The present study advocates a simulation approach to analyze quantitatively the impact of having locally-based markets for price derivatives. A major result is that market outcomes do not appear to be sensitive to most of the underlying parameters of the model other than demand elasticity and...

I consider a variation of Coasian bargaining as a policy instrument for internalizing intergenerational externalities. The variation involves appointing a contemporary party to represent the interests of the affected parties who are currently unable to represent themselves, either because they...

Vaccines against several common foodborne pathogens are being developed and could substantially alter the policy tools available to address foodborne illness. However, little analysis is available to suggest how social welfare would be affected by these new vaccines. To address this void, we use...

International prices of most staple food commodities in 2008 reached a remarkable level that had not been seen since late 1970’s. Food commodity prices are projected to remain on higher levels over the next decade, supported by firm demand, unfavorable weather conditions, slowing growth in...

Soybean farmers continue to face a number of challenges, including a constant environmental threat brought about by prolonged periods of drought. Among the immediate consequences is a diminished crop growth or yield production. Previous experiences of major droughts in the U.S. also resulted in...

The impacts of rising food prices on poverty and welfare of Mexican households are examined by using a linearized version of the Exact Affine Stone Index (EASI) demand system. The distribution of monetary measures of welfare effects from food price changes is estimated as well as equivalence...

Contrary to widely held belief, we show that the source of regression error does not matter when calculating Marshallian surplus. A misspecified demand curve, not the assumed source of regression error, leads to differences in estimates of consumer surplus.