Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Articles 1 - 25 of 25

Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences

Are There Ways To Enhance China's Food Security?, B. Gardner Delworth, Yahui Zhao Feb 1999

Are There Ways To Enhance China's Food Security?, B. Gardner Delworth, Yahui Zhao

Faculty Publications

Chinese officials and newspapers express considerable concern about the country's capacity to feed its huge and still growing population. The rhetoric will be familiar to people in Western countries as a blend of "agrarian fundamentalism" and "Malthusianism." But beyond the official rhetoric, we will argue that reforms in land ownership and irrigation water pricing and management could have highly salutary impacts on agricultural output that could alleviate food shortages far into the future.


Privatizing Public Lands, B. Gardner Delworth Jul 1996

Privatizing Public Lands, B. Gardner Delworth

Faculty Publications

The federal government owns and controls more than 4 7 percent of the land in the Western United States'. The Interior department has jurisdiction over approximately 450 million acres, most of it used primarily for livestock grazing and is managed by the Bureau of Land Management. The federal forests, managed by the Forest Service in the Department of Agriculture, contain about 325 million acres and include some of the prime timbergrowing lands in the world. Vast acreage's are also found in the national parks and Indian reservations. Most of federal land is used by recreationists of many types and is …


Impacts On California Agriculture Of A Ban On Rice Straw Burning, B. Gardner Delworth, Richard E. Howitt, Charles Goodman Oct 1990

Impacts On California Agriculture Of A Ban On Rice Straw Burning, B. Gardner Delworth, Richard E. Howitt, Charles Goodman

Faculty Publications

The burning of agricultural residues, particularly rice straw, has long been an issue of public concern in California's Sacramento Valley. Especially during days of autumn temperature inversions, the smoke in the atmosphere from burning is regarded by some as a serious health hazard and by nearly all residents as a public nuisance. Strong pressures have resulted in stringent regulations over agricultural burning, but a growing number of voices advocate a strict prohibition on burning. The prospect of a burning ban is worrisome to rice growers since burning is not only the most cost-effective way of disposing of the straw, but …


A Proposal For Reallocation Of Federal Grazing-Revisited, B. Delworth Gardner Jun 1989

A Proposal For Reallocation Of Federal Grazing-Revisited, B. Delworth Gardner

Faculty Publications

Over a quarter of a century ago, I analyzed the allocation procedures utilized by the federal agencies which administer livestock grazing on the public lands (Gardner 1962). Two factors contributing to grazing misallocation and reduced range productivity were identified: (1) the "eligibility" requirements that qualify permittees for grazing privileges prevented the utilization of forage by ranchers who would value it most, and (2) use-tenure insecurity resulting from cuts in permitted grazing impeded private investment in range improvements on the public ranges. In a second paper, I proposed that the grazing privilege system be reformed such that efficient allocation of forage …


An Incentive-Based Wild Horse Management System On Public Rangeland, Ray G. Huffaker, James E. Wilen, B. Gardner Delworth Jan 1989

An Incentive-Based Wild Horse Management System On Public Rangeland, Ray G. Huffaker, James E. Wilen, B. Gardner Delworth

Faculty Publications

This paper explores an incentive-based management system to induce federal grazing permittees to choose sustained cattle stocking strategies which accommodate government-set wild horse numbers and nongrazing uses. Particular attention is paid to constraints imposed by federal grazing statutes. The proposed system employs increased livestock grazing fees to induce permittees to provide increased vegetation for consumption by wild horses and nongrazing uses. The negative impact of increased fees on permittee wealth is counterbalanced with compensatory transfer payments. Taken together, grazing fees and compensation payments induce multiple-use compliance by permittee-stewards and keep their discounted livestock profits intact at some predetermined level.


Cutting The Loss From Federal Irrigation Water Subsidies, B. Gardner Delworth, Ray G. Huffaker Oct 1988

Cutting The Loss From Federal Irrigation Water Subsidies, B. Gardner Delworth, Ray G. Huffaker

Faculty Publications

The Bureau of Reclamation recently announced that its prime mission since 1902-building dams to make the desert bloom in the American West-is pretty much complete. While never really admitting that its newer projects have been economically infeasible, Bureau management has at last recognized that the days of the big public water project are gone. The Bureau now plans to turn its attention and resources to other more pressing problems, such as helping other agencies with construction projects needed to cope with hazardous waste.


Prevention And Health Economics, Harold H. Gardner Feb 1988

Prevention And Health Economics, Harold H. Gardner

Faculty Publications

The relationship between doctors and patients in the medical and health field is a topic of recurrent discussion today. The topic is of immense interest because of the questions raised about value received for services purchased and because of the large amount of economic resource consumed. The size of the stakes are such that the debate will grow in the near future until some solution is found to remedy the value and cost for service dilemma.


Agriculture, Agribusiness, And Renewable And Natural Resource Program Review, B. Delworth Gardner Jan 1986

Agriculture, Agribusiness, And Renewable And Natural Resource Program Review, B. Delworth Gardner

Faculty Publications

The State University System of Florida has es tab 1 i shed A "Quest for Excellence11 in its Master Plan. It is a bold plan of action that will "unleash the University System from those time-bound constraints which would allow only gradual change. 11 It is also clear that the State University System of Florida plans to compete successfully with the very best academic universities. In its mission statement the University of Florida, as a land-grant institution, administers the In"s·t itute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS), a special unit providing statewide food and .agricultural teaching, res.earch, and extension services. …


Water Pricing And Rent Seeking In California Agricultre, B. Delworth Gardner Jan 1985

Water Pricing And Rent Seeking In California Agricultre, B. Delworth Gardner

Faculty Publications

Without irrigation water, agriculture in California would be little more than limited livestock grazing and some dryland farming of cereal crops. With irrigation water, California produces over 200 crops and is the leading agricultural state with nearly $4 billion in sales in 1980. The state's gross cash receipts from farm sales have consistently approached 10 percent of the U.S. total every year since 1960.


The Property Rights Paradigm And The Protection Of Oak In California, B. Delworth Gardner Jan 1985

The Property Rights Paradigm And The Protection Of Oak In California, B. Delworth Gardner

Faculty Publications

Once again our country is caught on the horns of a serious dilemma. Natural resources, such as land and water, are becoming increasingly scarce and therefore valuable. Concomitantly, and perhaps more importantly, these resources are recognized as having attributes or characteristics in the form of amenities that are coveted by non owners of these resources. A cheap and effective way of acquiring these amenities is to assert that the legal owners of the resources do not have the right to exclude those who want the amenities from consuming them. Or, almost equivalently, the resources must be used in certain ways …


Political Vs. Economic Incentives, B. Delworth Gardner Jan 1984

Political Vs. Economic Incentives, B. Delworth Gardner

Faculty Publications

H this paper is the best challenge that can be brought against the New Resource Economics (NRE) and its advocacy for privatization of the public lands, we are likely to see both around for a long time. If there is fallacy in the idea of privatization, it is not illuminated in the arguments of this article. The paper misrepresents what the NRE is, shows little comprehension of the basic concepts on which it rests, and completely reverses the basic nature of the privatization solution. I hope to demonstrate as much in this critique.


Two Agricultural Economists Look At Rural Sociology, B. Delworth Gardner, Carole Frank Nuckton Jan 1984

Two Agricultural Economists Look At Rural Sociology, B. Delworth Gardner, Carole Frank Nuckton

Faculty Publications

At the invitation of the editor, we shall attempt to describe our perceptions as agricultural economists of what is known to us as rural sociology. We should say right off that we are complimented that this invitation has been extended to us. We think that a comparison of our two disciplines has been useful to us, if only to clarify our thinking about our own. We emphasize that our perceptions are based on limited contact, and we have made no systematic study of your discipline. Even to attempt the critique and analysis of the kind requested of us presumes an …


A Welfare Analysis Of Production And Consumption Of Broadbeans In Egypt, B. Gardner Delworth, Adel N. Moustafa, Dyaa Abdou Jan 1983

A Welfare Analysis Of Production And Consumption Of Broadbeans In Egypt, B. Gardner Delworth, Adel N. Moustafa, Dyaa Abdou

Faculty Publications

The broadbean is one of the most important food items in Egypt and is both heavily subsidized and rationed, although the per family entitlement depends on quantities available. It is the basic staple for breakfast for most Egyptians in both rural and urban areas. The governmental policies that determine the production, marketing, and distribution of broadbeans affect consumers and producers. The government budget is also affected by the subsidy and trade policies. Thus, virtually every Egyptian is touched by policies affecting this crop and consumption commodity.


The Distribution Of Economic Rents When Irrigated Farmland Is Leased, Ray G. Huffaker, B. Gardner Delworth Jan 1983

The Distribution Of Economic Rents When Irrigated Farmland Is Leased, Ray G. Huffaker, B. Gardner Delworth

Faculty Publications

Irrigation water supplied by federal reclamation projects has often been priced below its supply cost (Bureau of Reclamation, 1980, p. F-4). Pricing water below cost has been deliberate policy to stimulate irrigation development in the west. One effect of this underpricing is to add to the economic rents captured by federal water users.


The Water Outlook And Economic Development In The West, B. Delworth Gardner Jan 1983

The Water Outlook And Economic Development In The West, B. Delworth Gardner

Faculty Publications

The development of water is practically synonymous with the development of the Western United States, and much of the region's wealth is tied up in the rights to utilize water. It is this relationship between water development and allocation and the creation and distribution of existing wealth that makes water policy so controversial and is the principal focus of this paper.


Food Consumption An Distribution: An Overview, Dyaa Abdou, B. Gardner Delworth Aug 1982

Food Consumption An Distribution: An Overview, Dyaa Abdou, B. Gardner Delworth

Faculty Publications

Nearly everyone concedes that Egypt is faced with a serious food problem. The Egyptian agricultural sector is unable to feed the increasing and more affluent population. In 1980, agricultural output was estimated to be increasing by about 2.0 percent annually, whereas the country's annual population growth rate was estimated at about 2.3 percent. If the difference in these growth rates continues, Egypt must increase imports each year just to maintain per capita consumption at the present level [3].


Economic Implications Of The Policy For Pricing And Allocating Rice In Egypt, Sonia Mohamed Ali, B. Gardner Delworth Jul 1982

Economic Implications Of The Policy For Pricing And Allocating Rice In Egypt, Sonia Mohamed Ali, B. Gardner Delworth

Faculty Publications

Rice is both heavily subsidized and rationed in Egypt. This policy has significant distributive effects and especially benefits low income consumers in both urban and rural areas of the country. In addition, the policy has important allocative effects in shifting scarce resources to inefficient uses. This paper attempts to measure the economic inefficiency associated with this policy in order that the policy makers may judge better whether or not the distributive benefits are worth the efficiency costs.


The Role Of Economic Analysis In Public Range Management, B. Delworth Gardner Jan 1982

The Role Of Economic Analysis In Public Range Management, B. Delworth Gardner

Faculty Publications

Economic analysis has a vital, if not indispensable, role to play in the management decisions of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM} if the national welfare is to be served effectively. This rather sweeping conclusion is justified by the nature of the management problems faced by the BLM and by the unique view of the world provided by the field of economics.


Water Use In Agriculture Now And For The Future, B. Gardner Delworth Jan 1980

Water Use In Agriculture Now And For The Future, B. Gardner Delworth

Faculty Publications

Water is the primary limiting factor in agriculture in the United States and the world. The western states have gained importance in agricultural production only through extensive use of irrigation from surface and groundwater sources. With the increase in population, these water supplies are facing new pressures for reallocation. Accurate scientific information concerning water availability, behavior, management, and value is essential in optimizing water allocation on farms, in agriculture, and among agriculture and the various other uses. This report is an overview of the physical, institutional, economic, and sociological aspects of the water issue from the standpoint of agriculture. It …


Economic Issues Of Groundwater Management, B. Gardner Delworth Sep 1979

Economic Issues Of Groundwater Management, B. Gardner Delworth

Faculty Publications

This is a coaceptual rather than an empirical paper with the primary focus on raising a set of economic issues faced by any authority charged with managing a groundwater aquifer. I will utilize the technique of making simplifying, albeit unrealistic, assumptions in order to establish easily and clearly the relevant economic principles. Some of the assumptions will be relaxed later to achieve greater realism. It is assumed that the hydrologic dimensions of the groundwater system are known and that the management authority has the power to enforce whatever rules it deems appropriate. There are a host of problems associated with …


Issues Affecting The Availability And Price Of Land For Agriculture, B. Delworth Gardner Jan 1978

Issues Affecting The Availability And Price Of Land For Agriculture, B. Delworth Gardner

Faculty Publications

This paper first reviews some data relating to agricultural land use nationally and then discusses the huge increases in land prices that have occurred in recent years and some of the implications for agriculture. The final section evaluates the need for public policy to preserve prime lands for agricultural use.


Some Issues In Teaching Agricultural Economics To Foreign Graduate Students, B. Gardner Delworth Jul 1977

Some Issues In Teaching Agricultural Economics To Foreign Graduate Students, B. Gardner Delworth

Faculty Publications

Several words in the title help set the scope of the paper. My concern is with the training of students from foreign countries, generally those best characterized as less developed countries (LCD's). These students come to the United States to be trained as professional economists and I assume will spend a career researching problems related to agriculture.


Benchmarks For Various Industry Classes In Counties, B. Delworth Gardner Jan 1970

Benchmarks For Various Industry Classes In Counties, B. Delworth Gardner

Faculty Publications

In a recent study, the impact of federal employment on the distribution of economics activity and population among counties and multi-county planning regions in Utah was investigated.A by-product of this study are some data which reveal basic characteristics of the industrial structure of counties and multi-county planning regions in Utah.


A Theoretical Framework For Analyzing Residence Shifts Of Farm Families, B. Delworth Gardner Jan 1970

A Theoretical Framework For Analyzing Residence Shifts Of Farm Families, B. Delworth Gardner

Faculty Publications

The ever-changing composition of the American rural population is an established fact and has been the subject of much research. Urban families are moving o the ''country" to escape the noise and congestion of the city, While the migration of people from the farm to urban centers continues . The net result is a decrease in rural population relative to that classified as urban, although in absolute terms the rural population is increasing also. In 1969 less than 30 per cent of all American were classed as rural residents compared to 60 percent in 1900 and 95 percent in 1790.


A Proposal To Reduce Misallocation Of Livestock Grazing Permits, B. Gardner Delworth Feb 1963

A Proposal To Reduce Misallocation Of Livestock Grazing Permits, B. Gardner Delworth

Faculty Publications

The federal government owns about 400 million acres of land in the eleven western states. Almost 350 million acres are administered by the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management. In times past most of this land has been used for grazing by domestic livestock. Only approximately 60 million acres of forest range are presently grazed by livestock, while about 160 million acres of "district" land, administered by the BLM, are grazed.