This paper studies how various governance mechanisms affect the performance of microfinance institutions in Central and Eastern Europe and the Newly Independent States. Results show that managerial compensation matters, that market forces are becoming important disciplining device, and that...

This paper explores the idea that off-farm income is used for investment in farm assets. Using Alabama farm data for the 1997-2004 period, we find that farm investment is more sensitive to off-farm than to on-farm income, and that this sensitivity is stronger for farms with sales less than $250,000.

This paper focuses on the ability of microfinance rating agencies to impose market discipline on microfinance institutions by rating these organizations' performance. Results indicate that not all rating agencies are equal as only one rater was able to impose market discipline by promoting...

We study the link between economic growth and resource endowment in the southeastern United States and find signs of Dutch Disease. Using data for 815 counties in this region, we focus attention on the connection between economic growth and forest resources. Our data support the Dutch Disease...

Using monthly data, we find evidence of both short- and long-run asymmetry of price transmission from peanut to peanut butter prices. This suggests that the asymmetry is more likely a result of imperfect competition than of competitive profit maximizing inventory management. Effects of producer...

The paper reports preliminary results of non-parametric analysis of historical and crop model generated peanut yield series in the Southwest Georgia. The results suggest ENSO phase dependent differences in yield distributions that are similar for both the simulated and actual series. The...

In this paper, we analyze the impact of the Microbial Inoculants (MI) Technology on apple yields and pesticide application using 2007 farm data. The results show that pesticide usage is not reduced by MI applications. However, there is a significant positive effect on the yields. Apple...

This paper evaluates the relevance of weather and climate data in explaining county-level crop disaster payments in Georgia. Following previous research, regional socio-economic and community data are also used to control for factors other than weather. While weather and ENSO data explain the...

Expanding ethanol markets, abundance of water resources, and predominance of rainfed corn production in Alabama suggest possibility of irrigating cornfields. Numerical analysis shows that irrigated production becomes more preferable with higher corn prices and risk aversion. Adoption threshold...

In the paper, preliminary results of the analysis of potential use of climate forecast information in designing rainfall index insurance in the southeastern region of the U.S. are reported. Joint distributions of bi-monthly rainfall and El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) indexes are estimated...