Showing papers by "Gregory Colson published in 2015"

Climate change beliefs and perceptions of agricultural risks: An application of the exchangeability method ☆

Abstract: Using the exchangeability method, we elicit Italian farmers’ short- and long-run perceptions of agricultural risks related to climate change We consider four sources of crop loss risk: powdery mildew and hail for grape growers and apple dieback and hail for apple farmers We find that perceived crop loss risks tend to be greater in the long run than in the short run Controlling for a variety of factors (past experiences with crop losses, farming experience, numeracy, interactions with other producers, and farm characteristics), we identify climate change beliefs as a critical factor explaining the short- vs long-run difference in risk perceptions: those who believe in climate change project larger future crop losses Additionally, prior direct experience with crop losses helps explain why certain farmers perceive greater risk Our results suggest that outreach services should offer field days providing first-hand exposure to crop losses and adopt a segmented approach that considers farmers’ climate change beliefs

State of the science and challenges of breeding landscape plants with ecological function.

Abstract: Exotic plants dominate esthetically-managed landscapes, which cover 30-40 million hectares in the United States alone. Recent ecological studies have found that landscaping with exotic plant species can reduce biodiversity on multiple trophic levels. To support biodiversity in urbanized areas, the increased use of native landscaping plants has been advocated by conservation groups and US federal and state agencies. A major challenge to scaling up the use of native species in landscaping is providing ornamental plants that are both ecologically functional and economically viable. Depending on ecological and economic constraints, accelerated breeding approaches could be applied to ornamental trait development in native plants. This review examines the impact of landscaping choices on biodiversity, the current status of breeding and selection of native ornamental plants, and the interdisciplinary research needed to scale up landscaping plants that can support native biodiversity.

Deception in experiments: Towards guidelines on use in applied economics research

Abstract: Many applied economics journals ban the use of deception in experiments, which contrasts with the policies in other academic disciplines. We examine the cases for and against deception, and describe the ways deception can be employed in applied economics experiments. We create a general ranking of harms from deception in experiments and present evidence from a survey (conducted in summer 2014) of agricultural and applied economists eliciting attitudes towards ten different deceptive practices. Survey respondents view inflicting physical or psychological harm on participants and not making promised payments as the most severe forms of deception. Less severe forms of deception include providing participants with incomplete product information and conducting an experiment using participants who are not aware they are part of an experiment. Finally, we provide recommendations for policies addressing deception in experiments.

Do Monetary Incentives Matter in Classroom Experiments? Effects on Course Performance

Abstract: Using 641 principles of economics students across four universities, the authors examine whether providing monetary incentives in a prisoner's dilemma game enhances student learning as measured by a set of common exam questions. Subjects either play a two-player prisoner's dilemma game for real money, play the same game with no money at stake (i.e., play a hypothetical version), or are in a control group where no game is played. The authors find strong evidence that students who played the classroom game for real money earned higher test scores than students who played the hypothetical game or where no game was played. Their findings challenge the conventional wisdom that monetary incentives are unnecessary in classroom experiments.

Self-Protection from Weather Risk using Improved Maize Varieties or Off-Farm Income and the Propensity for Insurance

Abstract: We investigate how self-protection from the adoption of Improved Maize Varieties (IMV) and off-farm income affects risk premiums for smallholder maize producers in Uganda. To unbundle these effects, we specify the cost of risk to explicitly capture four risk components - mean, variance, skewness and kurtosis. Using unique plot-level panel data for Uganda, we estimate and test moments of a flexible production function based on an expanded form of the Johnson SU family distribution and proceed to simulate the degree of responsiveness of risk premiums and welfare estimates to marginal changes in the share of land under IMV and off-farm income. Scenarios of joint adoption of IMV accompanied with low and high application of inorganic fertilizer, and the effect of off-farm income when there is high and low supply of farm labor are examined. Results show that the use of IMV and off-farm income substantially reduces risk premiums and the individual effect is much higher under low fertilizer application and high supply of farm labor, respectively. Thus implying that self-protection is likely to reduce the propensity for index insurance especially if its design fails to consider the reduction in downside risk.

Does Ethnicity Matter For Food Choices? An Empirical Analysis of Asian Immigrant Time Use

Abstract: As immigrants settle and extend their stay in the U.S., they may be exposed to a food culture and lifestyle that impacts their food choice decisions and health outcomes. This paper focuses on the behavioral changes and acculturation level of different generations of Asian immigrants on food choice decisions employing the 2013 American Time Use Survey. Heckman two-step regression results indicate that the 1st generation immigrants participate or spend more time on eating and drinking, food preparation, and grocery shopping; and less in travel related eating and drinking compared with natives. The 1st generation is least likely to acculturate into American food culture. The 1.5 generation behaves more similarly to natives regarding the four food choice decisions, and appears to acculturate over time. The 2nd generation shows no significant difference to natives. Immigrants acculturate by food habit change from food at home to food away from home.

Examining how German and British Consumers’ Food Safety Concerns Moderate their Country of Origin Preferences for Beef

Abstract: In the European Union (EU), country of origin labeling (COOL) became mandatory in 2002 in response to the United Kingdom’s bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) crisis. Although the EU has enacted one of the most information rich COOL policies for beef globally, little research has focused on origin labeling in the EU. Therefore, we determined how German and British consumers’ food safety concerns moderated their willingness to pay (WTP) for foreign (country of origin labeled) beef. Additional attributes, such as hormone-free labeling, quality assurance seals and promotional gourmet labeling were also analyzed. Random parameter logit model results indicated that British and German consumers’ WTP for foreign beef is moderated by their specific food safety concerns. For example, as German consumers are increasingly concerned about BSE, their WTP for beef from Great Britain was most negative. When controlling for consumers’ food safety concern in general, British consumers had the lowest WTP for beef from France, and German consumers had the lowest WTP for beef from the U.S. German and British consumers’ had the highest WTP for hormone-free beef. These results are informational to the international trade of beef.

Consumer attitudes toward the use of gene technology in breakfast products: comparison between college students from the U.S. and China.

Abstract: Second-generation Genetically Modified (GM) crops are associated with consumer-oriented benefits such as improvement of nutritional quality. Given such an evolving market environment, this paper presents differences in consumer preferences and valuations for genetically modified breakfast grain products. The perception of consumers from a developing country, China, is discussed and compared to attitudes in a developed country, the U.S. The survey results reveal that there are notable differences in the attitude and perception of college students across these two countries. Purchase intent for GM foods was low, unless a benefit was promised, and some modifications are viewed more positively than others. Overall, it appears that GM foods may be acceptable in the U.S. and Chinese market. The findings in this study have potential implications for establishing various GM marketing strategies and information campaigns.

Survey evidence on legal and illegal Hispanic immigrants’ perceptions of living and working in US agriculture

Abstract: Immigration and potential reforms to immigration policies and enforcement mechanisms are among the most contentious national, state, and local legislative issues in the United States, with divides across political parties, industry, and ethnic lines. While there is a wide spectrum of elements encompassing the debate over immigration policy and possible reforms, there are two issues of particular consequence for the agricultural industry: 1) the quantity and design of temporary agricultural worker visas and 2) potential pathways to legal permanent resident (LPR) status for current immigrants unlawfully in the United States. The US agricultural industry is acutely sensitive to any changes (or continuing the status quo) to immigration policy and enforcement due to the sheer number of foreign-born workers employed on farms and processing plants across the United States (Martin, 2012; Martin & Calvin, 2010). According to the 2010 National Agricultural Workers Survey (NAWS), 78% of all crop farmworkers in the United States were foreign born, with the vast majority (71%) originating from Mexico. While estimates vary, according to US Department of Labor surveys, about half of all farmworkers between 2005 and 2009 indicated that they were working without employment authorization (Hertz & Zahniser, 2013). For fruits, nuts, and vegetable crops, the percentages approach nearly two-thirds of all farm workers. The combination of potential changes to immigration policies and persistent difficulties among growers across the United States obtaining sufficient pools of workers (Martin, 2012) presents a significant challenge to the agricultural industry. A number of studies and surveys have documented the sensitivity of agricultural productivity and profitability to stricter or looser immigration policies. Zahniser, Hertz, Dixon, and Rimmer (2012) estimate that tightening immigration policies could result in a long-run reduction of 2% to 4% in the acreage of labor-intensive crops, and Devadoss and Luckstead (2011) estimate that it could decrease farm exports by $181 million. In the same vein, relaxing constraints and increasing the availability of nonimmigrant farm workers would have a large positive impact on labor-intensive crops including fruits, vegetables, and nursery products (Gunter, Jarrett, & Duffield, 1992; Zahniser et al., 2012). Recent experiences with changes to immigration enforcement laws at the state level tend to support the concerns that tightening immigration rules has at least a short-run negative impact on the agricultural industry. House Bill 87 (HB87) in the state of Georgia, which implemented penalties for certain employers failing to utilize the federal work authorization program (E-Verify), led to widespread anecdotal evidence of labor shortages and production losses from crops being left unharvested. A survey of growers by the Georgia Department of Agriculture found that Georgia growers following the passage of HB87 experienced labor shortages, which they perceived was in part due to the tougher laws. Approximately one-fourth of Georgia growers experienced income losses due to these labor shortages (Black, 2012). Similarly, following the passage of House Bill 56 in Alabama—which is considered Gregory Colson, Grace Melo, and Octavio A. Ramirez The University of Georgia This study presents survey evidence on legal and illegal Hispanic immigrants’ perceptions of living and working in the United States. Three key findings emerge that present a negative outlook for the agricultural industry labor supply if a path to legal permanent residence is granted for current illegal immigrants or insufficient provision of temporary work visas for agriculture workers is provided. We find for our sample that there is a marked transition from initial employment in the agricultural industry upon entering the United States to non-agricultural jobs (i.e., agriculture is a gateway job to other opportunities). Second, immigrants working in agriculture jobs perceive greater discrimination and unfair treatment by their employers compared to other industries. Third, workers in agriculture strongly feel that they are not paid fairly for their work. These three features point to a challenging outlook for the future agricultural labor supply.

Impact of Farm to School Programs on Students’ Consumption of Healthful Foods: An Empirical Analysis in Georgia

Abstract: Given the recent concerns over childhood obesity and the changes to the requirements set forth by the National School Lunch Program, Farm to School Programs (FTSPs) have become a popular way for schools to achieve the standards. This study examines FTSPs in Georgia, looking at panel data from 2008 through 2012 for each school district. We use Probit models to determine the characteristics of districts choosing to adopt these programs. We then use panel regression to examine the impact FTSPs have on student responses to the Georgia Student Health Survey to determine the effects of FTSPs on student consumption of healthful foods and their perception of the foods served in their schools. We find districts with a higher population and agricultural sales, and lower median incomes are more likely to adopt FTSPs. We also find FTSPs have no statistically significant impact on student consumption of healthful foods.

U.S. Ethanol Demand and World Hunger: Is There Any Connection?

Abstract: U.S. ethanol expansion objectives are to improve both energy security and the environmental. However, this expansion has raised issues concerning its detrimental impacts on the price volatility of developing countries’ agricultural commodities. These concerns are addressed by empirically investigating the relations among U.S. ethanol and corn markets with developing countries’ corn prices. Results indicate that U.S. ethanol demand impacts on developing countries’ corn prices vary by country. Further, results reveal that the transmission effects of U.S. ethanol shocks are systematically stronger for countries with higher food import dependency and U.S. food aid.

U.S. Ethanol Demand and World Hunger: Is There Any Connection?

Abstract: U.S. ethanol expansion objectives are to improve both energy security and the environmental. However, this expansion has raised issues concerning its detrimental impacts on the price volatility of developing countries’ agricultural commodities. These concerns are addressed by empirically investigating the relations among U.S. ethanol and corn markets with developing countries’ corn prices. Results indicate that U.S. ethanol demand impacts on developing countries’ corn prices vary by country. Further, results reveal that the transmission effects of U.S. ethanol shocks are systematically stronger for countries with higher food import dependency and U.S. food aid.