Bridging the Communication Gap Between Economists and Biological Scientists in the Management of Invasive Species

Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

ECONOMIC DIMENSIONS OF THE PROBLEM OF INVASIVE SPECIES

Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

Private Responses to Public Incentives for Invasive Species Management

In this paper the impact of public policies such as subsidies and taxation on invasive species management is explored in a Markov chain process framework. Private agents react to public incentives based upon their long term expected profits and have the option of taking measures such as abatement, monitoring and reporting. Conditions for perverse incentives are derived. The impact of sequencing of taxation and subsides on spread of risks is explored. One key finding of this paper is that excessive regulation may sometimes exacerbate the invasive species problemInvasive Species, Markov process, Perverse Incentives, Taxation and Subsidies, Agricultural and Food Policy, Agricultural Finance, Environmental Economics and Policy, Research Methods/ Statistical Methods,

Private Responses to Public Incentives for Invasive Species Management

In this paper the impact of public policies such as subsidies and taxation on invasive species management is explored in a Markov chain framework. Private agents react to public incentives based upon their long term expected profits and have the option of taking measures such as abatement, monitoring and reporting. Conditions for perverse incentives are derived. The impact of sequencing of taxation and subsides on spread of risks if explored. One key finding of this paper is that excessive regulation may exacerbate the invasive species problem.invasive species, Markov process, perverse incentives, taxation and subsidies, Agricultural and Food Policy, Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

Forecasting Price Trends in the U.S. Avocado (Persea americana Mill.) Market

The United States is the world’s leading importer and second-largest producer of avocados. U.S. per capita consumption increased from 0.69 kg in 1998 to 1.48 kg in 2007. The factors responsible include aggressive promotion of the health benefits, increased disposable income, and a rapidly growing Hispanic population. Such factors enabled the prices of avocados to remain fairly attractive over the period. However, with the recent downturn in the U.S. economy and prospects of further increases in supplies of avocados, there are concerns that prices could fall substantially. With the aid of multiple-regression analysis, this paper forecasts avocado prices up to the year 2012.Demand and Price Analysis,

THE DILEMMA OF SAFER AND FREER TRADE: THE CASE OF THE U.S. NURSERY INDUSTRY

Crop Production/Industries, International Relations/Trade,

Trade and Investment: Opportunities and Constraints between the United States and South Korea

International Relations/Trade,

Potential Impacts of Avocado Imports from Mexico on the Florida Avocado Industry

Changes in agricultural policies shape the way markets and industries react. A recent policy issue expecting to have impacts on Florida Greenskin avocado industry is an entry of Mexican Hass avocados to all states in the United States in 2007. After 93 years of banning Mexican Hass avocados in Florida, the allowance of Hass variety from Mexico to Florida in 2007 may lead a different path to the Florida Greenskin avocado industry. This research addresses this issue by incorporating Florida avocados, together with California, Chile, Mexico, and Dominican Republic avocados into the analysis of the demand for avocados in the United States using a Rotterdam Inverse Demand System.International Relations/Trade,

MARKETING OPPORTUNITIES FOR JAMAICA’S GRAPEFRUIT INDUSTRY

Several Caribbean sugar producing countries are actively looking for viable alternatives to recover some of the expected lost revenues due to the WTO (World Trade Organization) ruling that sugar subsidies in the European Union (EU) are illegal. One alternative worth considering is exporting fresh grapefruits to the EU. This marketing opportunity comes about as the United States of America (U.S.), the world’s leading grapefruit producer and exporter (over half of world production), has suffered a series of recent setbacks (citrus canker, citrus greening diseases, and devastating hurricanes) that threaten the future of that industry. Specifically, grapefruit and pomelo production in the U.S. has declined steadily since 2000 (from 2,506 thousand metric tons in 2000 to only 914 thousand metric tons in 2005). Approximately 25% of U.S. fresh grapefruit exports are directed to Europe, which is the largest grapefruit and pomelo import region (nearly 60% of world grapefruit and pomelo imports). Rising grapefruit prices in the EU due to reduced supplies coming from the US and an increase in the demand for the fruit in the EU could create a marketing opportunities for countries such as Jamaica. The paper discusses the state of the Florida citrus industry with particular reference to grapefruits and the marketing prospects for Jamaican grapefruit exports to Europegrapefruit, marketing, Florida citrus industry, World Trade Organization, CAES, Agribusiness, Agricultural and Food Policy, Crop Production/Industries, Demand and Price Analysis, Financial Economics, International Relations/Trade,

Economic Issues of Invasive Pests and Diseases and Food Safety

The problem of invasive pests and diseases has become more urgent and far more complex today than in the recent past. Increased trade and movement of people, and the opening up of new trade routes have increased opportunities for the spread of invasive species. In addition, mono-cropping systems of cultivation; globalization; increased resistance of pests to pesticides and food safety and environmental concerns have all contributed to the growing complexity of the problem on hand. The economic dimensions of the problem can be viewed from at least two perspectives. First, with regard to the spread and impact of invasive species, particularly how best to provide more comprehensive assessments of impacts of invasions, so as to improve the cost effectiveness and efficiency of publicly funded programs aimed at eradication, control or mitigation of invasive pests and diseases. Second, from the perspective of incorporating more economic analysis and use of economic instruments in designing sanitary and phytosanitary measures. The paper explores some of these issues from an economic perspective. It concludes that incorporating more economic analysis in matters related to biological invasions is desirable, but presents a challenge to economists. Measurement requires data, and success in measurement will require that economists and biological scientists work closer together than they have in the past.sanitary and phytosanitary measures, SPS, invasive species, WTO, economic impact of invasive species, Environmental Economics and Policy, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, International Relations/Trade,