This paper uses a choice experiment to evaluate the consumers' willingness to pay for energy-saving measures in Switzerland's residential buildings. These measures include air renewal (ventilation) systems and insulation of windows and facades. Two groups of respondents consisting respectively of 163 apartment tenants and 142 house owners were asked to choose between their housing status quo and each one of the several hypothetical situations with different attributes and prices. The estimation method is based on a fixed-effects logit model. The results suggest that the benefits of the energy-saving attributes are significantly valued by the consumers. These benefits include both individual energy savings and environmental benefits as well as comfort benefits namely, thermal comfort, air quality and noise protection.

Risk-Aversion and Willingness to Pay For Energy Saving Measures in Residential Buildings

https://digitalcommons.pepperdine.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1040&context=sppworkingpapers

The broadband digital divide and the economic benefits of mobile broadband for rural areas

Broadband's contribution to economic growth in rural areas

There is increasing concern about the vulnerability of poor and near-poor rural households, who have limited capabilities to manage risk and often resort to strategies that can lead to a vicious cycle of poverty. Household-related risk is ususally considered individual or private, but measures to manage risk are actually social or public in nature. Furthermore, various externality issues are associated with household-related risk, such as its links to economic development, poverty reduction, social cohesion, and environmental quality. Hence the need for a holistic approach to risk management, or"social risk management,"which encompasses a broad spectrum of private and public actions. An asset-based approach to social risk management is presented, which provides an integrated approach to considering household, community, and extra-community assets and risk-management strategies. The conceptual framework for social risk management focuses on rural Sub-Saharan Africa. The report concludes with several suggestions on moving from concepts to actions.

An asset-based approach to social risk management : a conceptual framework

Local and regional food systems (LRFS) innovated during COVID-19 to respond to market demand and policy changes. Given their unique characteristics, we identify drivers that explain why local responses to COVID-19 vary when compared with the national dialogue on food supply chain disruptions. We suggest LFRS enterprises are nimble and connected to supply chain partners, allowing them to innovate quickly with a targeted approach. Considering the shorter supply chains and smaller operations typical of LRFS, we assert the current regulatory environment's fairness and relevance may be scrutinized. In conclusion, we articulate an updated research and technical assistance agenda for LRFS.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/aepp.13121

Local Food Supply Chain Dynamics and Resilience During COVID ‐19

Based on the research activity within the ISLE International Sustainability Network, this paper represents a step forward aiming to find some contacts points in the experiences some international cases (USA, Brazil, Italy and France) have grown in the development of agritourism in mountain contexts. Despite the singular differences and the national specificities, agritourism is generally considered a particular form of social innovation in agriculture and rural development of mountainous areas, aiming at recomposing the natural and the human dimensions within the framework of a new sustainable way of doing agriculture. At the basis of the research is the hypothesis that agritourism operations are slowly and gradually shifting towards a new perspective/model. Some years ago, agritourism was traditionally viewed as a way for farmers to integrate or diversify their incomes. Nowadays instead—as the diversity of practice has grown and new values have emerged—the range of farmers’ motivations has become much broader. Some of these motivations include not only economic issues but also social, environmental and cultural ones, while addressing a more comprehensive idea of community-based and sustainable development. Case studies from South Carolina (USA), from Italian mountain regions, from Santa Catarina State in Brazil and from France are illustrated in which different innovation perspectives are highlighted.

Agritourism in Mountainous Regions—Insights from an International Perspective

E-Commerce as a Business Strategy: Lessons Learned from Case Studies of Rural and Small Town Businesses

Rural America stands to be left behind much of the developed world without substantial investments in advanced telecommunications infrastructure. Communities require core infrastructure to attract and retain firms and to meet the needs of local businesses and entrepreneurs. Today, communities should consider robust and affordable Internet access a critical component of core infrastructure along with more traditional elements of water, sewer, power, transportation networks, and educational services. The rapid pace of technological change and globalization has forever changed the necessary infrastructure requirements for businesses and individuals to stay competitive. Competitive businesses and productive people increasingly need access to the most up-todate, high-speed telecommunications networks to ensure on-demand access to suppliers, customers, branch plants, and others. As a result, communities and businesses without the most up-to-date advanced telecommunications infrastructure will likely suffer economically and socially. Improving the supply of, and demand for, broadband Internet access in rural America is crucial for future economic development opportunities. This article highlights some of the main issues concerning current and future investments in advanced telecommunications infrastructure; emphasizing the geographic and socio-economic digital divide, the benefits of rural broadband, and policy options for improving both the supply of and demand for broadband technology.

The struggle for broadband in Rural America.

Despite the touted potential of e-commerce to improve agriculture profits, the literature on effectiveness of e-commerce is very limited. This paper assesses the economic impact of an electronic trade platform (i.e., MarketMaker) on agricultural producers. Contingent valuation techniques are employed to estimate the monetary value that producers placed on MarketMaker services. Results indicate that producers are willing to pay $47.02 annually for the services they receive. Registration type, amount of time registered, amount of time devoted to MarketMaker, type of user, number of marketing contacts received, and firm total annual sales have a significant effect on producers’ willingness to pay.

The economic impact of services provided by an electronic trade platform: the case of MarketMaker.

©1999–2013 CHOICES. All rights reserved. Articles may be reproduced or electronically distributed as long as attribution to Choices and the Agricultural & Applied Economics Association is maintained. Choices subscriptions are free and can be obtained through http://www.choicesmagazine.org. AAEA Agricultural & Applied Economics Association A publication of the Agricultural & Applied Economics Association

R. David Lamie

Papers

Agritourism in Mountainous Regions—Insights from an International Perspective

E-Commerce as a Business Strategy: Lessons Learned from Case Studies of Rural and Small Town Businesses

The struggle for broadband in Rural America.

The economic impact of services provided by an electronic trade platform: the case of MarketMaker.

Does E-Commerce Help Agricultural Markets? The Case of MarketMaker