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• 1. [Article] International Trade in Resource Goods and Returns to Labor in the Non-Resource Sectors

  The World Trade Organization (WTO) is among those institutions that advocate free trade in goods, service and capital among nations. This view is not shared universally, however, especially when there ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: International Trade in Resource Goods and Returns to Labor in the Non-Resource Sectors Author: Johnston, Richard S., Emami, Ali Year: 2001 The World Trade Organization (WTO) is among those institutions that advocate free trade in goods, service and capital among nations. This view is not shared universally, however, especially when there are important natural resource, environmental and labor issues at stake. In fact, some countries discourage the exportation of natural resource goods, while others encourage such trade. This paper examines possible explanations for these differences, focusing on the roles of (a) the "taste" for the resource goods in the domestic economy and (b) diminishing returns to labor in the non-resource sectors. Title: International Trade in Resource Goods and Returns to Labor in the Non-Resource Sectors Author: Johnston, Richard S., Emami, Ali Year: 2001 The World Trade Organization (WTO) is among those institutions that advocate free trade in goods, service and capital among nations. This view is not shared universally, however, especially when there are important natural resource, environmental and labor issues at stake. In fact, some countries discourage the exportation of natural resource goods, while others encourage such trade. This paper examines possible explanations for these differences, focusing on the roles of (a) the "taste" for the resource goods in the domestic economy and (b) diminishing returns to labor in the non-resource sectors. Close

• 2. [Article] The Survival of Cultures: Preemptive Compensation, Natural Resources and Poverty

  In developed – and some less-developed – societies, managing an “open access,” renewable natural resource sector generally involves taxes, quotas, or other government or community restrictions. But some ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: The Survival of Cultures: Preemptive Compensation, Natural Resources and Poverty Author: Emami, Ali, Johnston, Richard S. In developed – and some less-developed – societies, managing an “open access,” renewable natural resource sector generally involves taxes, quotas, or other government or community restrictions. But some cultures, especially in their early years, have taken a different approach, one that involves transfer of part of the output of the resource sector to other community members. This reduces the latter’s need to compete for access to that sector and, instead, induces them to apply their labor to production elsewhere in the community. This “preemptive compensation” policy may lead to resource conservation, participation in international trade and higher living standards for the entire community. This seems to be especially relevant where the natural resource sector is the primary source of food (e.g., a fishery) and where persons outside of the sector, but within the community, face extreme hunger. We develop a model that examines the phenomenon and we suggest conditions under which the “sharing” approach may eliminate hunger and lead to sustainable growth. The paper, then, reviews a strategy for renewable resource management that differs from most current approaches and, yet, can be traced to prehistoric times. We demonstrate one way that the renewable resource could be efficiently utilized without government restrictions, even under open access conditions. This can lead to a reduction in poverty and can replace economic isolation with participation in the global economy. It also offers an hypothesis for why some traditional societies have been able to support large populations over time, while avoiding resource devastation. Title: The Survival of Cultures: Preemptive Compensation, Natural Resources and Poverty Author: Emami, Ali, Johnston, Richard S. In developed – and some less-developed – societies, managing an “open access,” renewable natural resource sector generally involves taxes, quotas, or other government or community restrictions. But some cultures, especially in their early years, have taken a different approach, one that involves transfer of part of the output of the resource sector to other community members. This reduces the latter’s need to compete for access to that sector and, instead, induces them to apply their labor to production elsewhere in the community. This “preemptive compensation” policy may lead to resource conservation, participation in international trade and higher living standards for the entire community. This seems to be especially relevant where the natural resource sector is the primary source of food (e.g., a fishery) and where persons outside of the sector, but within the community, face extreme hunger. We develop a model that examines the phenomenon and we suggest conditions under which the “sharing” approach may eliminate hunger and lead to sustainable growth. The paper, then, reviews a strategy for renewable resource management that differs from most current approaches and, yet, can be traced to prehistoric times. We demonstrate one way that the renewable resource could be efficiently utilized without government restrictions, even under open access conditions. This can lead to a reduction in poverty and can replace economic isolation with participation in the global economy. It also offers an hypothesis for why some traditional societies have been able to support large populations over time, while avoiding resource devastation. Close

• 3. [Article] Trade, Subsistence Consumption, Compensation and Resource Management: How Are They Related?

  Research Paper

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Trade, Subsistence Consumption, Compensation and Resource Management: How Are They Related? Author: Emami, Ali, Johnston, Richard S., Mikesell, Raymond F. Research Paper Title: Trade, Subsistence Consumption, Compensation and Resource Management: How Are They Related? Author: Emami, Ali, Johnston, Richard S., Mikesell, Raymond F. Research Paper Close