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• 91. [Article] A policy preference function analysis of the forest sector in the Cote d'Ivoire

  The main objective of this study was to offer an alternative methodology for forest sector modeling in developing economies. To this effect, a policy preference function was developed and estimated using ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: A policy preference function analysis of the forest sector in the Cote d'Ivoire Author: Yapi, Atse The main objective of this study was to offer an alternative methodology for forest sector modeling in developing economies. To this effect, a policy preference function was developed and estimated using data from the forest sector of the Cote d'Ivoire. The justification for this alternative framework for forest sector analysis is twofold. First, forest sector policies in developing countries are often guided by the results of market-simulating studies. Although these market-based planning models are valuable, they fail to take into account the political economic environment in which the planning of the forest sector takes place. This omission may partially explain the poor performance of many forest industrial projects in the Third World. Second, policy evaluations based solely on economic efficiency criteria are incomplete in general, and more specifically so in the setting of developing economies. As Rausser (1990) points out, the integration of both economic and political factors is essential in understanding and formulating recommendations for governments in developing countries in order to achieve real economic policy reforms. This study formulated the problem facing public forestry policy makers in terms of expected discounted welfare maximization, subject to a set of stochastic constraint equations describing the forest economy. The revealed-preference-inverse-control technique was used to estimate the model. Marginal utilities and utility elasticities were derived that indicated that private profit, government revenues, and reforestation have intrinsic values to forestry policy makers in the Cote d'Ivoire. Employment and foreign exchange earnings and savings did not appear to be directly valued. The interpretation is that public policy makers compromise on employment and foreign exchange earnings in order to achieve their revenue, profit, and environment protection objectives. Large sample standard errors were computed for the PPF parameter estimates. Although the individual policy preference weights did not appear to be measured with much accuracy, a subsequent hypothesis test (Chisquare test) rejected, at the 1% level, the hypothesis that all the estimates of the objective function parameters equal zero. The implication is that although individually the estimates of the PPF parameters may not be measured accurately, they do, when taken together, suggest that the elements specified in this model are useful in explaining the behavior of forestry policy makers in the Cote d'Ivoire. The model was validated using a validity test that focuses on the predictive ability of the model. The validated PPF was then used to evaluate alternative policy scenarios over a short planning horizon during which the estimated PPF weights can be assumed constant. Title: A policy preference function analysis of the forest sector in the Cote d'Ivoire Author: Yapi, Atse The main objective of this study was to offer an alternative methodology for forest sector modeling in developing economies. To this effect, a policy preference function was developed and estimated using data from the forest sector of the Cote d'Ivoire. The justification for this alternative framework for forest sector analysis is twofold. First, forest sector policies in developing countries are often guided by the results of market-simulating studies. Although these market-based planning models are valuable, they fail to take into account the political economic environment in which the planning of the forest sector takes place. This omission may partially explain the poor performance of many forest industrial projects in the Third World. Second, policy evaluations based solely on economic efficiency criteria are incomplete in general, and more specifically so in the setting of developing economies. As Rausser (1990) points out, the integration of both economic and political factors is essential in understanding and formulating recommendations for governments in developing countries in order to achieve real economic policy reforms. This study formulated the problem facing public forestry policy makers in terms of expected discounted welfare maximization, subject to a set of stochastic constraint equations describing the forest economy. The revealed-preference-inverse-control technique was used to estimate the model. Marginal utilities and utility elasticities were derived that indicated that private profit, government revenues, and reforestation have intrinsic values to forestry policy makers in the Cote d'Ivoire. Employment and foreign exchange earnings and savings did not appear to be directly valued. The interpretation is that public policy makers compromise on employment and foreign exchange earnings in order to achieve their revenue, profit, and environment protection objectives. Large sample standard errors were computed for the PPF parameter estimates. Although the individual policy preference weights did not appear to be measured with much accuracy, a subsequent hypothesis test (Chisquare test) rejected, at the 1% level, the hypothesis that all the estimates of the objective function parameters equal zero. The implication is that although individually the estimates of the PPF parameters may not be measured accurately, they do, when taken together, suggest that the elements specified in this model are useful in explaining the behavior of forestry policy makers in the Cote d'Ivoire. The model was validated using a validity test that focuses on the predictive ability of the model. The validated PPF was then used to evaluate alternative policy scenarios over a short planning horizon during which the estimated PPF weights can be assumed constant. Close

• 92. [Article] Three essays on firm heterogeneity and regional development

  The objective of this dissertation is to theoretically and empirically examine the role of firm heterogeneity in terms of productivity and skill-intensity in the agglomeration process and the effect of ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Three essays on firm heterogeneity and regional development Author: Saito, Hisamitsu The objective of this dissertation is to theoretically and empirically examine the role of firm heterogeneity in terms of productivity and skill-intensity in the agglomeration process and the effect of agglomeration on regional economic development. In the first essay, I analyze the effect of trade liberalization on agglomeration of high- and low-productivity firms and the consequences for regional economic development. By extending a new-economic-geography model, I find that competition, domestic and international, disperses low-productivity firms to less-developed regions. Trading with advanced countries also appears to bring about dispersion of economic activity. However, attempts by less-developed regions to provide monetary incentives are less likely to attract high-productivity firms. In the second essay, I empirically test the hypothesis that high-productivity (exporting) plants in Chile self-select to locate in large markets. Plants’ raw productivity, i.e., productivity independent of agglomeration economies, is computed to obtain regional productivity-distribution measures. I find that high-productivity (exporting) plants indeed locate in a region where other plants in the same industry agglomerate, industrial structure is diversified and market size is large. Finally, plants’ self-selection outweighs the contribution of agglomeration economies in increasing a region’s productivity. In the third essay, I identify the mechanism by which human-capital spillovers occur at the plant-level and examine the relationship between spillovers and agglomeration of high skill-intensive plants in Chile. I employ plant-level production functions incorporating the absorptive capacity hypothesis, i.e., high skill-intensive plants benefit more from human-capital spillovers than others. Empirically, in 5 out of 8 manufacturing industries, the benefit from spillovers is larger in high skill-intensive plants. Plant entry and exit are also affected by spillovers resulting in regional skill disparities. The results of the three essays reveal locational preferences of various types of firms. Policy options for economic development through increases in regional productivity include specializing in targeted industry, diversifying regional industrial structure, enlarging the market size and workforce education. The results of this dissertation help local governments to evaluate of the benefits from each policy option, which when compared with their knowledge of costs, aid in the selection of an effective policy to improve regional well-being. Title: Three essays on firm heterogeneity and regional development Author: Saito, Hisamitsu The objective of this dissertation is to theoretically and empirically examine the role of firm heterogeneity in terms of productivity and skill-intensity in the agglomeration process and the effect of agglomeration on regional economic development. In the first essay, I analyze the effect of trade liberalization on agglomeration of high- and low-productivity firms and the consequences for regional economic development. By extending a new-economic-geography model, I find that competition, domestic and international, disperses low-productivity firms to less-developed regions. Trading with advanced countries also appears to bring about dispersion of economic activity. However, attempts by less-developed regions to provide monetary incentives are less likely to attract high-productivity firms. In the second essay, I empirically test the hypothesis that high-productivity (exporting) plants in Chile self-select to locate in large markets. Plants’ raw productivity, i.e., productivity independent of agglomeration economies, is computed to obtain regional productivity-distribution measures. I find that high-productivity (exporting) plants indeed locate in a region where other plants in the same industry agglomerate, industrial structure is diversified and market size is large. Finally, plants’ self-selection outweighs the contribution of agglomeration economies in increasing a region’s productivity. In the third essay, I identify the mechanism by which human-capital spillovers occur at the plant-level and examine the relationship between spillovers and agglomeration of high skill-intensive plants in Chile. I employ plant-level production functions incorporating the absorptive capacity hypothesis, i.e., high skill-intensive plants benefit more from human-capital spillovers than others. Empirically, in 5 out of 8 manufacturing industries, the benefit from spillovers is larger in high skill-intensive plants. Plant entry and exit are also affected by spillovers resulting in regional skill disparities. The results of the three essays reveal locational preferences of various types of firms. Policy options for economic development through increases in regional productivity include specializing in targeted industry, diversifying regional industrial structure, enlarging the market size and workforce education. The results of this dissertation help local governments to evaluate of the benefits from each policy option, which when compared with their knowledge of costs, aid in the selection of an effective policy to improve regional well-being. Close

• 93. [Article] Trade costs and business dynamics in U.S. regions and industries

  Firms' participation in exporting or foreign direct investment is an extremely rare behavior: only 4 percent of over 5.5 million U.S. firms were exporters in 2000. Exporters are generally larger (e.g. ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Trade costs and business dynamics in U.S. regions and industries Author: Wu, Qian Firms' participation in exporting or foreign direct investment is an extremely rare behavior: only 4 percent of over 5.5 million U.S. firms were exporters in 2000. Exporters are generally larger (e.g. output and employment) and more productive than firms serving only domestic markets. Such heterogeneity within a narrowly defined industry cannot be fully explained by either comparative advantage arguments or the presence of scale economies and consumers' love of variety. Recent studies of heterogeneous firms show that a reduction in trade costs, i.e. policy, geographic and institutional barriers, has two effects within an industry previously not recognized in trade literature: (i) exit of low productivity firms, and (ii) resource reallocation in favor of high productivity firms. These two effects combine to raise an industry's average productivity and overall welfare, but can adversely affect some regions of an economy with firm closures or job losses. The objective of this dissertation is to examine the effects of trade costs on firm entry, exit, and employment at a regional level in the United States. For this purpose, industry-specific trade costs by U.S. regions are derived and their underlying sources are examined. The chosen trade-costs measure, based on the gravity equation, captures the variation over time in trade fictions among countries. Data from the Census Bureau and the World Bank are employed to quantify trade costs by U.S. industries and regions. Results show that a single measure of trade costs for the United States does not adequately represent the large number of and diverse regions through which trade in agriculture and manufacturing occurs. Moreover, geographic factors appear to be relatively more important than policy barriers in explaining the level of trade costs faced by U.S. regions. Drawing on recent heterogeneous firms models, this dissertation specifies an empirical framework to examine: (i) firm entry or exit arising from changes in trade costs, i.e. extensive margin, and (ii) changes in employment of surviving firms creation arising from changes in trade costs, i.e. intensive margin. These two hypotheses are tested using regional business dynamics data from the Census Bureau and trade cost measures derived earlier. Results show that trade cost changes affect firm exit and employment as hypothesized. That is, lowering trade costs increases the likelihood of firm exit, presumably of the low-productivity ones. Thus, trade costs, by way of the extensive margin, affect an industry's average productivity. Similarly, trade costs appear to affect the employment of surviving firms suggesting that the intensive margin also operates to improve average productivity of an industry, such as through resource reallocation towards high-productivity firms. The intra-industry reallocation of resources to high productivity firms is an important source of gains from trade to the whole economy. Nonetheless, some regions face firm exit and job losses. In assessing the gains from trade, attention must be paid to the distributional consequences of resource reallocation within an industry as well as a country. Title: Trade costs and business dynamics in U.S. regions and industries Author: Wu, Qian Firms' participation in exporting or foreign direct investment is an extremely rare behavior: only 4 percent of over 5.5 million U.S. firms were exporters in 2000. Exporters are generally larger (e.g. output and employment) and more productive than firms serving only domestic markets. Such heterogeneity within a narrowly defined industry cannot be fully explained by either comparative advantage arguments or the presence of scale economies and consumers' love of variety. Recent studies of heterogeneous firms show that a reduction in trade costs, i.e. policy, geographic and institutional barriers, has two effects within an industry previously not recognized in trade literature: (i) exit of low productivity firms, and (ii) resource reallocation in favor of high productivity firms. These two effects combine to raise an industry's average productivity and overall welfare, but can adversely affect some regions of an economy with firm closures or job losses. The objective of this dissertation is to examine the effects of trade costs on firm entry, exit, and employment at a regional level in the United States. For this purpose, industry-specific trade costs by U.S. regions are derived and their underlying sources are examined. The chosen trade-costs measure, based on the gravity equation, captures the variation over time in trade fictions among countries. Data from the Census Bureau and the World Bank are employed to quantify trade costs by U.S. industries and regions. Results show that a single measure of trade costs for the United States does not adequately represent the large number of and diverse regions through which trade in agriculture and manufacturing occurs. Moreover, geographic factors appear to be relatively more important than policy barriers in explaining the level of trade costs faced by U.S. regions. Drawing on recent heterogeneous firms models, this dissertation specifies an empirical framework to examine: (i) firm entry or exit arising from changes in trade costs, i.e. extensive margin, and (ii) changes in employment of surviving firms creation arising from changes in trade costs, i.e. intensive margin. These two hypotheses are tested using regional business dynamics data from the Census Bureau and trade cost measures derived earlier. Results show that trade cost changes affect firm exit and employment as hypothesized. That is, lowering trade costs increases the likelihood of firm exit, presumably of the low-productivity ones. Thus, trade costs, by way of the extensive margin, affect an industry's average productivity. Similarly, trade costs appear to affect the employment of surviving firms suggesting that the intensive margin also operates to improve average productivity of an industry, such as through resource reallocation towards high-productivity firms. The intra-industry reallocation of resources to high productivity firms is an important source of gains from trade to the whole economy. Nonetheless, some regions face firm exit and job losses. In assessing the gains from trade, attention must be paid to the distributional consequences of resource reallocation within an industry as well as a country. Close

• 94. [Article] The relationship of absentee ownership of manufacturing plants to income growth, income inequality and employment instability in Oregon

  Absentee-owned manufacturing plants made up a significant portion of the manufacturing sector in Oregon. In both 1969 and 1979, more than a quarter of the state's wage and salary manufacturing workers ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: The relationship of absentee ownership of manufacturing plants to income growth, income inequality and employment instability in Oregon Author: Mandelbaum, Thomas B. Absentee-owned manufacturing plants made up a significant portion of the manufacturing sector in Oregon. In both 1969 and 1979, more than a quarter of the state's wage and salary manufacturing workers were employed by manufacturers whose home offices were located in other states or nations. Although the orthodox economic view suggests that absentee-owned plants will provide widespread benefits, others argue that the presence of such firms leads to adverse economic changes in the host economies in which the plants operate. In order to investigate some of these changes, the empirical relationship of absentee ownership to income growth, income inequality, and employment instability were analyzed. Two measures of absentee ownership were used: the level of manufacturing employment In absentee-owned plants and the proportion of all manufacturing employees in absentee-owned plants in Oregon counties and SMSAs. The different measures of absentee ownership reflect different assumptions regarding the most likely alternative in the absence of absentee-owned plants. The level of employment in absentee-owned plants was used to analyze the hypothesized impacts under the assumption that absentee-owned plants are a net addition to the economy, displacing no indigenous manufacturers. The effects are referred to as "absolute" impacts. The "relative" effects were investigated through the application of models that include measures of the proportion of manufacturing employment In absentee-owned plants. These models reflect the assumption that absentee-owned firms completely displace locally owned manufacturers. If this assumption is adopted it is appropriate to compare the effects of absentee-owned firms to the impacts of indigenous firms that would have otherwise existed. Several cross-sectional multiple regression models were specified to investigate either the absolute or relative impacts of absentee ownership on income growth. The results provided no strong evidence that absentee ownership affects income growth In Oregon counties. It is concluded from a partial correlation analysis that the level of absentee ownership in a county was not significantly related to income inequality. But compared to local ownership, absentee ownership was significantly associated with a larger share of Income for middle income families and a smaller share for the highest income families. From the results of a multiple regression analysis of the relationship between absentee ownership and employment instability, It was concluded that, compared to local ownership, absentee ownership of manufacturers was significantly associated with less employment instability. The arguments of the orthodox theorists are more consistent with the results than those of the critical social scientists. None of the findings indicated that absentee ownership was associated with adverse economic impacts on the host economy. The results suggest that if the goals of economic development efforts are to decrease instability and equalize the income distribution, then the present policy of industrial attraction practiced in Oregon may be generally appropriate. Title: The relationship of absentee ownership of manufacturing plants to income growth, income inequality and employment instability in Oregon Author: Mandelbaum, Thomas B. Absentee-owned manufacturing plants made up a significant portion of the manufacturing sector in Oregon. In both 1969 and 1979, more than a quarter of the state's wage and salary manufacturing workers were employed by manufacturers whose home offices were located in other states or nations. Although the orthodox economic view suggests that absentee-owned plants will provide widespread benefits, others argue that the presence of such firms leads to adverse economic changes in the host economies in which the plants operate. In order to investigate some of these changes, the empirical relationship of absentee ownership to income growth, income inequality, and employment instability were analyzed. Two measures of absentee ownership were used: the level of manufacturing employment In absentee-owned plants and the proportion of all manufacturing employees in absentee-owned plants in Oregon counties and SMSAs. The different measures of absentee ownership reflect different assumptions regarding the most likely alternative in the absence of absentee-owned plants. The level of employment in absentee-owned plants was used to analyze the hypothesized impacts under the assumption that absentee-owned plants are a net addition to the economy, displacing no indigenous manufacturers. The effects are referred to as "absolute" impacts. The "relative" effects were investigated through the application of models that include measures of the proportion of manufacturing employment In absentee-owned plants. These models reflect the assumption that absentee-owned firms completely displace locally owned manufacturers. If this assumption is adopted it is appropriate to compare the effects of absentee-owned firms to the impacts of indigenous firms that would have otherwise existed. Several cross-sectional multiple regression models were specified to investigate either the absolute or relative impacts of absentee ownership on income growth. The results provided no strong evidence that absentee ownership affects income growth In Oregon counties. It is concluded from a partial correlation analysis that the level of absentee ownership in a county was not significantly related to income inequality. But compared to local ownership, absentee ownership was significantly associated with a larger share of Income for middle income families and a smaller share for the highest income families. From the results of a multiple regression analysis of the relationship between absentee ownership and employment instability, It was concluded that, compared to local ownership, absentee ownership of manufacturers was significantly associated with less employment instability. The arguments of the orthodox theorists are more consistent with the results than those of the critical social scientists. None of the findings indicated that absentee ownership was associated with adverse economic impacts on the host economy. The results suggest that if the goals of economic development efforts are to decrease instability and equalize the income distribution, then the present policy of industrial attraction practiced in Oregon may be generally appropriate. Close

• 95. [Article] Impact of Trade-Linked Policies on the Management of Fisheries in West Africa

  Research Paper

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Impact of Trade-Linked Policies on the Management of Fisheries in West Africa Author: Failler, Pierre Research Paper Title: Impact of Trade-Linked Policies on the Management of Fisheries in West Africa Author: Failler, Pierre Research Paper Close

• 96. [Article] A model for rating agricultural suitability of land parcels in western Oregon

  A model was developed that allows potential users to identify the agricultural suitability of parcels of land in western Oregon. Literature was reviewed regarding five possible benefits to be derived from ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: A model for rating agricultural suitability of land parcels in western Oregon Author: Rogers, William Reinhold A model was developed that allows potential users to identify the agricultural suitability of parcels of land in western Oregon. Literature was reviewed regarding five possible benefits to be derived from public policies designed to preserve productive agricultural land. They are (1) the provision of sufficient cropland to supply the food needs of an expanding national and world population; (2) the maintenance of healthy local economies in predominantly agricultural areas; (3) the increased efficiency that results from more orderly urban development; (4) the reduction of resource misallocations resulting fromthe conversion of the better agricultural lands to other uses; (5) the provision of open space in rapidly urbanizing areas. Systems currently being used to identify productive agricultural land were also reviewed. Among these were the land capability classification system, the "prime" and "unique" farmlands criteria, and various numerical indices such as the corn suitability rating. A comprehensive compilation was made of all factors having potentially significant effects on agricultural land use. Similar factors were grouped together and a model was developed incorporating the most important of these factors. Specific criteria were developed for evaluating the effects of the factors. The workability of the model was determined by applying it in several test areas and through numerous consultations. The model itself was developed in the form of a branching flow chart. After an initial question regarding commitment to other uses has been answered, the procedure involves the determination of two separate scores, one for soil productivity that ranges from 0-52 points and one for compatibility that ranges from 0- 48 points. The overall rating of agricultural suitability ranges from 0-100 points and is obtained by adding the two separate scores. Information needed to calculate the two scores is readily available. The determination of the soil productivity score requires use of crop yield data as well as irrigation and drainage information for soil map units. The determination of the compatibility score requires information about surrounding land uses and the location of the nearest urban growth boundary. To validate the model 43 parcels of land in six counties in western Oregon (Benton, Clackamas, Jackson, Lane, Marion and Tillamook) were selected as representative of six predetermined situations regarding soil productivity and extent of urban growth pressure. These situations were: (1) highly productive soils with little growth pressure; (2) highly productive soils with heavy growth pressure; (3) moderately productive soils with little growth pressure; (4) moderately productive soils with heavy growth pressure; (5) soils with relatively low productivity and little growth pressure; (6) soils with relatively low productivity and heavy growth pressure. The t test using pooled variances (Sp²) was used to determine whether differences between the means of the six situations were significant. The resulting analysis showed that when applying the model, those parcels with highly productive soils and little growth pressure had significantly higher total scores than all other parcels. Likewise, the parcels with soils of relatively low productivity and heavy growth pressure had the lowest scores. The other parcels fell somewhere in between. The model has several potential applications in Oregon. It can be used as a tool in evaluating the effects of changes in agricultural management, in evaluating the effects of land use decisions on surrounding agricultural lands, or in evaluating proposals for lot splits. It could also be used as part of the general long-range planning process. Other applications may be discovered by potential users as the need arises. Title: A model for rating agricultural suitability of land parcels in western Oregon Author: Rogers, William Reinhold A model was developed that allows potential users to identify the agricultural suitability of parcels of land in western Oregon. Literature was reviewed regarding five possible benefits to be derived from public policies designed to preserve productive agricultural land. They are (1) the provision of sufficient cropland to supply the food needs of an expanding national and world population; (2) the maintenance of healthy local economies in predominantly agricultural areas; (3) the increased efficiency that results from more orderly urban development; (4) the reduction of resource misallocations resulting fromthe conversion of the better agricultural lands to other uses; (5) the provision of open space in rapidly urbanizing areas. Systems currently being used to identify productive agricultural land were also reviewed. Among these were the land capability classification system, the "prime" and "unique" farmlands criteria, and various numerical indices such as the corn suitability rating. A comprehensive compilation was made of all factors having potentially significant effects on agricultural land use. Similar factors were grouped together and a model was developed incorporating the most important of these factors. Specific criteria were developed for evaluating the effects of the factors. The workability of the model was determined by applying it in several test areas and through numerous consultations. The model itself was developed in the form of a branching flow chart. After an initial question regarding commitment to other uses has been answered, the procedure involves the determination of two separate scores, one for soil productivity that ranges from 0-52 points and one for compatibility that ranges from 0- 48 points. The overall rating of agricultural suitability ranges from 0-100 points and is obtained by adding the two separate scores. Information needed to calculate the two scores is readily available. The determination of the soil productivity score requires use of crop yield data as well as irrigation and drainage information for soil map units. The determination of the compatibility score requires information about surrounding land uses and the location of the nearest urban growth boundary. To validate the model 43 parcels of land in six counties in western Oregon (Benton, Clackamas, Jackson, Lane, Marion and Tillamook) were selected as representative of six predetermined situations regarding soil productivity and extent of urban growth pressure. These situations were: (1) highly productive soils with little growth pressure; (2) highly productive soils with heavy growth pressure; (3) moderately productive soils with little growth pressure; (4) moderately productive soils with heavy growth pressure; (5) soils with relatively low productivity and little growth pressure; (6) soils with relatively low productivity and heavy growth pressure. The t test using pooled variances (Sp²) was used to determine whether differences between the means of the six situations were significant. The resulting analysis showed that when applying the model, those parcels with highly productive soils and little growth pressure had significantly higher total scores than all other parcels. Likewise, the parcels with soils of relatively low productivity and heavy growth pressure had the lowest scores. The other parcels fell somewhere in between. The model has several potential applications in Oregon. It can be used as a tool in evaluating the effects of changes in agricultural management, in evaluating the effects of land use decisions on surrounding agricultural lands, or in evaluating proposals for lot splits. It could also be used as part of the general long-range planning process. Other applications may be discovered by potential users as the need arises. Close

• 97. [Article] Evaluation of dwarf mistletoe control, Sula Ranger District, Bitteroot National Forest

  Residual Douglas-fir left after harvesting are dwarf mistletoe-infected and pose a threat to regeneration. Felling of residuals, coupled with planned slash disposal and thinning, will effectively reduce ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Evaluation of dwarf mistletoe control, Sula Ranger District, Bitteroot National Forest Author: Dooling, Oscar J., United States. Forest Service. Northern Region. State & Private Forestry, Byler, James W. Residual Douglas-fir left after harvesting are dwarf mistletoe-infected and pose a threat to regeneration. Felling of residuals, coupled with planned slash disposal and thinning, will effectively reduce dwarf mistletoe intensity and increase future volume yields. The benefit/cost ratio based on timber values only, for the current rotation, is 0.041/1 at 10 percent and 1.793/1 at 6 percent. Elimination of dwarf mistletoe infection for several rotations will increase the benefit/cost ratio. Value added to the economy cannot be used in benefit/cost analysis, but will be a substantial sum. Control is recommended. Title: Evaluation of dwarf mistletoe control, Sula Ranger District, Bitteroot National Forest Author: Dooling, Oscar J., United States. Forest Service. Northern Region. State & Private Forestry, Byler, James W. Residual Douglas-fir left after harvesting are dwarf mistletoe-infected and pose a threat to regeneration. Felling of residuals, coupled with planned slash disposal and thinning, will effectively reduce dwarf mistletoe intensity and increase future volume yields. The benefit/cost ratio based on timber values only, for the current rotation, is 0.041/1 at 10 percent and 1.793/1 at 6 percent. Elimination of dwarf mistletoe infection for several rotations will increase the benefit/cost ratio. Value added to the economy cannot be used in benefit/cost analysis, but will be a substantial sum. Control is recommended. Close

• 98. [Article] Export Performance of Indian Fisheries Sector: Strengths and Challenges Ahead

  Research Paper

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Export Performance of Indian Fisheries Sector: Strengths and Challenges Ahead Author: Joshi, P. K., Badruddin, Kumar, Anjani Research Paper Title: Export Performance of Indian Fisheries Sector: Strengths and Challenges Ahead Author: Joshi, P. K., Badruddin, Kumar, Anjani Research Paper Close

• 99. [Article] Foreign direct investment and wage inequality across and within nations : an empirical analysis

  Foreign direct investment (FDI), the movement of long-term capital, has been increasingly important in the world economy since the early 1970s. Its growth rate outpaces that of trade in goods and gross ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Foreign direct investment and wage inequality across and within nations : an empirical analysis Author: Chen, Weiyan Foreign direct investment (FDI), the movement of long-term capital, has been increasingly important in the world economy since the early 1970s. Its growth rate outpaces that of trade in goods and gross national product (GNP) during the same period. Prior literature mostly focuses on either the causes (determinants) of FDI or its relationships with trade and economic growth. This dissertation investigates the consequences of FDI, especially its empirical effects on wages in developing and developed countries. Moreover, the differential effects of FDI on various types of labor within developing countries are estimated. Using an extension of a specific-factors model, a revenue (GNP) function framework with FDI is derived. From a translog specification of GNP function, the share of labor compensation in GNP is derived as a function of output prices, factor endowments and FDI. Data from the United Nations and the World Bank, for 1975-1995, are used to estimate the labor share equations. Panel estimation procedures, complemented by specification tests and error structure analyses, are used since the data set includes 11 developing and 15 developed countries. Results suggest that inward FDI increases developing countries' wage rate, while outward FDI lowers the wage rate of developed countries. Thus, factor price equalization between developed and developing countries is observed as a result of FDI flows. Moreover, inward FDI raises skilled (non-agricultural) labor's wage, while lowering that of the unskilled (agricultural) labor. Thus, FDI is likely a source of income inequality within developing countries, although the overall wage rate increased due to FDI inflows. The effects of FDI on wage inequality within China are estimated to provide a case study. Results are similar to that of the cross-country case. Overall wage rate in China has increased with more FDI inflows, but the coastal provinces have benefited more than the interior provinces. Title: Foreign direct investment and wage inequality across and within nations : an empirical analysis Author: Chen, Weiyan Foreign direct investment (FDI), the movement of long-term capital, has been increasingly important in the world economy since the early 1970s. Its growth rate outpaces that of trade in goods and gross national product (GNP) during the same period. Prior literature mostly focuses on either the causes (determinants) of FDI or its relationships with trade and economic growth. This dissertation investigates the consequences of FDI, especially its empirical effects on wages in developing and developed countries. Moreover, the differential effects of FDI on various types of labor within developing countries are estimated. Using an extension of a specific-factors model, a revenue (GNP) function framework with FDI is derived. From a translog specification of GNP function, the share of labor compensation in GNP is derived as a function of output prices, factor endowments and FDI. Data from the United Nations and the World Bank, for 1975-1995, are used to estimate the labor share equations. Panel estimation procedures, complemented by specification tests and error structure analyses, are used since the data set includes 11 developing and 15 developed countries. Results suggest that inward FDI increases developing countries' wage rate, while outward FDI lowers the wage rate of developed countries. Thus, factor price equalization between developed and developing countries is observed as a result of FDI flows. Moreover, inward FDI raises skilled (non-agricultural) labor's wage, while lowering that of the unskilled (agricultural) labor. Thus, FDI is likely a source of income inequality within developing countries, although the overall wage rate increased due to FDI inflows. The effects of FDI on wage inequality within China are estimated to provide a case study. Results are similar to that of the cross-country case. Overall wage rate in China has increased with more FDI inflows, but the coastal provinces have benefited more than the interior provinces. Close

• 100. [Article] An economic analysis of small-holders agriculture in the central highlands of Ethiopia : a system simulation approach

  In the majority of the less developed countries the small-scale peasant agriculture is the dominant sector of the countries' economies. The successes of major agricultural programs in order to increase ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: An economic analysis of small-holders agriculture in the central highlands of Ethiopia : a system simulation approach Author: Bellete, Solomon In the majority of the less developed countries the small-scale peasant agriculture is the dominant sector of the countries' economies. The successes of major agricultural programs in order to increase the potentials depend primarily on the understanding of the economic organizations of the peasant households. This study analyzed over a period of five years the production/ consumption behavior of small-holders peasant agriculture at the micro-level in a case study region representing the Central Highlands of Ethiopia. The consequences of increased resource productivities as a result of assumed technologica forces, on the production/consumption behavior of a typical farm househlold were evaluated. A dynamic system simulation framework was employed to describe and analyze the economic growth process given the farm household's goals. The system framework or model was specified by four interconnected components consisting of cultivated land area; production-inventory; income-consumption; and agricultural investment. In the absence of increases in resource productivities the system simulation model predicted over the specified period of time a relatively stable consumption pattern. In addition, land area allocated to crops such as teff and wheat increased by over 50 percent resulting in modest increase in output and income. However, nearly half of the potential arable land was left uncultivated during this period of time. With an intermediate increase in the level of capital productivities the results showed wide fluctuation in income and consumption with an upward trend over the specified period. Land areas under teff and wheat doubled and also resulted in slight increases for barley and pulses. Production based on further increased capital productivities indicated that all of the potential available land would be put under cultivation over a period of four years and in addition the conditions of unstable consumption and income patterns would be more exasperated. The reason for these unstable situations appeared to be the behavior of the level of investment which was in turn assumed to depend on the situation of the supply of and demand for household food. In view of the circumstances pointed out changes would be required in order to meet the goals and aspirations of the farm household and to promote the farmer's welfare. The findings of the study suggested that increased welfare would be accompanied by increased risks to meet adequately the food needs of the household over time. The study concluded that the resolution of the conflicting goals of the individual farm household would require the intervention of the public agencies and particularly those engaged in research, extension and agricultural service activities. However, careful considerations should be given to the goals expressed by the individual household units at the micro-level and those expressed goals of the public at large, to increase the level of resolution and to bring about changes with positive and desirable consequences to the farming communities. Title: An economic analysis of small-holders agriculture in the central highlands of Ethiopia : a system simulation approach Author: Bellete, Solomon In the majority of the less developed countries the small-scale peasant agriculture is the dominant sector of the countries' economies. The successes of major agricultural programs in order to increase the potentials depend primarily on the understanding of the economic organizations of the peasant households. This study analyzed over a period of five years the production/ consumption behavior of small-holders peasant agriculture at the micro-level in a case study region representing the Central Highlands of Ethiopia. The consequences of increased resource productivities as a result of assumed technologica forces, on the production/consumption behavior of a typical farm househlold were evaluated. A dynamic system simulation framework was employed to describe and analyze the economic growth process given the farm household's goals. The system framework or model was specified by four interconnected components consisting of cultivated land area; production-inventory; income-consumption; and agricultural investment. In the absence of increases in resource productivities the system simulation model predicted over the specified period of time a relatively stable consumption pattern. In addition, land area allocated to crops such as teff and wheat increased by over 50 percent resulting in modest increase in output and income. However, nearly half of the potential arable land was left uncultivated during this period of time. With an intermediate increase in the level of capital productivities the results showed wide fluctuation in income and consumption with an upward trend over the specified period. Land areas under teff and wheat doubled and also resulted in slight increases for barley and pulses. Production based on further increased capital productivities indicated that all of the potential available land would be put under cultivation over a period of four years and in addition the conditions of unstable consumption and income patterns would be more exasperated. The reason for these unstable situations appeared to be the behavior of the level of investment which was in turn assumed to depend on the situation of the supply of and demand for household food. In view of the circumstances pointed out changes would be required in order to meet the goals and aspirations of the farm household and to promote the farmer's welfare. The findings of the study suggested that increased welfare would be accompanied by increased risks to meet adequately the food needs of the household over time. The study concluded that the resolution of the conflicting goals of the individual farm household would require the intervention of the public agencies and particularly those engaged in research, extension and agricultural service activities. However, careful considerations should be given to the goals expressed by the individual household units at the micro-level and those expressed goals of the public at large, to increase the level of resolution and to bring about changes with positive and desirable consequences to the farming communities. Close