Livestock farming uses resources such as land, labour, capital and animals to produce goods and services with a use value to people. Simultaneously, it also produces goods and services that have non-use values to humans. Profit maximization is a fundamental goal in farm-level economic analysis of...

This chapter introduces the main methodological tools for the conduct of research on organic agriculture and Fair Trade. Two groups of tool boxes are presented: (1) methods that are based on the tenets of welfare economics and can be categorized under the umbrella of cost-benefit analysis; and (2)...

Although the price system can be useful to an economy in indicating the pattern of consumer demand, where current production leaves shortages and surpluses, and in channelling resources into satisfying demand, it also contains imperfections which should be recognized and understood. This chapter...

This chapter reflects on the costs of compliance with environmental regulations and standards in agriculture in developed countries, and its implications for trade and competitiveness. It highlights the importance of enforcement mechanisms and implementation, subjects which often have been...

This chapter discusses the externalities of pesticide use in vegetable production in Kenya. Through secondary data analysis, individual farmer interviews, pesticide residue analysis, expert interviews and workshops, the health and environmental costs of farmerś pesticide use are estimated. The...

This chapter examines the ways in which externalities can be reduced in patented agricultural biotechnology inventions. Pollen drift from GM crops, which hinders other farmers' abilities to develop non-GM varieties, is used to illustrate how existing patent rights can create a geographical...

This chapter uses firm-specific data from the Canadian oilseed rape industry to examine a number of research spillovers among public and private firms. The effect of 'spill-ins' is examined at the firm level in terms of their impact on research output, sales revenue and a measure of downstream...

This chapter evaluates a type of spillover associated with mergers and acquisitions in the biotechnology industry. The study reported in this chapter was based on a database containing 11 000 agricultural biotechnology patents granted between 1988 and 2002 by the US Patent Office. The analysis...

This chapter examines mixed-use developments in city fringe areas, especially those with culturally diverse or ethnic populations. Mixed temporal use of space can result in significant social problems. The chapter examines the policy and planning implications for the management of such regeneration ...

This chapter discusses the prevention of animal disease from an economic perspective considering public goods and externalities. It notes that the nature of externalities and public good characteristics, particularly whether they are large and thus warrant concern, is determined by geography and...