On the usefulness of the directional distance function in analyzing environmental policy on manure management

The purpose of this paper is to model the manure management policy implemented in the European Union, and more specifically the limit imposed on the spreading of organic nitrogen. A theoretical model is defined in such a way that a number of specificities concerning livestock production can be introduced.The theoretical framework is used to investigate how the land can be shared out optimally between the non-productive purpose of spreading manure in a manner compliant with the environmental regulation and the productive function of providing crops.Then,we define an empirical model derived from the previous theoretical model, using the directional distance function.It provides a framework for deriving shadow prices of pollutant, of productive and non productive use of land and of the constraint on organic manure involved by the European environmental regulation.Environmental Economics and Policy,

Measuring the Effects of Alternative Support Policy Instruments on Beef Supply

The European Union beef market regulation is largely influenced by the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). With the 1992 CAP reform, there was a partial shift by the EU from product price support to a more direct form of income support by way of direct payments. For beef there was a move to direct payments on intermediate products which was essentially a direct payment for the possession of various categories of animals and these were linked to a land resource base. The Agenda 2000 reform consists in a further price decrease associated with an increase in direct payments. The objective of this paper is to assess how the behaviour of beef producers is sensitive to changes in production prices and to changes in premiums. The analysis relies on an analytical framework which allows to take into account the dynamic feature of beef production and the subsidies provided by the Common Agricultural Policy. We studys how the beef supply response is modified when various exogenous variables like prices or premiums are changed. The application focuses on the dynamics of beef supply response in the French beef sector.beef supply, dynamic modelling, expectations, direct payments, Common Agricultural Policy, Agricultural and Food Policy, C61, Q12, Q18,

Plural Form and Franchise Chains Efficency: A Dea Meta-Frontier Approach applied to French Chains

This paper deals with the performance of franchise chains related to their percentage of company-owned outlets (PCO). This research uses a Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) to assess franchise chains’ efficiency, and a meta-frontier approach to analyze chains’ efficiency between and across sectors. The sample includes 43 chains of the service and retail sectors, located in the French market. Data are available over the 2005-2007 period allowing a longitudinal analysis. The main findings show that the meta-frontier is built up on retail chains rather than on service chains, and that there is a relationship between the PCO and the chain efficiency. Finally, there is no significant difference between the observed PCOs and the optimal PCOs which means that franchisors in our sample have already reached a PCO that is close to the PCO that optimizes the chain efficiency.Creation-Date: 2012-02Franchising, Plural Form, Percentage of company-owned outlets (PCO), Efficiency, Data Envelopment Analysis, Meta Frontier

Impacts of environmental regulations on the efficiency of arable farms in France and Germany

This paper develops a methodology for asymmetric treatment of desirable and undesirable outputs. First, a hyperbolic output efficiency measurement is used to describe a middle term transformation of production processes where producers try to improve their competitiveness together with a reduction of the negative impact on the environment. Second, a radial efficiency measurement, called directional output distance function, is used to depict a long-term transformation of the production process. A non-parametric Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) and a Stochastic Frontier Analysis (SFA) are used to evaluate the impact of agricultural policy changes, both in France and Germany, on the technical and environmental efficiency of arable farms, taking into account participation or not in agri-environmental programs. The results from both methods indicate only limited possibilities for environmental improvements, mainly for farms participating in agri-environmental programs.Frontier analysis, technical and environmental efficiency, environmental regulations, Agricultural and Food Policy, Environmental Economics and Policy, Productivity Analysis,

Mesure non paramétrique des efficacités : une approche duale

L'efficience des politiques de régulation des marchés, notamment agricoles, se révèle largement dépendante des niveaux d'efficacité micro-économique des agents concernés. Après un résumé de la littérature sur les mesures de l'efficacité, celles-ci sont présentées dans une double approche primale et duale. Le système de prix observé est utilisé sous l'angle dual, ce qui permet un encadrement des technologies et des mesures de l'efficacité tant technique qu'allocative

Réforme de la Politique Agricole Commune : évolution des rendements céréaliers entre inefficacité technique et prix-efficacité

Cette étude tente de justifier, au sein du secteur agricole, l'hypothèse suivant laquelle le niveau d'efficacité micro-économique conditionne largement le degré d'efficience des politiques de régulation des marchés. L'illustration porte sur la toute récente réforme de la Politique Agricole Commune qui s'est donnée comme catalyseur une baisse notable du prix des céréales. Un cadre méthodologique non paramétrique permet de révéler les inefficacités proprement techniques de même que les inefficacités allocatives, c'est-à-dire relatives au système de prix. Cette approche est appliquée à l'examen d'échantillons d'exploitations céréalières du RICA, pour les années 1987 à 1990. Les inefficacités techniques observées s'interprètent comme des gains potentiels de productivité traduits ici sous forme d'accroissement des rendements céréaliers à l'hectare. Pour l'année 1990, l'inefficacité technique serait en moyenne d'environ 10% sur l'échantillon considéré. La résorption de cette seule inefficacité technique pourrait conduire à une augmentation de 11,2% des rendements céréaliers. L'effet escompté du gel de 15% des terres sur l'offre céréalière sera donc vraisemblablement amorti. Ce résultat global se différencie suivant les régions et la taille des exploitations

Measurements of the loxodromic antenna parameters

Ovaj rad se bavi loksodromskom antenom odnosno njezinim glavnim parametrima. Loksodromska antena predstavlja varijaciju helikoidne antene sa promjenjivim radijusom podloge. Napravljena su dva modela loksodromske antene u dvije varijante (antena je pričvršćena za reflektirajuću površinu i antena nije pričvršćena za reflektirajuću površinu). Ti se modeli razlikuju po broju namota te kutu nagiba dok je radijus sfere jednak za oba dva modela. Na svakom modelu antena izvršeno je po jedno mjerenje u horizontalnoj ravnini te po dva mjerenja u vertikalnoj ravnini 49 ovisno o položaju antene. Mjerenjima odnosa stojnih valova VSWR, koeficijenta refleksije S11, jakosti električnog polja i impedancije antene, utvrđeno je da bolje karakteristike pokazuje model sa manjim brojem namota pa tako taj model ima veću ukupnu širinu opsega i prilagođenje impedancije. Veću usmjerenost imaju antene koje su izvedene sa reflektirajućom površinom.This paper deals with loxodromic antenna or its main parameters. Loxodromic antenna is a variation of helix antenna with a variable radius of substrate. Two models of loxodromic antenna have been made in two variants (the antenna is attached to a reflecting surface and the antenna is not attached to a reflecting surface). These models are different by the number of windings and the angle of inclination while the radius of sphere is the same for both models. The measurements of VSWR, S11 reflection coefficient, electric field strength and the input impedance of antenna show that the model with a smaller number of windings has the highest broadband and best impedance matching. Antennae attached to reflecting surface have better directivity. On each antenna model, one measurement was made in a horizontal position and two measurements were made in a vertical position depending on the positon of the antenna

Agricultural Externalities and Environmental Regulation: The Case of Manure Management and Spreading Land Allocation

The aim of this paper is firstly to show how the measures introduced by the European regulation on manure management are incorporated into the theoretical analysis framework for studying the issue of nonpoint externality and more especially, agricultural runoff. The model is extended since only some of the polluting emissions at the origin of diffuse pollution are regulated by the Nitrates Directive. More specifically, the model represents the standard that limits the spreading of organic manure to 170 kg/ha as a production right assigned to each farm. Secondly, this paper proposes an empirical model in which the theoretical assumption that productive abilities are fully exploited is relaxed. In order to describe the disparity that exists between individual situations, the empirical model represents the production technology by means of a directional distance function. Finally, the aggregation properties of the directional distance function are used to simulate the practice of looking for off-farm lands as a means of complying with the standard. We look at how land can be allocated among producers in such a way as to combine the disposal of manure in accordance with the limit of the Nitrates Directive together with an improvement in the productive and environmental efficiency of all farms. Using a sample of French pig farms, results indicate only a low potential for a reduction in nitrogen pollution based on the reduction in productive inefficiencies and the allocation of spreading lands among farmers in a same area.JRC.J.4-Agriculture and Life Sciences in the Econom

Cameroon in the 21st century: Challenges and prospects. Volume 2: Environment and people

International audienceCameroon, or officially the Republic of Cameroon, is a country with vast natural resources and a population of 22.8 million people. It is also culturally and geographically very diverse. Due to its geographical and cultural diversity, Cameroon is often referred to as “Africa in miniature.” This country is currently considered a lower-middle income country by the World Bank with social indicators and levels of poverty which are below those for comparator countries. However, the Government of Cameroon aims to achieve the state of a higher middle-income country by 2035. There exists huge potential for economic growth and poverty reduction in Cameroon. The aim of the book is to provide an overview of the main issues, challenges, and prospects faced by Cameroon. The book is composed of conceptual and empirical studies of Cameroonian scholars gathered together in order to provide descriptions and explanations of main issues as well as policy recommendations to support decisions-makers. These considerations are those of Cameroonians for Cameroon. The book is organized into two volumes. The first one entitled “Governance and Businesses” is devoted to issues relating to public governance, investment climate, insecurity, globalization, business development, and activities that are sources of employment in Cameroon. The second volume entitled “Environment and People” deals with issues concerning the management of cross cutting economic services, the conservation of forests, the sustainable development of agricultural activities, the role of women, the immobility of workers, problems of development and poverty alleviation, millennium development goals, the performance of microfinance institutions, multilingualism and education in Cameroon

Traçabilité numérique : reconnecter consommateurs et producteurs

National audienceConférence de presse organisée à l’occasion de la semaine du Salon International de l’Agriculture 2022 et de la sortie du Livre blanc « Agriculture et numérique » porté conjointement par INRAE et Inria