The overall aim of this study is to empirically investigate the cost structure of a management agreement type agri-environmental instrument and to identify factors for cost variation over space and time. We control for the actual level of compliance by using compliance weighted average scheme...

This is a decision teaching case study, where the Program Manager, Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP) is faced with the problem of determining the future direction of the MAEAP going forward from 2010. During the case discussion students should be able to: 1. Identify...

This paper examines the willingness of farmers to participate in hypothetical programs that would pay them to adopt cropping practices that enhance provision of ecosystem services from agriculture. A survey of 3,000 Michigan corn and soybean farmers elicited willingness to adopt four sets of...

Complexity of environmental programs is most apparent with information asymmetries, making the design of efficient mechanisms particularly challenging. As developed theoretically in this paper, a new regulatory capitalism paradigm mating voluntary agreements with environmental education can...

A simulation of U.S. corn production compares four environmental policies for controlling agricultural nitrate pollution. Public uncertainty about key economic parameters are considered. Results indicate that policy choice is sensitive to commodity programs and the public information structure....

We examine the extent to which economic development reduces both a country's disaster risk and its social vulnerability to climate-related disasters. Global climate change is expected to increase the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, such as droughts, floods, and various types...

A cereal yield response function is estimated conditional upon environmental and topographical features to detect the effects of spatial heterogeneity and spatial dependence in explaining agricultural productivity across Sub-Saharan Africa. Controlling for direct and localized spillover effects,...

2010 AAEA Presidential Address; forthcoming in January 2011 AJAE in shortened version.

This paper systematically estimates the potential benefit of introducing improved irrigation schemes in Mt. Kilimanjaro to help rain dependent farmers cope with the risks of climate change. The study uses Contingent Valuation Method (CVM) to elicit farmers’ Willingness to Pay (WTP) for...