The Law of One Price (LOP) is important to models of international trade and exchange rate determination. This study investigates a variant of the LOP applied to developed and developing countries. The competing hypotheses are (1) that one price prevails in both developed and developing countries and (2) that one price prevails in developed countries and another single price in developing countries. Using data from an internationally competitive commodity (soybean meal), we found evidence favors the first hypothesis, although two large developing countries under study are active participants in regional trade integration, which may bias them against the first hypothesis.

Typically, marketers define market segments by their demographic characteristics, assuming that these segments represent consumers with relatively homogeneous buying patterns. A more managerially useful definition, however, groups consumers of similar behavior directly and then seeks to find demographic commonalities among them. This study uses a latent class analysis technique to segment consumers based on their responsiveness to a set of marketing variables, finding that a multiple-segment model provides a better fit to the data, and that these segments differ significantly in their responsiveness. By targeting marketing activities to their most responsive segments, the efficiency of commodity promotion can be dramatically improved.

Statistical summarizations of literature review databases using meta-regression analysis provide insight into the differences in past estimates of economic variables such as benefits and price elasticities. The panel nature of the data is an issue that has not received adequate attention in past meta-analyses. This paper conceptually and empirically explores the complexity of stratifying data into panels that model the potential correlation and heterogeneity of past outdoor recreation benefit research. Although our tests of three stratifications of the data did not discern panel effects, the inherent complexity of the data maintains a strong presumption of heterogeneous strata.

Changes in consumer demand for poultry meats can be characterized as evolving over time and following seasonal patterns. The focus of this study is on understanding factors affecting wholesale poultry prices. This information is needed so that poultry processors and poultry producers may better understand how consumer purchasing patterns affect price changes. Results suggest that seasonal differences between the price of cuts exist. Furthermore, own-cut and cross-cut flexibilities were unique to individual cuts.

A dynamic econometric model of the U.S. kiwifruit industry provides a framework for empirical analysis of small-scale commodities, particularly those used by producers for diversification. Production and marketing processes are explained by annual and monthly components, respectively. Results confirm that plantings were speculative and that economic feasibility critically impacts acreage retention as the industry matures. Prices at alternative outlets and fruit quality in storage affect monthly shipments. Flexibilities of monthly f.o.b. prices imply elastic kiwifruit demand, and imports are found to be substitutes. The industry could increase its average annual gross revenue by marketing the crop earlier in the season.

A feeder-calf price model is estimated which incorporates elements of break-even budget analysis, including estimates of placement weights, slaughter weights, ration cost, and feed-conversion rates. From this model, a corn price multiplier is calculated which quantifies the corn/feeder-calf price relationship. Because the multiplier includes information on cattle weight, feed conversion, and ration cost, it also provides insight into how feeding programs are altered in response to corn price changes. Changes in feeding programs which occur in response to corn price changes are illustrated with dynamic simulation based on weight, ration cost, and price models presented here.

This study focuses on the development of a optimal harvest scheduling mathematical programming model which incorporates within-season changes in perennial crop yields. Daily crop yield prediction models are estimated econometrically for major commercially grown sugarcane cultivars. This information is incorporated into a farm-level harvest scheduling linear programming model. The harvest scheduling model solves for an optimal daily harvest schedule which maximizes whole farm net returns above harvesting costs. Model results are compared for a commercial sugarcane farm in Louisiana.

An expected-utility model and a chance-constrained linear programming model were used to analyze four marketing strategies and seven crop insurance alternatives for cotton marketing in Georgia. The results suggest that existing marketing tools and insurance alternatives can be used to reduce cotton producers' revenue risk. The optimal level of yield and price insurance coverage depends on an individual producer's risk aversion.

Cattle producers and beef packers need to understand basis determinants as they develop price expectations and make pricing, hedging, and forward contracting decisions. This study empirically estimated factors explaining variability in monthly fed cattle basis. The five main results regarding live cattle basis are 1) corn price is an important determinant, 2) a change in the value of the Choice-to-Select spread positively affects basis, 3) changes in the levels of captive supplies have no significant statistical or economic impact on basis, 4) the June 1995 live cattle futures contract did not impact basis, and 5) both market fundamentals and seasonal components are important basis determinants.

The US pork sector has experienced many significant structural changes in recent years. Such changes may have influenced price dynamics and transmission of shocks through marketing channels. We investigate linkages among farm, wholesale, and retail markets using weekly price data for the period covering 1987 through 1998. Our analysis uses a threshold cointegration model that permits asymmetric adjustment to positive and negative price shocks. Our results reveal important asymmetries. Our results are consistent with existing literature which has determined that price adjustment patterns are unidirectional and that information tends to flow from farm, to wholesale, to retail markets.

When evaluating the economic efficiency of policies to reduce nonpoint source pollution, administrative or transaction costs are usually not taken into account. While the importance of transaction costs has been recognized in the theoretical literature, the fact that they are not incorporated in empirical analyses means that, in effect, these costs are given a zero value. This issue is examined quantitatively using data collected by the National Resource Conservation Service (NRCS). Transaction costs are found to be a significant portion (38 percent) of overall conservation costs. This provides strong support for including these costs in economic evaluations of alternative policy instruments.

The effect of social capital on economic growth is examined using linear regression analysis and U.S. county-level data. Results reveal that social capital has a statistically significant, independent positive effect on the rate of per-capita income growth.

One frequently proposed policy is to consolidate rural school districts in order to save money by obtaining economies of size. The effects of school district size on both expenditures and standardized test scores are estimated for Oklahoma. Results indicate that economies of scale with respect to expenditures per student exist up to an average daily membership (ADM) of 965 students, but that as school districts become larger, tests scores decline. Even if savings in school district administration from consolidation are spent on instruction, state average test scores would decrease slightly. Thus, school district consolidation can reduce costs, but it will also reduce student learning.

A two-stage model is used to examine a landowner's decision to use riparian buffers. First, the farmer chooses whether to continue farming or to sell the land for development. If the farmer continues farming, then he or she must decide whether or not to plant a buffer. If the farmer plants a buffer, he or she must choose its type: trees or grass. Simulations of a representative farmer determine the parameters and parameter values that affect each decision. The farmer chooses to plant a buffer unless the net crop price is high or the land rental rate is low. The choice of buffer type is affected by crop price, farm size, relative incentive payments, relative cost share rates, and amount of deer damage.