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- Agricultural productivity (2)
- Allais (2)
- Coase (2)
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- Ethanol (2)
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- Stochastic frontier (2)
- : ethanol carbon footprint; environmental efficiency; shadow cost; data envelopment analysis (1)
- Agricultural Productivity (1)
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- Fourier functional form (1)
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- Grain prices (1)
Articles 1 - 30 of 34
Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences
Efficiency In Midwest Us Corn Ethanol Plants: A Plant Survey, Richard K. Perrin, Nickolas F. Fretes, Juan P. Sesmero
Efficiency In Midwest Us Corn Ethanol Plants: A Plant Survey, Richard K. Perrin, Nickolas F. Fretes, Juan P. Sesmero
Richard K Perrin
Continuation of policy support for the US corn ethanol industry is being debated due to doubts about the greenhouse gas effects of the industry and the effects of the industry on food prices. Yet there is no publicly available data on the economic and technical performance of the current generation of plants, which constitute the overwhelming majority of the industry. This study helps to fill that gap. Seven recently constructed ethanol plants in seven Midwest US states provided details on input requirements and operating costs during 2006 and 2007. Results show that technical performance is substantially better than current estimates …
Ethanol And Food Prices - Preliminary Assessment, Richard K. Perrin
Ethanol And Food Prices - Preliminary Assessment, Richard K. Perrin
Richard K Perrin
Food prices in the U.S. rose dramatically in 2007 and early 2008. Given the integration of the world markets for foodstuffs, prices increased around the world as well, leading to riots in a number of countries in early 2008. The popular press has tended to attribute these food price increases to demand for corn by the ethanol industry. Grain prices are one determinant of food prices, but they constitute less than 5% of food costs in the U.S.(a higher percentage elsewhere.) This paper focuses on the likely relationship between ethanol and food prices, ignoring the potential role of other important …
Climate Change Policy: The Waxman-Markey Bill, Diego Alvarez, Richard K. Perrin
Climate Change Policy: The Waxman-Markey Bill, Diego Alvarez, Richard K. Perrin
Richard K Perrin
The Waxman-Markey Bill is a comprehensive national climate and energy legislation designed to reduce global warming pollution and transition to a clean energy economy. In order to accomplish the first goal, the bill introduces a cap-and-trade program.
How Much Ethanol, Ultimately?, Richard K. Perrin, Juan Pablo Sesmero
How Much Ethanol, Ultimately?, Richard K. Perrin, Juan Pablo Sesmero
Richard K Perrin
Ethanol prices are low in the Midwest, prompting suggestions that the boom is over. It is perhaps slowing down for the next couple of years, but is likely to resume after that. Today’s gross processing margin (ethanol price minus net corn feedstock cost) is in the range of $.80/gal – high by historical standards – but low relative to 2006 (see Figure 1 on next page). Also, the low ethanol price appears to be partly due to transportation and distribution bottlenecks, and those are not permanent.
Poverty In Nebraska, Richard K. Perrin, Lilyan E. Fulginiti, Avinash Alok
Poverty In Nebraska, Richard K. Perrin, Lilyan E. Fulginiti, Avinash Alok
Richard K Perrin
“Five Nebraska counties are among the nation's poorest 12 counties" (Lincoln Journal Star, July 18, 2004) Y" 'Some of the bigger ranchers here, they didn't like it at all being called the poorest,' said Van Diest, 68, (Loup County Commissioner, Wade) adding that he's been puzzled by how Loup County got the No.1 ranking." (Omaha World Herald, July 17, 2004). These comments were typical of those in response to a federal report released in July, 2004. Some people are indignant, others are puzzled. Which areas of Nebraska really are the poorest, how poor are they, and why? A clear understanding …
Ethanol, Oil And Corn, Richard K. Perrin
Ethanol, Oil And Corn, Richard K. Perrin
Richard K Perrin
When will ethanol plants stop being built? Ethanol plants under construction in Nebraska will have the capacity to grind over 40 percent of the Nebraska corn crop by the end of 2007, and nearly 60 percent by the end of 2008. Nationally, capacity for these years will be roughly 25 percent and 35 percent of the crop. The plants under construction will bring total annual ethanol production to 11 billion gallons or so, well over the renewable fuels standard of 7.5 billion gallons by 2012.
Argentine Agricultural Policy In A Multiple-Output, Multiple-Input Framework, Lilyan E. Fulginiti, Richard K. Perrin
Argentine Agricultural Policy In A Multiple-Output, Multiple-Input Framework, Lilyan E. Fulginiti, Richard K. Perrin
Richard K Perrin
This study shows that agricultural policies in Argentine agriculture substantially reduced the growth rate of output in 1940-1980.
Productivity Measurement In The Presence Of "Poorly Priced" Goods, Lilyan E. Fulginiti, Richard K. Perrin
Productivity Measurement In The Presence Of "Poorly Priced" Goods, Lilyan E. Fulginiti, Richard K. Perrin
Richard K Perrin
Young (1995) estimated Total Factor Productivity (TFP) growth for Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore and South Korea. He reported moderate growth rates for these four regions. This means that rapid growth of GDP in these four economies is due mainly to fast increase of inputs. Young (2000) also estimated the TFP growth rate of China to be 1.4% per year during the period of 1978 to 1998. Similar to his claim for the four 'Asian Tigers', he concluded that 'the productivity performance of the non-agricultural economy (of China) during the reform period is respectable, but not outstanding.' China's real GDP grew …
Technical Change And Welfare In An Open Economy With Distortions, Richard K. Perrin, Lilyan Fulginiti
Technical Change And Welfare In An Open Economy With Distortions, Richard K. Perrin, Lilyan Fulginiti
Richard K Perrin
No abstract provided.
Understanding Spatial Welfare Impacts Of A Grain Ethanol Plant, Justin Van Wart, Richard K. Perrin
Understanding Spatial Welfare Impacts Of A Grain Ethanol Plant, Justin Van Wart, Richard K. Perrin
Richard K Perrin
This study inquires into the spatial welfare impacts of a grain ethanol plant established in an area with a beef feeding industry. Beef feeders, corn farmers, and the ethanol plant interact with each other simultaneously in a dynamic market situation. To date, there are no studies which simultaneously analyze the welfare impacts of an ethanol enterprise on the three major players affected by the existence of a plant. In this market situation, some interesting phenomena have been noted which raise some intriguing questions. Why do plants sell ethanol byproduct feed at prices below corn price, even though studies show the …
Safety Regulations For New Gmo Crops, Richard K. Perrin
Safety Regulations For New Gmo Crops, Richard K. Perrin
Richard K Perrin
Starlink. Monarch Butterflies. Frankenfoods. These words conjure foreboding thoughts of potential catastrophe lurking behind the development of genetically modified organisms, or GMO’s. Are they really safe to be released? Are they safe to even experiment with? The purpose here is to describe the federal regulatory system that addresses these issues.
Measures Of Waste Due To Quotas, Lilyan E. Fulginiti, Richard K. Perrin
Measures Of Waste Due To Quotas, Lilyan E. Fulginiti, Richard K. Perrin
Richard K Perrin
This paper addresses the issue of measuring waste due to the imposition of a production quota. our objective is to elaborate two alternative general equilibrium concepts of the welfare loss due to the imposition of a production quota, and to illustrate their use by considering costs of the U.S. tobacco program.
The Corn Ethanol Boom And Food Prices, Richard K. Perrin, Luke Beckman
The Corn Ethanol Boom And Food Prices, Richard K. Perrin, Luke Beckman
Richard K Perrin
From January, 2006 to December, 2007 the Consumer Price Index (CPI) went up 6.5 percent. During this same period, ethanol production increased 75 percent, which helped grain prices to rise dramatically – corn price doubled, wheat went up even more, and soybeans a little less. Casual reading of the public press would suggest that there must be some connections here.
Pricing And Welfare Impacts Of New Crop Traits: The Role Of Iprs And Coase's Conjecture Revisited, Richard K. Perrin, Lilyan E. Fulginiti
Pricing And Welfare Impacts Of New Crop Traits: The Role Of Iprs And Coase's Conjecture Revisited, Richard K. Perrin, Lilyan E. Fulginiti
Richard K Perrin
Crop traits are durable when embedded in varieties, and thus they may be subject to Coase's conjecture that monopolists who sell durables may be unable to earn normal monopoly rents, or in the extreme case, not any rents at all. To determine the potential relevance of this conjecture for the crop traits market, we analyze the theoretical time path of trait prices under three systems of intellectual property rights (utility patents, plant breeders' rights, and none), alternative assumptions about sellers' ability to commit to future action, and alternative assumptions that buyers are either myopic or far-sighted with respect to expectations …
The Role Of Non-Parametric Approach In Adjusting Productivity Measures For Environmental Impacts, Saleem Shaik, Richard K. Perrin
The Role Of Non-Parametric Approach In Adjusting Productivity Measures For Environmental Impacts, Saleem Shaik, Richard K. Perrin
Richard K Perrin
This paper addresses the role of non-parametric analysis in adjusting agricultural productivity measures for environmental impacts. The modified Tornquist-Theil index computed using shadow prices derived from the programming procedures is compared and contrasted with a nonparametric hyperbolic Malmquist index for the case of Nebraska agriculture.
Looming Changes In The Energy Economy, Richard K. Perrin, Adam Liska
Looming Changes In The Energy Economy, Richard K. Perrin, Adam Liska
Richard K Perrin
Over the next decade or two, the energy sector on which the world economy is based will undergo significant transformations. The fossil fuels on which the industrial revolution was built are on their way out. Nebraskans will face higher energy prices, but they will also produce more energy.
Whither Grain Ethanol?, Richard K. Perrin
Whither Grain Ethanol?, Richard K. Perrin
Richard K Perrin
Grain ethanol has been in the Nebraska news almost weekly over the last couple of years - plans announced, plant construction begun, plant openings, etc. The news has buoyed corn prices this fall, despite gasoline prices in the vicinity of $2.00/gal that reduces demand for ethanol. There is concern by some that diversion of corn from food (meat, milk and eggs) to fuel will have serious consequences for livestock and food markets. Concerns are also expressed that overexpansion will turn the ethanol boom into a bust. Much research remains to be done to clarify these economic issues, but some insights …
Is Corn Ethanol Economically Viable In The Long-Run?, Richard K. Perrin
Is Corn Ethanol Economically Viable In The Long-Run?, Richard K. Perrin
Richard K Perrin
The corn ethanol industry is in the pits, with plants being idled and firms declaring bankruptcy. Not only that, but each month seems to bring a new study assailing corn ethanol because it doesn’t help the environment, or it doesn’t reduce dependence on foreign oil, or it drives up food prices, or it is harmful to health. These assertions each have some basis, and they have gone far to undermine public policies in support of corn ethanol. So what then is the future for the industry? Can it survive without mandates and subsidies? To answer, we must first look at …
Intellectual Property Institutions For Plant Breeding, Richard K. Perrin, Lilyan Fulginiti
Intellectual Property Institutions For Plant Breeding, Richard K. Perrin, Lilyan Fulginiti
Richard K Perrin
Intellectual property rights for crop plant material should in principle increase social welfare by increasing private research investments to a level closer to the social optimum. In the US, plant patents were first introduced in 1930 by legislation that applied only to asexually reproduced plants. This was followed in 1970 by the weaker plant breeders' rights legislation (PBR) for sexually reproduced plants. Judicial decisions in 1980 and 1985, however, extended much stronger utility patent protection to plant materials. Here we examine theoretical welfare implications of weak PBR vs strong utility patents in a North-South context of technology transfer in agriculture …
An Allais Measure Of Production Sector Waste Due To Quotas, Lilyan E. Fulginiti, Richard K. Perrin
An Allais Measure Of Production Sector Waste Due To Quotas, Lilyan E. Fulginiti, Richard K. Perrin
Richard K Perrin
In this paper we adapt a partial equilibrium approach of Allais and Diewert to measure the efficiency loss in the producing sector due to quotas. The measure of waste is the additional profits available due to reallocation subject to constraints that the welfare of persons and firms outside the sector is unaffected. An example is presented using the tobacco quota program in the U.S.
Spatial Welfare Impacts Of A Grain Ethanol Plant, Justin Van Wart, Richard K. Perrin
Spatial Welfare Impacts Of A Grain Ethanol Plant, Justin Van Wart, Richard K. Perrin
Richard K Perrin
This study inquires into the spatial welfare impacts of a grain ethanol plant established in an area with a beef feeding industry. Corn producers will benefit, but by how much? Why do plants seem to price their animal feed byproduct so low that beef producers may benefit from lower feed costs, despite the higher corn price? Why do ethanol plants in some areas dry all their byproduct feed while in other areas plants sell it all in wet form? How are these outcomes affected by the density of corn production, by the density of feedlots, and by the size of …
Agricultural Productivity In Developing Countries, Lilyan E. Fulginiti, Richard K. Perrin
Agricultural Productivity In Developing Countries, Lilyan E. Fulginiti, Richard K. Perrin
Richard K Perrin
This paper examines changes in agricultural productivity in 18 developing countries over the period 1961-1985. We use a nonparametric, output-based Malmquist index and a parametric variable coeficients Cobb-Douglas production function to examine, whether our estimates confirm results from other studies that have indicated declining agricultural productivity in LDCs. The results confirm previous findings, indicating that at least half of these countries have experienced productivity declines in agriculture.
Opportunities For Nebraska In Future Carbon Markets: Final Technical Report For Ncesr Project 3-#303, Richard K. Perrin, Adam J. Liska, Lilyan E. Fulginiti
Opportunities For Nebraska In Future Carbon Markets: Final Technical Report For Ncesr Project 3-#303, Richard K. Perrin, Adam J. Liska, Lilyan E. Fulginiti
Richard K Perrin
This study was funded to explore potential opportunities for Nebraska in future carbon markets, most explicitly those opportunities related to the possibility of replacing fossil fuels with biomass at Nebraska corn ethanol plants. The most direct and significant finding is that biomass-fired CHP (combined heat and power) technology is not economically viable for Nebraska corn ethanol plants under current conditions. We estimate in the study that corn stover price would have to be at least $50 per ton of dry matter for the requisite amounts to be delivered to any of the three ethanol plant locations considered (Adams, Norfolk and …
Productivity And Welfare, Lilyan E. Fulginiti, Richard K. Perrin
Productivity And Welfare, Lilyan E. Fulginiti, Richard K. Perrin
Richard K Perrin
Technical change is generally characterized by a rate and biases, both evaluated for given producer prices. This paper examines the potential discrepancy between this rate and the corresponding rate of consumer welfare change as measured by Allais distributable surplus. We postulate a general equilibrium context with various market failures (taxes, quotas, imperfect competition, and “poorly priced” commodities), and use comparative statics to express the rate of welfare change in terms of the rate and biases of the technical change. An elementary simulation model of a taxed economy suggests that the rate of welfare change may differ from the rate of …
The Impact Of Technological Change On A Competitive Industry, Richard K. Perrin
The Impact Of Technological Change On A Competitive Industry, Richard K. Perrin
Richard K Perrin
This study analytically evaluates the impact of technological change on output and input markets in a competitive industry of identical firms. Firm-level technology and technological change are represented parametrically as local approximations to unknown functional forms. The comparative statics analysis solves for changes in equilibrium market prices and quantities as functions of parameters that characterize technological change. The technology-induced shift in industry supply is shown to equal the rate of technological change plus the share-weighted induced change in input prices. The model provides a consistent and systematic framework for evaluating the impact of technological change, either ex ante or ex …
Have Price Policies Damaged Ldc Agricultural Productivity?, Lilyan E. Fulginiti, Richard K. Perrin
Have Price Policies Damaged Ldc Agricultural Productivity?, Lilyan E. Fulginiti, Richard K. Perrin
Richard K Perrin
This paper examines price policies and agricultural productivity in 18 developing countries over the period 1961—1985. We measure productivity with both a nonparametric Malmquist index and a production function, confirming previous findings of declining agricultural productivity, but with sufficient inconsistencies as to raise concern about the adequacy of the methods. We nonetheless find considerable support for the hypothesis that unfavorable price policies have damaged agricultural productivity performance in these countries. Beginning in the mid 1960s and continuing into the 1980s the "green revolution" swept across the agricultural sectors of many less developed countries (LDCs), a revolution consisting of new varieties …
Nebraska Ethanol's Carbon Footprint, Richard K. Perrin, Diego Alvarez
Nebraska Ethanol's Carbon Footprint, Richard K. Perrin, Diego Alvarez
Richard K Perrin
If burning a gallon of ethanol emits less greenhouse gas or GHGs (CO2, primarily), than the gasoline it replaces then it has a smaller carbon footprint than gasoline. Actually, it is the amount of fossil CO2 emitted that matters, because CO2 from fossil fuels represents "new" carbon in the atmosphere, whereas the CO2 released by corn ethanol is recycled atmospheric carbon.
Environmental Efficiency Among Corn Ethanol Plants, Juan P. Sesmero, Richard K. Perrin, Lilyan E. Fulginiti
Environmental Efficiency Among Corn Ethanol Plants, Juan P. Sesmero, Richard K. Perrin, Lilyan E. Fulginiti
Richard K Perrin
Economic viability of the US corn ethanol industry depends on prices, technical and economic efficiency of plants and on continuation of policy support. Public policy support is tied to the environmental efficiency of plants measured as their impact on emissions of greenhouse gases. This study evaluates the environmental efficiency of seven recently constructed ethanol plants in the North Central region of the U.S., using nonparametric data envelopment analysis (DEA). The minimum level of GHG emissions (per gallon of ethanol produced) feasible with the available technology is calculated for each plant and this level is used to decompose environmental efficiency into …
Ldc Agriculture: Non-Parametric Malmquist Productivity Indexes, Lilyan E. Fulginiti, Richard K. Perrin
Ldc Agriculture: Non-Parametric Malmquist Productivity Indexes, Lilyan E. Fulginiti, Richard K. Perrin
Richard K Perrin
Agricultural productivity in 41 Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) countries from 1960 to 1999 is examined by estimating a semi-nonparametric Fourier production frontier. Over the four decades the estimated rate of productivity change was 0.83% per year, although the average rate from 1985-99 was a strong 1.90% per year. Former UK colonies exhibited significantly higher productivity gains than others, while Liberia and countries that had been colonies of Portugal or Belgium exhibited net reductions in productivity. We measure a significant reduction in productivity during political conflicts and wars, and a significant increase in productivity among those countries with higher levels of political …
The Keystone Xl Pipeline Project, Richard K. Perrin, Lilyan Fulginiti
The Keystone Xl Pipeline Project, Richard K. Perrin, Lilyan Fulginiti
Richard K Perrin
Prior to Canadian Prime Minister Harper’s visit to the White House last week, the United States Department of State released the EnSys study of the controversial Keystone XL pipeline project proposed to run through Nebraska’s sandhills. The release ignited new debates amid concern that the U.S. Department of State would soon decide whether to grant a permit for the pipeline. The Nebraska Unicameral is considering bills to provide more constraints on pipeline construction. Below is a summary of information about this project that could affect many Nebraskans.