Trade in feeder animals creates externalities when animal diseases can spread beyond the purchasing farm. If growers choose between open and closed production systems, then Nash equilibrium likely involves excessive trading. While first-best equilibrium involves market-wide adoption of either an...

Among prominent recognized features of the industrialization of animal production over the past half century are growth in the stock of inflexible, or use-dedicated capital, as an input in production, and growth in productivity. Less recognized is a trend toward aseasonal production. We record...