Many non-native weed pests of food, fiber, and nursery crops pose threats to U.S. environment and agriculture. Noxious weed regulations play an important role in preventing the introduction and spread of non-native plants, thereby protecting the local biodiversity, environment and economic activities. However, these regulations could also hamper agricultural trade....
In this dissertation, I examine how the spatial configuration of forest ownership influences the risk-mitigating behavior of public and private forestland owners over time. I determine whether or not the predicted equilibrium outcomes are socially optimal and, if not, whether the introduction of regulation, liability, or private insurance would lead...
This dissertation consists of two essays that address code-sharing alliances in the U.S. domestic airline industry.
The first essay examines the economic impact of code-sharing using data from the complementary code-sharing agreement between Southwest and ATA Airlines. This code-share agreement is found to decrease air fares and increase passenger volumes...
Why do rural households leave for urban places? And how does this
decision affect their economic well-being? Rural places in the United States have higher poverty and unemployment rates and lower levels of educational attainment relative to urban places. Does leaving a rural place for a city offer a pathway...
Two econometric models were developed to forecast consumption,
production, and price of hardwood lumber, and removals and price
of hardwood sawlog stumpage. Four eastern U.S. regions were represented
in the models. Hardwood lumber consumption by manufacturing,
shipping, residential construction, and nonresidential construction
industries was recognized. Hardwood sawlog stumpage removals from...
The elasticity of excess demand held by foreign buyers of United States agricultural products is critical for understanding the impacts of changes in farm policy and is a parameter that is much debated. The objective of my study is to estimate this parameter for major U.S. export crops, including wheat,...
A structural model of the Pacific halibut fishery is developed. Hypothesis tests
are developed within the framework of the "new empirical industry organization" for
the exertion of market power by Pacific halibut processors in both the exvessel market
and the wholesale market. The relationship of market power exertion and IPHC's...
Since harvest levels of many of the world's fisheries are not likely to increase in
the foreseeable future, resource managers and seafood processors need to develop
improved strategies to maximize the utilization and benefits of current catches. In
addition to increasing utilization and benefits, seafood processors are subject to the...
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 success of the U.S. government in persuading Japan to
liberalize the beef market is viewed as a relief to the U.S.
beef industry. The economic benefit (to the U.S. beef
producers!) of the trade liberalization however is yet to be
seen. The size of this benefit is determined, among...