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on Agricultural Economics |
| By: | Prabakusuma, Adhita Sri; Bounkham, Phonedalom |
| Abstract: | The Lao government has implemented various policies focused on the agricultural sector, particularly commercial crop production, as an effort to overcome economic weakening. Those policies have also been designed to reduce malnutrition and poverty. The current fast growth and expansion of commercial crop production have proven to trigger poverty alleviation in Laos. However, this condition led to the to the attenuation of farming communities, which accounted for 75% of the total population in Laos, raising the indebtedness number of farmer families, increasing the vulnerability of the communities, and sharpening disparities among producers. Recently, besides the increase in climate change influence, agricultural practices in Laos have also faced several economic risks. These economic risks include the intermittent nature of local market monopolies, fluctuation, and price games along the agricultural value chains, and instability of production contract implementation. Since 2014, the Lao government has evaluated the consequences of these agricultural practices based on the exploitation of natural resources and the environment. The Eco-Friendly Intensification and Climate-Resilient Agricultural Systems (EFICAS) project was funded and managed by Centre de Cooperation International en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement (France International Cooperation Center for Agronomy Research Development, CIRAD) and the European Union Global Climate Change Alliance (EU-GCCA) during 2014-2018. CIRAD partnered with (Department of Agricultural Land Management, DALAM) under Laos Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) performed EFICAS together. This project aimed to improve Northern upland community livelihoods, strengthening food security, resilience to climate change, introducing innovative methods, and new intervention approaches to support farmers’ adoption of climate-smart systems based on sustainable agriculture. |
| Date: | 2024–07–29 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:osf:osfxxx:q79ry_v1 |
| By: | Musabanganji, Edouard |
| Abstract: | Rwanda is a densely populated developing country where many people depend on agriculture but lack access to credit. The country has low agricultural productivity, along with high levels of income inequality and food insecurity. Studies have shown that credit access can improve rural agricultural household welfare. Over the years, the governments policies have substantially improved financial inclusion. However, poverty levels remain high particularly in rural areas. This study investigates the drivers of participation in the credit market and the effect of credit access on dietary and food diversity scores, as well as household spending. It utilizes data from 6, 183 rural households obtained from the 2015 National Comprehensive Food Security and Vulnerability Analysis survey. It analyzes the effect and drivers of access to credit on rural household total monthly expenditure, food consumption score and dietary diversity score as the outcome variables. The study applied the Endogenous Switching Regression, Propensity Score Matching, and Coarsened Exact Matching techniques. The estimation yields consistent results and reveals that access to credit is positively affecting the welfare of rural households as it induces an increase of the household consumption expenditure of borrowing households. The study does not reveal a significant linkage between access to credit and the household food consumption score. The findings suggest increasingsensitization sessions and awareness on the importance of credits. |
| Date: | 2025 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:aer:wpaper:97af106f-a829-4aa6-b571-78b1a66d29f7 |
| By: | World Bank |
| Keywords: | Agriculture-Agribusiness Agriculture-Agricultural Irrigation and Drainage Agriculture-Food Security Agriculture-Climate Change and Agriculture Water Resources-Water Resources Assessment Environment-Climate Change Impacts |
| Date: | 2025–01 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wbk:wboper:42627 |
| By: | Stoeckli, Sabrina; Merian, Sybilla (University of Zurich); Wanner, Silvan; Stucki, Matthias; Chaudhary, Abhishek |
| Abstract: | Our food production, distribution, and consumption threaten biodiversity. Thus, we need to promote biodiversity conservation along the food supply chain. We expanded the existing methodology for assessing crops’ biodiversity impact on other food products and calculated the biodiversity footprints of 51 frequently consumed foods in Switzerland. We find that biodiversity loss is predominantly caused by a few hedonic and animal-based products (e.g., coffee, beef). Discussing various intervention strategies demonstrates that consumers, retailers, and producers all play a pivotal role in biodiversity conservation. This research provides practical and non-technical information on biodiversity quantification, suggests a concrete research agenda, and thereby enables behavioral scientists as well as practitioners in the food sector to identify effective strategies for more biodiversity-friendly food supply chains. |
| Date: | 2024–06–25 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:osf:osfxxx:zpvq4_v1 |
| By: | Fernandez-Bou, Angel Santiago; Rodriguez-Flores, Jose M.; Ortiz-Partida, J. Pablo; Fencl, Amanda; Classen-Rodriguez, Leticia; Yang, Vivian; Williams, Emily; Schull, Val Zayden; Dobbin, Kristin; Penny, Gopal |
| Abstract: | There is not enough water in California to support current water uses and preserve healthy environments. California aquifers have been systematically depleted over decades, causing household water insecurity, degrading groundwater-dependent ecosystems, affecting small and medium farmers, and inducing subsidence. The California government enacted the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act a decade ago to prevent declining aquifer levels from continuing to cause undesirable results. This law has indirectly driven the necessity to reduce irrigated agriculture by about half a million hectares. If this change is left to market forces alone, cropland retirement could disrupt local economies and vulnerable communities, increasing the levels of injustice for local residents and threatening farmer and farmworker livelihoods. However, if cropland repurposing is organized and managed correctly and collaboratively among the stakeholders involved, it could improve quality of life in disadvantaged agricultural communities, diversify the economy, create more local socioeconomic opportunities, and increase environmental health while promoting food and nutrition security and advancing water sustainability. In this study, we present a systems-level, coproduced Framework of best practices in cropland repurposing to achieve socioenvironmental and economic benefits for all. The Framework is informed and supported by peer-reviewed science, authors’ first-hand experiences, and public engagement about the topic for several years. Our team includes scientists, community leaders, and other experts in cropland repurposing, socioenvironmental justice, agriculture, climate change, land trusts, disadvantaged communities, energy, Indigenous knowledge, and ecosystems. The Framework includes guiding objectives and best practices to overcome co-occurring challenges that prioritize public health, justice, equitable development, sustainable agriculture, green economies, protection to vulnerable groups, education, grassroots leadership, and cultural preservation. We conduct an extensive literature review of the current status quo and to support the best practices identified in our Framework. This review and coproduced Framework aim to ensure that anyone following these best practices can develop new solutions without causing new problems, while fully considering the impacts on all groups affected firsthand by cropland repurposing. |
| Date: | 2024–10–16 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:osf:osfxxx:bvfsm_v1 |
| By: | World Bank |
| Keywords: | Agriculture-Agribusiness Agriculture-Crops & Crop Management Systems Finance and Financial Sector Development Agriculture-Food Security |
| Date: | 2024–08 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wbk:wboper:42108 |
| By: | Dube, Benhilda; Nyika, Teresa; Pasara, Michael Takudzwa |
| Abstract: | This study analyses global value chain participation (GVCP) in Zimbabwe's two critical sectors of agriculture and mining in the face of environmental pollution and climate change. Mining and agriculture are Zimbabwe's largest export sectors by value, and the later plays a critical role towards food security. However, the two sectors have potential conflicting interests on land as well as environmental pollution. The study employs the Auto Regressive Distributive Lag (ARDL) and ARDL-EC (error correction), to analyse short-run and long-run relationships. The results indicate that, in the short run, lagged GVCP agriculture exerts positive pressure on GVCPagriculture by 0.66% while, climate change (droughts) and pollution (CO2 emissions) exert negative pressure on GVCP agriculture at 5% and 1% level of significance, respectively. However, GVCP mining and population growth did not significantly reduce GVCP agriculture. Moreover, GVCP mining and population growth increase transport CO2 emissions both in the short run and long run at 5% and 1% level, respectively. Thus, mining is not environmentally neutral. In the long run, interaction between population growth and mining rents reduce transport CO2 levels at 5% level. The study recommends government to raise mineral taxes for those participating in mining and use the revenues to subsidise the agriculture sector. In the agriculture sector, government can remove import tax on agriculture equipment such irrigation equipment as well as the removal of other restrictions including opening up grain price to market forces to increase quality and level of participation. The government should continue enacting and enforcing policies which minimize pollution, such as limits on carbon emissions. |
| Date: | 2024–11–27 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:aer:wpaper:0ad7f4c9-011d-4ab6-b748-ae6e68a079eb |
| By: | Spillane, Charles; Chekol, Dawit Alemayehu; Hoang, Ky; Plazas, Carlos Andrés Rodríguez; Ssekandi, Shamilah Nassozi; Tessema, Yared Mesfin; Varley, Ciara; McLaughlin, Isabel; Mashizha, Tinashe; Lorente, Anna |
| Abstract: | The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is preparing a new IPCC Special Report on Climate Change and Cities, which will address issues of climate mitigation, adaptation and just transitions in cities and urban systems. In this context, accelerating the sustainable transitions of the diets and food systems of cities is critical to ensuring that the planet remains within key planetary boundaries, including the 1.5 C limit for global warming. The EU/IFAD EcoFoodSystems project [https://ecofoodsystems.org/] is focused on research to enable food systems transitions in city regions that can deliver diets that are more sustainable, healthy and affordable. The EcoFoodSystems project is working with stakeholders in Vietnam (Hanoi), Ethiopia (Addis Ababa) and Colombia (Cali) to conduct research to enable accelerated transitions towards more sustainable, healthy and affordable diets. To contribute to the process for developing the new IPCC Special Report on Climate Change and Cities, the EU/IFAD funded EcoFoodSystems project provides the following initial guidance and inputs to the scoping process for the IPCC Special Report on Climate Change and Cities. |
| Date: | 2024–06–30 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:osf:osfxxx:hqgu8_v1 |
| By: | Garcia-Galan, Mar |
| Abstract: | Vine culture is one of the most important farming activities in countries from Southern Europe. In particular, Spain is one of the main wine producing countries in the world. Designations of origin have become important brands in the agro-food market to sell products. In the Spanish agro-food market, designations of origin have been established during the last three decades and wine products have been adapted to these protection forms. Spain can represent a good example of analysis of how PDO`s have been established and how wine products (as the main agro food product) have been adapted to these protection forms. The winemakers have been strongly engaged towards their designations of origin showing a clear commitment to this form of protection of agro-food products, promoting and strengthening their brands, aware that the consumer perceives the product's quality. The presence in the markets of PDO wine is consolidated upon time. Also, during the last three decades Spanish winemakers have faced critical situations. Besides the problems arising, the wine designations of origin maintain a solid presence in the agro-food market, giving a solid base to firms. |
| Date: | 2024–03–22 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:osf:osfxxx:cfg5w_v1 |
| By: | Haufe, Luise |
| Abstract: | Peri-urbanisation has been conceptualised during the recent years. In this research work, peri-urbanisation is viewed through the lens of water body conversion from rural to eventually urban use. Underlying power relations and networks are examined, using an assemblage thinking approach combined with the framework of Situated (Urban) Political Ecology on a case study in peri-urban Chennai, Tamil Nadu, South India. Chennai experiences rapid expansion and its peri-urban zone tells numerous stories of transformation. The underlying rural landscape was defined by the eri (or tank) system and has evolved as a cultural landscape within the past centuries. An eri (Tamil: lake, reservoir) is a semi-natural water body, which catches water during monsoon to retain and release it during the dry season. With the help of eris, agriculture was enabled throughout the year by creating a balance between wet and dry seasons. Eris are connected to each other and form a system of water bodies, which increases the efficiency of water retention as the capacities of the entire system can be utilised through spillover from one eri to another. Within the current context of urbanisation however, eris have to change their meaning to fit into the new setting. This research is focussed on how eris in peri-urban Chennai are being transformed from rural irrigation reservoirs to urban water bodies - a transformation with very diverse outcomes, ranging from modern drinking water reservoirs to decaying water bodies used as landfills. Moreover, the eri defines its surroundings in the traditional cultural landscape, by creating two types of land: irrigated farmland under individual ownership and common land. Peri-urbanisation of eris usually includes their disconnection from their immediate surroundings on the physical, social and administrative level. The characteristics of the two traditional land types and their connection to the eri shape the peri-urbanisation process in regard to legal security, pace of change, land value, environmental and social impact. This results in urban areas of different characteristics, which are based on their former rural land type. The eri as defining landscape feature can therefore be seen as peri-urban development nucleus. Hence, the term "urban eri" is established to define a water body, which has undergone disconnection from its earlier rural surroundings to be reintegrated into its later urban context, thus (re)shaping access mechanisms and the future urban form. |
| Date: | 2024–05–15 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:osf:osfxxx:pgkn5_v1 |
| By: | Stoeckli, Sabrina; Merian, Sybilla (University of Zurich); Holenweger, Geraldine; Nielsen, Kristian Steensen; Natter, Martin |
| Abstract: | Food is a major driver of the biodiversity crisis. Therefore, fostering biodiversity-friendly diets is essential for reducing biodiversity loss and restoring nature. However, how accurately the public perceives biodiversity impact of food is unknown. We conducted a preregistered quota-based study with 1, 744 citizens from Switzerland to examine public perceptions of food-related biodiversity footprints. Only a minority recognizes how substantially food affects biodiversity. The food-related actions perceived as being the most impactful concern more local, organic, and less animal-based foods. Participants—especially those with high problem awareness—systematically overestimated Switzerland-specific biodiversity footprints. The magnitude of this pattern varies across foods, and only a few high-impact foods (e.g., cocoa, olive oil) are underestimated. We demonstrate that a simple educational intervention can alter perceptions of biodiversity footprints. Although we find no change in the general accuracy of footprint ratings, we observe an improvement in the ability to recognize high-impact foods. |
| Date: | 2024–06–27 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:osf:osfxxx:2w4tc_v1 |
| By: | Kassa, Woubet; Smith, Michael Dean; Wesselbaum, Dennis |
| Abstract: | This study examines the relationship between food insecurity and trust using the 2014-17 waves of the Gallup World Poll and the Food and Agriculture Organization’s Food Insecurity Experience Scale. Trust improves public institutions, social capital, public health interventions, and economic development. Vertical trust is represented as an index of trust in national institutions, while horizontal trust is represented as a measure of trust in friends and family. The findings show that food insecurity is associated with a decrease in both measures of trust. The study further document heterogeneous effects of food insecurity across economic development rankings. The results suggest a need for governments to increase food security to bolster public trust, strengthen the social contract, and enhance the effectiveness of development efforts. |
| Date: | 2023–02–23 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:10314 |
| By: | Völker, Richard (Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg); Hirschauer, Norbert; Lind, Fabienne; Gruener, Sven |
| Abstract: | Agricultural and environmental economists frequently use content analyses of textual data to gain a deeper understanding of public discourses that reflect the conflicting interests and attitudes of various stakeholders on agricultural issues. These discourses encompass topics such as nitrogen leaching, climate change, biodiversity loss, and animal welfare. However, the procedural standards of content analysis established in communication science are rarely fully adhered to due to a lack of interdisciplinary communication. This paper provides applied agricultural economists with the conceptual background of systematic search term validation that facilitates the transparent generation of high-quality databases for the content analysis of large datasets. |
| Date: | 2024–08–14 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:osf:osfxxx:v68r7_v1 |
| By: | Varley, Ciara; Lorente, Anna; Novak, Inna; Hoang, Ky; Tho, Pham; Ha, Nguyen; Tessema, Yared Mesfin; Ssekandi, Shamilah Nassozi; Chekol, Dawit Alemayehu; Plazas, Carlos Andrés Rodríguez |
| Abstract: | The transition of city region diets to diets that are more sustainable, healthy and affordable is critically important for environmental, health and food security outcomes. The EcoFoodSystems project aims to work with city-regional stakeholders to identify key needs and priorities for dietary transitions in Hanoi city region that can be enabled by research and innovation. To identify the research needs and priorities of Hanoi city region food systems stakeholders, an EcoFoodSystems Project Research Prioritisation Workshop was held on 24th January 2024 in Hanoi, Vietnam. The workshop introduced food systems stakeholders in the Hanoi city region to the EcoFoodSystems research project and to enable stakeholders to co-create and prioritise research and innovation activities that could be advanced by EcoFoodSystems research project. The EcoFoodSystems workshop brought together sixty participants from diverse sectors and stakeholder organisations, including Government Ministries, UN Agencies, private sector companies, farmer cooperatives, university and research institutes, national and international NGOs and civil society. The workshop attendees shared their expertise in areas spanning nutrition, food systems, policy, consumer safety, climate resilience and urban and peri-urban development. Participants worked together in groups to identify and prioritise research topics and tools for decision-making that should be developed to enable transitions towards diets in Hanoi city region that are more sustainable, healthier and affordable. The workshop had opening speeches from representatives of the EU Delegation to Vietnam, the Vietnam Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), Vietnam Academy of Agricultural Sciences (VAAS), Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the National Institute of Nutrition (Vietnam) and representatives of the EcoFoodSystems project from University of Galway, Rikolto and the Alliance of Bioversity – CIAT. The workshop highlighted the importance of interdisciplinary and cross-sectoral research collaboration for food systems transformation for sustainability, health and affordability outcomes. This EcoFoodSystems workshop report identifies the key research priorities generated by stakeholders during the workshop. |
| Date: | 2024–12–17 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:osf:osfxxx:n86mg_v1 |
| By: | Boothroyd, Anne; Adams, Vanessa; Alexander, Karen; Hill, Nicole |
| Abstract: | Establishing Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in international waters is critical for the conservation of marine biodiversity. The Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) is a global leader in high seas conservation, having established two international MPAs in Antarctica’s Southern Ocean, as part of a commitment to establish a representative system of MPAs for the CAMLR Convention Area. However, proposals for new MPAs have faced ongoing challenges in the planning process, and since 2016 the Commission has been unable to agree and implement further MPAs, which has stalled the development of the circumpolar representative system. The key aim of this study was to identify how features of the planning process contribute to outcomes, problems and solutions. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 18 scientists, policymakers, and expert observers from fisheries and environmental non-government organisations involved in CCAMLR MPA planning, to explore their perceptions (experiences, opinions, impressions) of the planning process. Our results identify four key features that are influential across multiple areas of the CCAMLR MPA planning and decision-making process: i) a lack of common understanding; ii) the influence of historical relationships and legacy in subsequent planning processes; iii) inconsistencies between expectations of and requirements for MPA planning; and iv) the degree to which CCAMLR principles and practices, norms, and values are shared. We describe how these four features may help or hinder the effectiveness of the current planning process. We then make suggestions regarding how the planning process could be adapted to capitalise on these features. |
| Date: | 2024–03–07 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:osf:osfxxx:cwun6_v1 |
| By: | Chakraborty, Kritika Sen; Villa, Kira M. |
| Abstract: | Rural households rely on several strategies to cope with weather variability, including school-work transitions of adolescents and changes in human capital investments. Using rich longitudinal data from rural South Africa linked with geospatial data on climate indicators, we examined the effect of rainfall realizations on the schooling and work decisions and education expenditures of adolescents and young adults. We exploited the exogenous within-individual variation in exposure to district-level rainfall realizations over age. Our results suggest that current and lagged growing season rainfall increases adolescent human capital investments on the intensive margin among both female and male adolescents. While current rainfall decreased labour market participation among adolescents in non-agricultural households, current rainfall increased female labour supply in agricultural households. We also found that previous-period rainfall positively affected work propensity among all male adolescents. Our results documented schooling and labour supply adjustments among adolescents in agricultural and non-agricultural households, in response to rainfall fluctuations. |
| Date: | 2024–08–22 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:aer:wpaper:695939e4-0327-4bc9-9ced-2ac00c57dad0 |
| By: | Fiegenbaum, Hanna |
| Abstract: | Carbon credits are a key component of most national and organizational climate strategies. Financing and delivering carbon credits from forest-related activities faces risks at the project and asset levels. Financial mechanisms are employed to mitigate risks for investors and project developers, and are complemented by non-financial measures such as environmental and social safeguards and physical risk mitigation. Academic research highlights that safeguards and climate risk mitigation measures are not efficiently implemented in some carbon projects and that specification of environmental safeguards remains underdeveloped. This text examines how ecosystem capacities can be used and valued for mitigation of and adaptation to physical risks and can complement existing risk mitigation measures through biodiversity insurance and resilience value. |
| Date: | 2024–11–12 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:osf:osfxxx:buvzy_v1 |
| By: | Blouin, Simon; Herwix, Alexander; Rivers, Morgan; Tieman, Ross; Denkenberger, David C. |
| Abstract: | The food supply chain's heavy reliance on electricity poses significant vulnerabilities in the event of prolonged and widespread power disruptions. This study introduces a system-dynamics model that integrates five critical infrastructures—electric grid, liquid fossil fuels, Internet, transportation, and human workforce—to evaluate the resilience of food supply chains to major power outages. We validate the model using the 2019 Venezuelan blackouts as a case study, demonstrating its predictive validity. We then explore how more extreme electricity losses would disrupt the supply chain. More specifically, we model the impact of a large-scale cyberattack on the US electric grid and a high-altitude electromagnetic pulse (HEMP) event. A cyberattack severely damaging the US electric grid and allowing for recovery within a few weeks or months would lead to substantial drops in food consumption. However, it would likely still be possible to provide adequate calories to everyone, assuming that food is equitably distributed. In contrast, a year-long recovery from a HEMP event affecting most of the continental US could precipitate a state of famine. Our analysis represents a first attempt at quantifying how food availability progressively worsens as power outages extend over time. Our open-source model is made publicly available, and we encourage its application to other catastrophic scenarios beyond those specifically considered in this work (e.g., extreme solar storms, high-lethality pandemics). |
| Date: | 2024–08–02 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:osf:osfxxx:dc529_v1 |
| By: | Hafish, Muhammad; Famiola, Melia |
| Abstract: | The purpose of this paper is to focus on the contribution of stakeholder engagement to Sustainable innovation (SI) within the context of sustainable food and agriculture context. It investigates whether engagement with different stakeholders promotes sustainable innovation. The empirical analysis is based on a distinctive single case study of sustainable-oriented ventures that successfully deliver sustainable impact within their SI. A qualitative study, which an abductive approach was performed in order to delve the stakeholder engagement and its relationship with the type of SI. We use multiple data sources. Primary data such as semi-unstructured interview with several representative innovating ventures. Then, secondary data from multiple sources gathered to acquire deeper knowledge and information to capture the retrospective data about SI journey and development process of the ventures. Result showed that proactive role in venture to engage with various and wider stakeholders is needed to foster the SI particularly in system-building SI. Moreover, sustainability-oriented innovation (SI) as a journey and its characteristics constitutes from on practices that constitute day-to-day SI activities, strategies, activities, and linkages that resulting SI output and outcome. Particularly, stakeholders are part of these linkages. The wider and various of stakeholders also its engagement in co-creation of SI is affecting the output and outcomes of its SI. This research extends the response to the lack of systematic knowledge about stakeholder collaboration in SI. This paper provides a fine-grain qualitative analysis, a single case study, and identifies several types of stakeholders with various roles in the SI. |
| Date: | 2024–06–26 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:osf:osfxxx:bp94f_v1 |
| By: | World Bank |
| Keywords: | Environment-Adaptation to Climate Change Water Resources-Freshwater Resources |
| Date: | 2024–12 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wbk:wboper:42497 |
| By: | Laville, Camille; Mandon, Pierre Jean-Claude |
| Abstract: | Do income shocks locally affect internal conflicts To address this question, this paper employs a meta-regression analysis of 2, 464 infranational estimates from 64 recent empirical studies on conflicts and income-related shocks in developing countries. After accounting for publication selection bias, the analysis finds that, on average, wealth-increasing shocks in the agriculture sector are negatively associated with the local risk of conflict. Nonetheless, the analysis finds no average effect of wealth-decreasing shocks in the agriculture sector or wealth-increasing shocks in the extractive sector on the local risk of conflict. The paper also shows that studies that fail to uncover empirical effects that conform to researchers’ expectations on the theoretical mechanisms are less likely to be published. Differences in the geographical area of study, the choice of control variables, and the way shocks are measured substantially explain the heterogeneity among estimates in the literature. |
| Date: | 2023–02–23 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:10315 |
| By: | Fang Zhang; Sergiy Zorya; Goran Zivkov |
| Keywords: | Agriculture-Climate Change and Agriculture |
| Date: | 2024–07 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wbk:wboper:41843 |
| By: | Scanlan, Oliver |
| Abstract: | Adequately integrating evidence from diverse social science perspectives, from political ecology to development studies, gives us a clear picture of the conditions necessary for conservation strategies to support human rights outcomes. Collectively these comprise the need for principles of recognitional, procedural and distributional justice to be embedded in conservation programs. An analysis of the World Bank-funded Sustainable Access to Forests and Livelihoods (SUFAL) Program in Bangladesh, finds significant shortcomings relating to this conception of environmental justice within the disclosed project documentation. The SUFAL project is likely to fail in achieving human rights outcomes. The theoretical implication is that at least in some cases area-based conservation will fail to protect human rights because justice is not part of the plan. The methodological implication is that analysis of all extant disclosed donor documentation by area experts is a research priority, allowing us to determine the extent to which the SUFAL intervention design is typical. To the extent that it is typical, it is likely that the Global Biodiversity Framework will fail to achieve human rights outcomes. In policy terms, this further vindicates recent progress in donor disclosure practices; such practices should be strengthened where they already exist, and adopted immediately by conservation NGOs and civil society organizations. |
| Date: | 2024–03–17 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:osf:osfxxx:x8u2a_v1 |
| By: | Manzke, Leonie (Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg); O'Sullivan, Kevin; Tiefenbeck, Verena |
| Abstract: | Food choices profoundly impact population health and the environment. Related research often relies on self-reported data, which is prone to biases, compromising the accuracy and validity of conclusions about consumer behavior. There are few systematic validations of self-reported data with behavioral data, or examinations of predictors for their accuracy. Consequently, this study compares self-reported with observed food choices, by having participants (N = 290) complete a shopping task in a simulated online grocery store, followed immediately by shopping self-reports and a survey, therefore minimizing recall-related distortions to self-reports due to time delays. Nevertheless, on average, participants had reporting errors in 3.81 out of 29 categories, with accuracy as low as a mean of 44 % for categories with no cues provided. Reporting accuracy significantly increased to 78 % with image-based memory aids for specific product categories (e.g., apples), and to 89 % with text-based memory aids for general categories (e.g., vegetables). Contrary to expectations related to social desirability bias, processed foods, often perceived as unhealthy, were overreported. Regression analysis revealed mental load during shopping, deliberation time per item, and health-related identity as significant predictors of self-report accuracy, with mental load also predicting the accuracy of participants' estimates of the proportion of organic products in their shopping basket. Our findings show that even in conditions that minimize social desirability and recall limitations, substantial self-reporting errors persist. Accounting for mental load and product-specific biases is therefore necessary to enhance the validity of self-reports in food choice research. |
| Date: | 2025–01–15 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:osf:osfxxx:bn6tg_v1 |
| By: | Clarke, Natasha; Pechey, Emily; Shemilt, Ian (University College London); Pilling, Mark Andrew Dr (University of Cambridge); Roberts, Nia; Marteau, Theresa Mary; Jebb, Susan; Hollands, Gareth J (University College London) |
| Abstract: | Background: Overconsumption of food and consumption of any amount of alcohol increases the risk of non-communicable diseases. Calorie (energy) labelling is advocated as a means to reduce energy intake from food and alcoholic drinks. However, there is continued uncertainty about these potential impacts, with a 2018 Cochrane review identifying only a small body of low-certainty evidence. This review updates and extends the 2018 Cochrane review to provide a timely reassessment of evidence for the effects of calorie labelling on people's selection and consumption of food or alcoholic drinks. Objectives: – To estimate the effect of calorie labelling for food (including non-alcoholic drinks) and alcoholic drinks on selection (with or without purchasing) and consumption. – To assess possible modifiers – label type, setting, and socioeconomic status – of the effect of calorie labelling on selection (with or without purchasing) and consumption of food and alcohol. Search methods: We searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, five other published or grey literature databases, trial registries, and key websites, followed by backwards and forwards citation searches. Using a semi-automated workflow, we searched for and selected records and corresponding reports of eligible studies, with these searches current to 2 August 2021. Updated searches were conducted in September 2023 but their results are not fully integrated into this version of the review. Selection criteria: Eligible studies were randomised controlled trials (RCTs) or quasi-RCTs with between-subjects (parallel group) or within-subjects (cross-over) designs, interrupted time series studies, or controlled before-after studies comparing calorie labelling with no calorie labelling, applied to food (including non-alcoholic drinks) or alcoholic drinks. Eligible studies also needed to objectively measure participants' selection (with or without purchasing) or consumption, in real-world, naturalistic laboratory, or laboratory settings. Data collection and analysis: Two review authors independently selected studies for inclusion and extracted study data. We applied the Cochrane RoB 2 tool and ROBINS-I to assess risk of bias in included studies. Where possible, we used (random-effects) meta-analyses to estimate summary effect sizes as standardised mean differences (SMDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs), and subgroup analyses to investigate potential effect modifiers, including study, intervention, and participant characteristics. We synthesised data from other studies in a narrative summary. We rated the certainty of evidence using GRADE. Main results: We included 25 studies (23 food, 2 alcohol and food), comprising 18 RCTs, one quasi-RCT, two interrupted time series studies, and four controlled before-after studies. Most studies were conducted in real-world field settings (16/25, with 13 of these in restaurants or cafeterias and three in supermarkets); six studies were conducted in naturalistic laboratories that attempted to mimic a real-world setting; and three studies were conducted in laboratory settings. Most studies assessed the impact of calorie labelling on menus or menu boards (18/25); six studies assessed the impact of calorie labelling directly on, or placed adjacent to, products or their packaging; and one study assessed labels on both menus and on product packaging. The most frequently assessed labelling type was simple calorie labelling (20/25), with other studies assessing calorie labelling with information about at least one other nutrient, or calories with physical activity calorie equivalent (PACE) labelling (or both). Twenty-four studies were conducted in high-income countries, with 15 in the USA, six in the UK, one in Ireland, one in France, and one in Canada. Most studies (18/25) were conducted in high socioeconomic status populations, while six studies included both low and high socioeconomic groups, and one study included only participants from low socioeconomic groups. Twenty-four studies included a measure of selection of food (with or without purchasing), most of which measured selection with purchasing (17/24), and eight studies included a measure of consumption of food. Calorie labelling of food led to a small reduction in energy selected (SMD −0.06, 95% CI −0.08 to −0.03; 16 randomised studies, 19 comparisons, 9850 participants; high-certainty evidence), with near-identical effects when including only studies at low risk of bias, and when including only studies of selection with purchasing. There may be a larger reduction in consumption (SMD −0.19, 95% CI −0.33 to −0.05; 8 randomised studies, 10 comparisons, 2134 participants; low-certainty evidence). These effect sizes suggest that, for an average meal of 600 kcal, adults exposed to calorie labelling would select 11 kcal less (equivalent to a 1.8% reduction), and consume 35 kcal less (equivalent to a 5.9% reduction). The direction of effect observed in the six non-randomised studies was broadly consistent with that observed in the 16 randomised studies. Only two studies focused on alcoholic drinks, and these studies also included a measure of selection of food (including non-alcoholic drinks). Their results were inconclusive, with inconsistent effects and wide 95% CIs encompassing both harm and benefit, and the evidence was of very low certainty. Authors' conclusions: Current evidence suggests that calorie labelling of food (including non-alcoholic drinks) on menus, products, and packaging leads to small reductions in energy selected and purchased, with potentially meaningful impacts on population health when applied at scale. The evidence assessing the impact of calorie labelling of food on consumption suggests a similar effect to that observed for selection and purchasing, although there is less evidence and it is of lower certainty. There is insufficient evidence to estimate the effect of calorie labelling of alcoholic drinks, and more high-quality studies are needed. Further research is needed to assess potential moderators of the intervention effect observed for food, particularly socioeconomic status. Wider potential effects of implementation that are not assessed by this review also merit further examination, including systemic impacts of calorie labelling on industry actions, and potential individual harms and benefits. |
| Date: | 2025–01–17 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:osf:osfxxx:pwhs5_v1 |
| By: | Rafael Araujo; Vitor Possebom |
| Abstract: | The FAO-GAEZ crop productivity data are widely used in Economics. However, the existence of measurement error is rarely recognized in the empirical literature. We propose a novel method to partially identify the effect of agricultural productivity, deriving bounds that allow for nonclassical measurement error by leveraging two proxies. These bounds exhaust all the information contained in the first two moments of the data. We reevaluate three influential studies, documenting that measurement error matters and that the impact of agricultural productivity on economic outcomes may be smaller than previously reported. Our methodology has broad applications in empirical research involving mismeasured variables. |
| Date: | 2025–02 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:arx:papers:2502.12141 |
| By: | World Bank |
| Keywords: | Water Resources-Drought Management Water Resources-Freshwater Resources Water Resources-Water Resources Assessment |
| Date: | 2025–01 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wbk:wboper:42613 |
| By: | Ewusie, Ewura-Adwoa; Annim, Samuel Kobina |
| Abstract: | This study investigates the extent to which debt repayments pose a burden for household borrowers. We question the use of arbitrary thresholds to determine the over-indebtedness status of a household and introduce a new opportunity cost approach to provide the first objective measures of the incidence and severity of over-indebtedness in Ghana from the clients perspective. Using two waves of nationally representative survey data, we employ maximum likelihood and instrumental variable estimation techniques to determine the influence of loan amount and loan use on the probability and intensity of over-indebtedness and examine the effect of over-indebtedness on households living standards. The findings suggest that 41 per cent of household borrowers are over-indebted, and 23 per cent endure severe over-indebtedness by sacrificing food expenditures. An increase in the loan size and unproductive loan use strongly increases the probability of over-indebtedness. Other influential factors include rural residence, low education, female-headed households and insurance. In addition to small loan sizes and unproductive loan use, the risk of severe over-indebtedness is associated with low education, female-headed households, rural residence and informal employment. Over-indebtedness also reduces household living standards by 24 per cent. This research provides crucial information to aid policy decisions on households vulnerability due to sacrifices for debt repayment. Such sacrifices could ultimately affect future poverty levels and the attainment of the sustainable development goal to eradicate extreme poverty by the year 2030. |
| Date: | 2025 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:aer:wpaper:988bbe25-0892-44a8-abce-0573b614b9f0 |
| By: | Darith, Siek; Kimley, Lay; Eav, Lim Kim; Sanith, Pou; Chihouy, Yun; Bunhak, Tha; Sourphimean, Siek |
| Abstract: | This research explores how ingredient costs and efficiency ratios affect the sustainability of small coffee businesses in Battambang, Cambodia. By examining ingredient usage patterns, cost impacts, and economic efficiency, the study aims to find strategies to improve financial sustainability. Data were gathered from 80 coffee shop owners through surveys and interviews. Regression analysis was used to investigate the relationship between various cost factors and coffee income. The results show that ingredient costs, equipment costs, and operational expenses significantly affect coffee income. Costs for coffee beans, ice, plastic items, and straws positively impact income, while the cost of ice buckets has a negative effect. Additionally, the price of coffee sold is crucial for revenue generation. The study concludes that by optimizing ingredient use, managing costs efficiently, and implementing strategic pricing, small coffee businesses in Battambang can improve their financial sustainability and support the local economy. |
| Date: | 2024–11–16 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:osf:osfxxx:p7mn3_v1 |
| By: | Marine Kohler (CentraleSupélec, Greenly (Offspend SAS)) |
| Abstract: | Carbon credits have generated an increasing amount of controversies during the beginning of the 2020's -culminating in the turmoil generated by SBti's declaration to integrate them in scope 3 reduction targets. These controversies resulted in the market shrinking significantly in 2023, loosing up to 60% for its initial value. It went from a booming market to being a disregarded option in corporate climate strategies. Yet, as stated by the IPCC, the increase of natural or industrial carbon sinks is necessary to uphold the Paris agreements and limit the impacts of climate change. In line with science, Greenly thus decided to edit recommendations so that companies are able to navigate the risks associated with carbon offsetting and contribute to reaching Global Net Zero. |
| Keywords: | Offset, emissions, Additionnality, CCS, CCU |
| Date: | 2024–06–24 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:journl:hal-04954426 |
| By: | World Bank |
| Keywords: | Water Resources-Freshwater Resources Environment-Water Resources Management Environment-Adaptation to Climate Change |
| Date: | 2025–01 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wbk:wboper:42595 |
| By: | Weipan Xu; Yaofu Huang; Qiumeng Li; Yu Gu; Xun Li |
| Abstract: | Wide coverage and high-precision rural household wealth data is an important support for the effective connection between the national macro rural revitalization policy and micro rural entities, which helps to achieve precise allocation of national resources. However, due to the large number and wide distribution of rural areas, wealth data is difficult to collect and scarce in quantity. Therefore, this article attempts to integrate "sky" remote sensing images with "ground" village street view imageries to construct a fine-grained "computable" technical route for rural household wealth. With the intelligent interpretation of rural houses as the core, the relevant wealth elements of image data were extracted and identified, and regressed with the household wealth indicators of the benchmark questionnaire to form a high-precision township scale wealth prediction model (r=0.85); Furthermore, a national and township scale map of rural household wealth in China was promoted and drawn. Based on this, this article finds that there is a "bimodal" pattern in the distribution of wealth among rural households in China, which is reflected in a polarization feature of "high in the south and low in the north, and high in the east and low in the west" in space. This technological route may provide alternative solutions with wider spatial coverage and higher accuracy for high-cost manual surveys, promote the identification of shortcomings in rural construction, and promote the precise implementation of rural policies. |
| Date: | 2025–02 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:arx:papers:2502.12163 |