USDA's Economic Research Service (ERS) uses different economic models to estimate the impact of higher input prices on consumer food prices. The present study compares three ERS models. In the first two models, neither consumers nor food producers respond to market prices. We refer to these two...

Economic growth over the past two decades has failed to reduce income inequality. We contend that major reasons for this are the slowdown and bias in technological change (productivity growth). Given the complexity of the many interactions that take place, this phenomenon is best addressed in a...

In this paper, we: 1. Provide a conceptual discussion of the “portfolio” of mechanisms used by farms and households to adjust to price, income and wealth shocks. Farms adjust their production activities and employment to maximize profits given changes in relative prices and factor returns....

This study, based on 1976-2010 data, examines the relationship between U.S. economic conditions and participation in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s five largest nutrition assistance programs. It also describes how changes in program policy and other factors may have influenced this...