In 1966, 90 percent of the cocoa growing areas in Bahia, Brazil had trees more than 30 years old. By 1985 most of the area had been replanted or supplied with new trees. Throughout most of this period there were high or rising cocoa prices, and zero or negative interest rates. High prices and...

This paper examines how market-based risk financing instruments could enable asset-poor but productive farmers exposed to production shocks to engage in riskier but higher-return agricultural activities. The financing of these exogenous shocks is addressed in a conceptual framework based on an...

Farming households that differ in their ability, or willingness to take on risks are likely to make different decisions when allocating resources, and effort among income-producing activities, with consequences for productivity. The authors measure voluntary, and involuntary departures from...

The author looks at the OECD domestic political economy associated with ongoing WTO farm negotiations, focusing on the OECD-based coalitions which could be helpful for WTO negotiators. Support from individual final consumers and taxpayers is far from guaranteed because consumers are spending...

Economists often associate a country's dependence on primary commodities, for exports, income, and employment with underdevelopment and low income. The authors explore this commodity pessimism theoretically and empirically and suggest that it may be ill-founded. If it is, it could have adverse...

The authors argue that government policies in agriculture have been costly and misdirected worldwide. For them, this inefficiency need not continue. The Urugauy Round is an ideal opportunity for developed and developing nations to strike a bargain. They suggest 1) making agricultural trade...

Drawing on international evidence, the authors discuss the sources of economies of scale. Using representative farm-level survey data for South Africa's six major grain producing areas and one irrigation area for the period 1975-90, they: describe the the structure of South African agriculture,...

Two objectives of international commodity policy have been to reduce instability in exporter's earnings and importer's prices through international (buffer stock) agreements and to encourage further processing of domestically produced commodities by developing countries. However, it appears that...

Cote d'Ivoire conducted household surveys between 1985 and 1995, making it possible to trace changes in urban and rural poverty and changes in poverty among different socioeconomic groups. During the decade surveyed, the country experienced a major recession. Poverty increased substantially and...

In two decades, Indonesia has become the world's second largest producer of palm oil and coconut oil. But Indonesia remains a price-taking producer of perennial (tree) crops in a market dominated by annual crops, particularly soybeans. Indonesia has expanded production despite a Byzantine...