The Pacific salmon market may often be characterized by
disequilibrium conditions and less than perfect information. Thus the
study of the decision-making behavior, especially short-run pricing,
of wholesale market participants in this industry requires the use of
alternative models to the conventional, price-taking, perfect
competition model of the firm.
This...
The United States invests tens of billions of dollars in higher
education each year. This had led many researchers to estimate the
marginal and average rates of return to these expenditures. Past
works, however, have been partial in scope. That is, they have
counted only the benefits of higher education...
Expanding groundfish production on the West Coast and in the
United States in total, over the past decade, has increased
competition in the groundfish market. During the same period,
regulations have evolved to control production in the groundfish
industry for the purpose of conserving the resource. Other
regulations exist to...
Absentee-owned manufacturing plants made up a significant
portion of the manufacturing sector in Oregon. In both 1969 and
1979, more than a quarter of the state's wage and salary
manufacturing workers were employed by manufacturers whose home
offices were located in other states or nations. Although the
orthodox economic view...
The peppermint industry is the largest commercial herb industry
in the United States. Oregon is the largest peppermint producing
state with nearly 60 percent of the total United States peppermint
oil production. There is a need for economic information about current
and future prospects for the national peppermint industry as...
By 1976 extended fisheries jurisdiction had been
declared by most coastal states and territories of the
world. The new regime of property rights was expected to
affect seafood production costs which, in turn, could impact
on seafood trade and the competitive positions of
producing countries. In theory this policy should...
This study analyzes the impact of the 1980 Staggers
Rail Act (SRA) on Pacific Northwest (Oregon, Washington,
Idaho and Montana) wheat transportation.
A minimum cost uncapacitated transshipment network
flow model is employed to simulate the origination and
destination pattern of grain flows before (1977) and after
(1985) the SRA. The...
Borrowed funds finance a majority of equipment purchases and
production costs in agriculture. The costs of borrowing, however,
have not been stable nor has the determination of interest payments
remained the same in recent years. As interest rates become increasingly
volatile and variable rate loans replaced constant rate
loans, the...
Agricultural economists have devoted considerable attention to
the financial stress situation of agricultural producers. Many
studies have been conducted in various regions of the U.S. in an
attempt to better understand the causes of the problem. The costs
associated with farm financial stress imply corresponding benefits to
be realized by...
Governments have employed special capital gains taxes to curb speculation in real estate and raise public revenue. Economic theory suggests that the introduction of a gains tax with a declining rate structure over time will induce prospective buyers to reduce their demand for land and will induce sellers to offer...
During the two decades 1960-1980 the Japanese government was
faced with a problem of declining domestic demand for rice and a
persistent over-production which created mounting surpluses stored
at public expense. In an attempt to remedy the situation the
Japanese government imposed production controls on rice and offered
incentives to...
From 1979 through 1984 the economic bases of rural
Oregon counties have undergone structural change. Nonwage
income, especially transfer payments, has played an
important role in these changes. Demographic changes in
rural counties have contributed to the growth in unearned
income.
The economic structure of rural Oregon counties was
estimated...
Tropospheric ozone is a pollutant which has detrimental effects on crop yields. The level of ambient ozone can be reduced by environmental policy changes and enforcement. The purpose of this study was to estimate the welfare effects of such changes in ambient ozone using recently available plant response data and...
The overall objective of the research reported here is to
empirically measure the ability of farmers to mitigate the impact of
rising electricity prices by substituting relatively inexpensive
alternative inputs. A dual cost methodology is employed because it
allows theoretically consistent derivation of own price and factor
substitution elasticities, conditional...
The purpose of this thesis is to present the results of a study
of the impacts of the Conservation Reserve Program, Title XII of the
Food Security Act of 1985, on the economies of small communities
located in Gilliam, Morrow and Umatilla Counties in Oregon. These
counties are representative of...
Forward pricing is a marketing tool available to Pacific
Northwest white wheat growers for reducing price risk.
The cash forward contract is the traditional pricing mechanism
used for this purpose. In September 1984, another option
for forward pricing was made available through the introduction
of a new futures market for...
The ocean fishery is an example of a common property
resource industry. Behavior of commercial fishermen is
determined by a complex set of economic, environmental and
social factors. All of these factors contribute to the
individual fisherman's success.
Fishermen learn to cope with the variability inherent
to their occupation. Two...
Government intervention in food grain markets is a common feature of most LDCs. Inasmuch as liberalizing markets is difficult for some of these governments, researchers have offered suggestions to reduce detrimental affects of intervention. The general advice for pricing policy has been for governments to set prices at c.i.f. or...
This study expresses the hypothesis that historical patterns of national beef cow herd accumulation and liquidations (the cattle cycle) have been related to investment incentive differences across cow ages through time, resulting each year in changes in herd age structure,
performance and potentials for adjustment in subsequent years. A review...
Many natural resources such as water and forests have become more intensively used in recent years. Often, this has made it necessary to reallocate these resources from less to more efficient productive usage. The knowledge of the existing tradeoffs between alternative uses are necessary to make reallocative decisions. However, these...
The crop rotation decision is important to farmers because of its
impact on profitability, financing and risk exposure. This thesis
addresses the problem of farm level crop rotation selection under perfect
and imperfect knowledge of prices, yields and costs. The problem
is addressed by first estimating production functions for irrigated...
The primary purpose of this study is to investigate the salmon
demand of Japanese households. The specific goals are to illuminate
the substitutional relationship between salmon and other foods and to
examine seasonal and regional differences in salmon demand.
To analyze substitutional relationships and seasonal
differences, monthly data on consumption...
A model was developed to simulate winter wheat production on
irrigated farmland similar to that found near Hermiston, Oregon. The
simulated farm is irrigated with a side roll sprinkler system. A well
is located adjacent to the wheat field and the water is delivered by
an electrically powered pump. The...
A model of agricultural decision making is developed and tested in this thesis. The expected value of utility evaluated under alternative outcomes is directly maximized in a nonlinear programming model. Two features of the model distinguished it from traditional risk programming models. First, alternative attitudes towards the assumption of risk...
The Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1976
took effect on March 1, 1977. By this Act the United
States extended its management over fisheries to 200
nautical miles from shore. Extended fishery jurisdiction
was expected to promote industry development and expand
the contribution of the fishing industry to the...
Oregon has grown strawberries commercially since the early 1900's.
More than 90 percent of strawberries produced in Oregon has traditionally
been delivered to processors. The strawberry acreage has declined from
a high of 18,300 acres in 1957 to the lowest level of 5,000 acres in
1978. The increasing harvest costs...
Fishing firms in Oregon operate in a complex and dynamic physical, biological and institutional environment. Within this environment, managers of these firms will attempt to maximize some objective function which may include profit. This maximization is dependent upon the level of output, or the levels of inputs. Given a relationship...
This study is directed toward an investigation of
the longer term aggregate consequences that arise from
producer behavior in a production environment
characterized by risk and uncertainty. In particular,
the papers included herein examine circumstances under
which individual actions may result in adverse long term
consequences in the aggregate market,...
The purpose of this study is to investigate the role of the
source of the external trade statistics in measuring the price
responsiveness of foreign demands and relative price competitiveness
of the major exporting countries in trade of agricultural commodities
in international markets. In particular, the papers included in this...
Eutrophication is the accelerated aging process of a lake which
generally decreases the water quality in terms of aesthetic and recreational
uses. At Liberty Lake, near Spokane, Washington, eutrophication
has become a problem. Many individuals and agencies are interested in
the benefits that occur when the lake's water quality has...
In the past decade considerable research in several disciplines has
been oriented toward the design of optimal capacity expansion plans for
water resource systems. The emphasis of most of these efforts has been
directed toward minimization total cost outlays in project planning.
This focus somewhat limits the full applicability of...
In recent years we have seen increasing debate over
the allocation of PNW water resources. In particular there
are conflicts over using the river system for irrigation
vs. electricity production. Denying the hydroelectric
system water implies higher costs to electricity consumers
as producers substitute more expensive nonhydro resources.
This research...
Soil erosion is a major source of pollution in the
United States. Erosion can cause both on-site and off-site
damages. It has been argued that off-site damages are a
significant component of soil conservation benefits and are
currently not well known.
Off-site effects of soil erosion are uncompensated
externalities. Given...
Growing demand for limited quantities of fish has led to systematic
planning for the conservation and management of U.S. fishery resources.
There is a need for better understanding of the complex biological and
social environment on which regulation for conservation, social, and
economic purposes is imposed. The behavior of commercial...
For many resource-based communities throughout Oregon the timber
industry plays an important role. In many of these areas, federal
land holdings comprise a large proportion of the area's land holdings.
Management decisions regarding resource use on the National Forest
lands can have a major influence on the stability of local...
A net shift analysis was used to analyze growth in employment
and value added from 1954 to 1982 in SIC 2037, Frozen Fruits, Fruit
Juices, and Vegetables. This analysis indicated that the Pacific
Northwest dominated the growth experienced in this sector over this
time period. Oregon's share of total U.S....
Twenty managers of large diversified irrigated farms in the Willamette Valley area of Oregon were interviewed about the economic information and analysis techniques they use when making crop selection decisions. Two community college farm management instructors, two agricultural lenders, and two certified public accountants working with farmers were interviewed about...
Soil erosion research in the fields of agronomy, soils science
and mechanics, agricultural engineering, hydrology, climatology, and
other scientific disciplines has economic dimensions. In general,
measurable and, at times, significant economic effects are
associated with the effects of erosion in the other disciplines.
Interactions between climate, soils, hydrology, and tillage...
This research analyzed the relationships of agricultural field burning policies, and other economic factors, with the quantity of land devoted to grass seed production in counties of the Willamette Valley, Oregon. The thesis describes the background of the grass seed industry, field burning and government policies concerning field burning in...
Competitive bid sales of U.S. Forest Service in the Pacific Northwest
timber resources have significant effects on the economies of
Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. These sales contribute to the economic
vitality of small regions or communities dependent upon timber as a primary
resource input. Any changes in the price or...
Farmers in the high plateau region of Algeria are
assumed to exhibit risk averse behavior, particularly, due
to highly variable weather conditions inducing income
instability over time. This in turn directly affects their
production behavior. The Eastern High Plateau (Setif) is
not a homogeneous region. In the El-Eulma daira, for...
The distribution of agricultural production for
continuous consumption requires the capacity to maintain
inventories which are large relative to the rate of
utilization. As a result, the demand for inventories is a
critical element in the pricing of agricultural
commodities. A component of inventory demand, referred to
here as reservation...
Although the limitations of consumer surplus have become widely known, there exists a lack of studies which
present in a coherent framework recent developments in estimating Hicksian welfare measures. This study attempts to fill partially this gap by analyzing some theoretical and empirical aspects in the estimation of exact welfare...
Investing in farmland is one of the most important decisions that
farmers face in their lifetimes. Usually, large amounts of debt are
required to purchase a substantial tract of land, thereby reducing the
farmer's liquidity position and future borrowing capacity. Fixed debt
commitments must be met by highly variable future...
This study develops an improved method for understanding
economic production relationships in small scale
fisheries. This method postulates that gross revenue is a
function of physical input quantities, and is based upon
the transcendental logarithmic function to derive factor
share equations for each of the five inputs in the model....
Much outdoor recreation occurs on publicly owned land and water
resources, or involves use of these public resources. Consequently, an
economic problem arises concerning the value of recreational resources
which do not have a conventional market price. Without a price to guide
the allocation of resources, it is difficult to...
The main objective of this study was to estimate the demand for
and value of Oregon ocean sport-caught salmon fishery. The primary
technique employed to estimate the recreational demand was an
aggregated zone average travel cost method (TCM).
The willingness of an angler to pay was deduced from the
estimated...
Fisheries economics is a recognized body of research
which is characterized by the joint study of economics,
the biological characteristics of fishery resources, and
the policies (regulations) used in the management of
fisheries. This thesis is composed of three papers,
each of which is primarily associated with one of the...
Anadromous fish populations in the Pacific Northwest have
undergone substantial change throughout the past century.
Historical periods of over-harvest and the construction of
numerous dams throughout the region have contributed to declines
in the runs of naturally spawning stocks. Management efforts to
rebuild fish populations have focused on the restriction...
Potato waste is processing residue generated as a byproduct from
the production of frozen and dehydrated potatoes. Although feedlots
have fed potato waste to cattle for years, very little information is
available to provide guidance to potential buyers and sellers for
determining prices. The value of potato waste in beef...
The size of elk herds in Eastern Oregon has become a controversial
issue. Trade-offs exist between the numbers of elk and domestic
livestock on a given area of land, and also between elk and commercial
timber harvesting policies. Disputes arise from differing views as
to proper use of the natural...
Hypothesis tests are developed for the exertion of
market power by the Japanese government in the world and
domestic wheat markets. The results indicate that the
Japanese government is pursuing a more restrictive import
policy for wheat than would be indicated by an optimal
tariff strategy. Results also indicate that...
The travel cost method of deriving demand and value of recreation
does not include fixed costs of recreational durable goods purchases
or allow for supply restrictions on the number of suitable
sites available. The omission of these two real-world situations
results in derivation of demand curves which are more inelastic...
Marketing cooperatives that operate on a pool basis allocate net returns on the basis of the "economic value" of the raw products each member has delivered. Economic values ideally reflect the raw products' expected contributions to pool net return. In a competitive market, raw product prices would reflect these expected...
Financial stress in agriculture has been a concern over the past
century. Agrarian values and "love of the land" seem to yield public
conclusions for the support of the industry. Much of this support is
in the interest of preserving a viable food producing sector in an
volatile world climate....
The main objective of this research was to compare the demand and
the price of hard red winter (HRW) wheat and white wheat (WW) to
determine the similarities and the differences between these two wheat
classes.
Using Granger's causality test with average monthly cash prices
and daily Free on Board...
Since the "200 miles" fishery conservation zones
were established by some coastal countries, new arrangements
between countries to participate jointly in
fishing, processing, and marketing of fish products
have emerged. One such fish product is surimi. As a
result of extended jurisdiction, each coastal country's
interest in the surimi industry...
New types of exchange arrangements are becoming
increasingly popular for a wide range of goods traded
internationally. Several types of countertrade
arrangements have been identified, ranging from pure
barter to more elaborate schemes where only a portion of
the trade is "paid for" in goods, including bilateral
trading agreements with...
Policy analysts designing programs to improve the
efficiency and expand the use of water in the irrigation of
farm lands often enlist benefit-cost analysis as a means of
assessing impacts and feasibility. While on-site comparisons
of costs and benefits are important factors in project
assessment, other dimensions such as risk,...
This study analyzes the impact of the Poultry Extension and
Training Subproject (PETS) on the village household in North Yemen.
The subproject was funded by the U.S. Agency for International
Development and implemented by Oregon State University
The primary goal of this study was to determine the impact of
the...
An econometric model of the canned tuna market is used to evaluate biased and unbiased estimators. Four methods for improving mean square error when multicollinearity is present in a regression equation are examined and compared with the results of ordinary least squares (OLS). Exact and inexact prior information methods are...
