The USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA) serves as the nation's lender of last resort by providing direct loans to farmers unable to obtain credit at reasonable rates and terms. Annual loan losses have been substantial, averaging $576 million for fiscal 1994-2004. An econometric model using survey...

Econometric models to estimate allocative and technical inefficiency include stochastic shadow distance frontiers, shadow cost frontiers, and shadow profit frontiers. In these models, the cost savings from eliminating both sources of inefficiency is often reported in total and then decomposed...

In Southern Alberta, agriculture is the largest water user. Thirteen irrigation districts plus numerous private irrigators hold licenses to withdraw more than 75% of the available surface water. Water use decisions made by farmers in irrigation districts have significant impacts on the...

This study evaluates the regional short run impacts of reduction in import tariffs in Brazil on poverty and distribution of income related to recent free trade area agreements. Results show that trade can reduce inter-regional income inequality, but poor urban households lose with trade...

One of the most important policy tools in developing countries for affecting economic growth and poverty reduction is expenditure policy. As governments decide how to allocate public spending, they need a clear understanding of how public investments translate into development outcomes. Using...

This study uses a new dataset based on the 2000 Agricultural Resource Management Survey, the most recent national survey of dairy producers in the United States. A shadow cost function is employed to decompose and analyze economic efficiency and scale economies. The study details the development...

This study examines how the spatial distribution of grocery stores affects food prices charged in neighborhoods with different median incomes. Studies have shown that low-income neighborhoods often have fewer grocery stores, smaller grocery stores and have higher prices for a standard market...

Vickrey auctions are commonly used to elicit willingness to pay for new food products. This paper shows that in a multi-period context, it can be optimal to bid higher than the expected consumption value for new experience goods to obtain information about the quality of the goods. The degree of...

Replaced with revised version of paper 11/28/06. Former title: The Expanded and Re-Parameterized Johnson System: A Most Crop-Yield Distribution Model

Replaced with revised version of paper 08/31/06.