to induce their cooperation. Therefore, if an efficient treaty directs side payments to developing countries to induce their participation, the treaty may also achieve equity in climate control. Policy makers should remember the equity and efficiency implications of side payments as extensions and/or alternatives to the Kyoto Protocol are considered.

Unemployment, self-esteem, and depression: A social-comparison theory approach

A social comparison theory approach to the relation between unemployment, self-esteem, and depression was tested using a cross-sectional questionnaire design (N = 88). Personal attributes were used as the domain of comparison, and four types of comparisons - intrapersonal, interpersonal, intragroup, and intergroup - were operationalized. Employment status affected the salience of intrapersonal comparisons. Comparisons with the past self were highly predictive of psychological distress among unemployed respondents, whereas comparisons with the ideal self predicted distress among the employed. Individual-level and group-level social comparisons had different associations with the dependent measures for unemployed respondents. Intrapersonal and interpersonal comparisons were significantly related to depression and self-esteem scores, whereas intragroup and intergroup comparisons were related only to self-esteem. Social comparisons with unemployed people were related to reduced depression levels among employed respondents. Results also showed that unemployed people had more negative social comparison scores relative to their employed counterparts. Results are discussed in terms of recent developments in social comparison theory. Suggestions for future research are outlined

Functional and dynamic programming in the design of parallel prefix networks

A parallel prefix network of width n takes n inputs, a1, a2, . . ., an, and computes each yi = a1 ○ a2 ○ ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ ○ ai for 1 ≤ i ≤ n, for an associative operator ○. This is one of the fundamental problems in computer science, because it gives insight into how parallel computation can be used to solve an apparently sequential problem. As parallel programming becomes the dominant programming paradigm, parallel prefix or scan is proving to be a very important building block of parallel algorithms and applications. There are many different parallel prefix networks, with different properties such as number of operators, depth and allowed fanout from the operators. In this paper, ideas from functional programming are combined with search to enable a deep exploration of parallel prefix network design. Networks that improve on the best known previous results are generated. It is argued that precise modelling in a functional programming language, together with simple visualization of the networks, gives a new, more experimental, approach to parallel prefix network design, improving on the manual techniques typically employed in the literature. The programming idiom that marries search with higher order functions may well have wider application than the network generation described here

Responding to the Global Food Crisis - Three perspectives: IFPRI 2007-2008 Annual Report Essay

"The dramatic rise and volatility of food prices over the last year have shaken the global food system. Governments and the international development community generally have responded to various aspects of the food crisis, but questions remain about whether the right actions are being pursued, how best to respond, and what the future holds. The three essays here by Namanga Ngongi, president of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa, Josette Sheeran, executive director of the World Food Programme, and Joachim von Braun, director general of the International Food Policy Research Institute, respond to these critical questions. They point to the dangers and pitfalls of misguided policies, but also to the very real opportunities for responding in a way that prevents future crises and assures food security now and in the long term." from TextFood prices, Poverty reduction, Globalization, Food security Developing countries, Agricultural systems, trade, Markets, Natural resources, World food situation, Social protection, science and technology, Nutrition, Capacity strengthening,

Contemporary Issues in UN Peacekeeping and International Law

This briefing paper reviews the contemporary issues in UN Peacekeeping and international law. As it explains, the key issues and problems currently relate to the use of force, international human rights, international criminal law and accountability. There is a real need for a greater clarity on these issues, because of their significant policy and operational implications. Success in better understanding and addressing these issues is central to improving the performance of UN Peacekeeping, which has become a crucial international tool for enhancing peace and security