Advances in the Economic Analysis of Food System Drivers and Effects

Presentations from the 2018 NAREA pre-conference workshop, held June 9-10 in Philadelphia, PA. The workshop was made possible with support from a USDA-NIFA conference grant (award #2018-67023-27691).

Many of the papers presented at the workshop were published in a special issue of Agricultural and Resource Economic Review, which is accessible here.
A printer-friendly PDF version of the workshop agenda is available here.
Retail Food Prices: Do Markets Work?

PDF document, 2.3 MB

In competitive retail markets, rational responses by competitive agents are often mistaken for market failure. I will present six such examples from the food-retailing world, and outline research that I and co-authors have undertaken to find out whether the market is operating efficiently. Presented by Timothy J. Richards, Arizona State University.

An Examination of the Adequacy of SNAP Benefit Levels

PDF document, 566.1 KB

The effectiveness of SNAP depends on benefits being high enough to cover minimum food costs. We consider how the sufficiency of SNAP benefits in light of variation in county-level food prices. Presented by Craig Gundersen, University of Illinois. Other authors include Elaine Waxman and Amy Crumbaugh.

Prospects for New England Agriculture: Farm to Fork

PDF document, 9.7 MB

This paper analyzes produce types most valued by consumers, potential for expanding local production, and what motivates consumers in purchasing local produce in New England. Presented by John Halstead, University of New Hampshire. Other authors include Samantha Werner, Amanda McLeod, Scott LeMos, Wei Shi, Lily Harris, Ju-Chin Huang, Todd Gabe, James McConnon, Chyi-Lyi Liang.

Township of Langley Food System Design

PDF document, 1.6 MB

Three example scenarios represent different agricultural land use and production regimes which aim to satisfy Township of Langley's population feed need. Presented by Wallapak Polasub, Institute for Sustainable Food Systems, KPU. Other authors include Caitlin Dorward and Kent Mullinix.

Food Systems and Rural Wealth Creation

PDF document, 11.2 MB

This research proposes a comprehensive database of stocks of capital assets and test their relationship with food system activities and interventions. Presented by Becca Jablonski, Colorado State University. Other authors include Todd Schmit, Libby Christensen, Tom Johnson, David Kay, and Jennifer Minner.

Estimating Market Power in the Rice Supply Chain of Bangladesh

PDF document, 1.3 MB

This paper estimates the market power being exercised by the leading intermediaries in the rice supply chain of Bangladesh. Presented by Mohammad Rahman, International Rice Research Institute. Other authors include Valerien Pede, Jose Yorobe, and Samarendu Mohanty.
Market Channel and School Meal Costs in Farm to School Programs

PDF document, 1.2 MB

We test whether schools that made local food purchases directly from a producer experienced lower school meal costs vis-à-vis non-direct schools. Presented by Jeffrey O'Hara, USDA AMS. Co-authored by Jill Fitzsimmons.

The Food System Transformation: Three dynamic drivers underpinning the process of economic development in food systems

PDF document, 964.6 KB

Three dynamic drivers transforming food systems: stakeholders exercising ‘voice’, information communication technologies, and the social innovation nexus of social entrepreneurship, social finance and shared-value creation. Presented by Stephen Vogel, USDA/Economic Research Service. Other authors include James Barham and Gary Matteson.
Models and Methods for Food Hub Location in the United States

PDF document, 2.8 MB

A comparison of simulation vs econometric solutions of establishment locations in the fresh produce supply chain in the United States. Presented by Houtian Ge, Cornell University. Other authors include Stephan Goetz, Rebecca Cleary, and Miguel Gómez.
Bigger Farms and Bigger Food Processors: Does Changing Structure in Agricultural Production Affect the Food Processing Sector?

PDF document, 1.2 MB

This paper explores whether the structural changes in the agricultural production sector affect the downstream food processing sector and explores the mechanisms of this effect. Presented by Xi He, University of Connecticut.

Guidelines or Subsidies: Promoting Dietary Fiber Intake through Policy in the United States

PDF document, 982.2 KB

Effect of a subsidy on fiber-rich foods is investigated as a feasible solution to encourage Americans to meet dairy fiber intake guidelines. Presented by Mark Senia, Texas A&M University. Other authors include Senarath Dharmasena and Oral Capps.
More Farms on the Water? U.S. Consumers’ Perceptions of Aquaculture Practices and Products

PDF document, 1.4 MB

The study examines consumers' perceptions of aquaculture and aquacultured products, and evaluates the persuasive impacts of gain and loss message framing on aquaculture perceptions. Presented by Caroline Noblet, University of Maine. Other authors include Kofi Britwum, Laura Rickard, and Keith Evans.
The Effects of Exogenous Changes in Food Environment on Households’ Healthfulness of Food Purchases

PDF document, 3.9 MB

This paper investigates if an exogenous change in food environment will affect households’ diet quality, using migration as a case. Presented by Zefeng Dong, Penn State. Other authors include Edward C. Jaenicke, Douglas Wrenn and Annemarie Kukns.

Consumer Interest in Animal Welfare: The Impact on Willingness-to-Pay for Organic and Local Fluid Milk

PDF document, 465.3 KB

This paper assesses the impact of animal welfare and environmental practices in production practice on consumers’ willingness to pay for milk. Presented by Xuan Chen, Penn State University. Other authors include Yizao Liu, Adam Rabinowitz, and Benjamin Campbell.
NAREA pre-conference workshop agenda

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The 2018 Northeast Agricultural and Resource Economics Association Pre-Conference Workshop agenda.