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The purpose of this study is to analyse the changes, if any, that take place in regional economic structures in the process of diversification, and the roles of sectors in such changes. Input-Output and Structural Path Analysis are used to develop indices that may be used for carrying out the analysis of these issues. A method is also developed for examining the role of linkages with respect to the fundamental structure of production outlined by Simpson and Tsukui. Using these indices and methods, the economic relationships between sectors and the economic structures of six planning districts in Virginia, in addition to the economies of the state of Virginia and the U.S. are analysed and compared. On the basis of these analyses, it is concluded that: (a) The feature of bloc independence found at the level of first order transactions in an economy is diluted at the level of higher order transactions in the metals bloc. However it persists strongly at higher levels of transactions in the nonmetals bloc. (b) The sectors of the metals, nonmetals and services blocs show a proportionate development of linkages irrespective of the degree of diversification of the economy. (c) Contrary to Hirschman's suggestion that complexity of linkages increases with diversification, the results suggest that diversification leads to less complexity in the linkage relationships. (d) The linkages of the agricultural sectors in Virginia are biased towards the services sectors. In the case of the agricultural sectors at the national level, the linkages are biased primarily towards the manufacturing sectors. The implications of these findings for development policy are discussed. / Ph. D.

During the last twenty years, Chilean agriculture has experienced unequaled modernization and growth. The uneven character of this process shows that economic development and the expansion of some agricultural sub-sectors can be associated with the absolute and relative increase of poverty, particularly in rural areas. This dissertation postulates that the disarticulated nature of the accumulation pattern has impeded the achievement of sustained national growth and social equity, as well as threatened the preservation of national food security. This study explains the disarticulated character of Chilean agricultural growth during the last 25 years, analyzes the effects that disarticulation has on national food production and consumption levels, and attempts to advance some policy alternatives. An important contribution of this dissertation is to interpret the ongoing process of regional differentiation in Chilean agriculture through the analytical framework of disarticulated growth. The results of this study indicate that decreasing disarticulation requires restructuring of the prevalent accumulation pattern. Otherwise, alternative policy instruments would not accomplish the goals of growth, equity, and sustainability. The development of the agricultural export sector is nut contradictory to the achievement of sustainability and equity. In fact the expansion of the export sector could contribute to the articulation of the economy. However, this would require a shift in the investment priorities and increasing state support to the annual crops and livestock sub-sectors, particularly to the campesino producers. At the same time, investment in the agroexport sector would have to shift from expanding production via incorporation of new lands to increasing productivity and overall increasing the value of the products. That is, investment would have to be geared toward agroindustrial processes that would add value to the unprocessed agricultural commodities that are currently exported. Finally, sectoral and macroeconomic policy should contribute to internal expansion by increasing employment and minimum wage levels. / Ph. D.

This study develops dynamic, integrated fiscal impact models for Virginia counties and cities. It develops a theoretical base using analysis of the supply and demand for public goods and review of the literature of impact modeling. The empirical models are based on a static cross sectional econometric analysis of all Virginia counties and independent cities. The simulation models allow the comparison of impact and baseline scenarios developed using a broad range of economic, fiscal, and demographic variables. Validation of baseline scenarios for the simulation models are based on a sample of 12 counties and 12 cities. The ability of the models to perform well in a baseline case is analyzed using Theil' s coefficients and various other measures of Mean Square Error. / M.S.

M.S.

This study was born out of the desire to analyze the complex soil management problem faced by individual economic agents as well as society. The focus of this study, however, was on the theoretical formulation and estimation of partial equilibrium dynamic economic models directed toward optimizing the private use of the soil resource. In particular, four empirical representative farm models were formulated. Solutions to the four representative farm models showed that sizable reductions in topsoil loss, which contributes to non-point source pollution, and aggravates the crop productivity impacts of soil erosion, can be accomplished by adopting alternative support practices. Because of the change in support practices, reductions in the present value of net returns are expected, but this decrease in return was found to be minimal when compared to reductions in topsoil loss. Policy implications as well as several policy recommendations stemming from those results, with respect to soil conservation, are outlined and analyzed. / Ph. D.

黃玉. / Thesis (doctoral)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 199-208). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstracts in Chinese and English. / Huang Yu.

University of Macau / Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities / Department of Government and Public Administration

The study investigated indigenous land management practices in the North West Province with special reference to Miga and Tsetse villages. The study found that the apartheid forced removal policies had a great impact on the socio-economic and cultural life of the communities in the two study villages. The communities were resettled in a new harsh environment in which they encountered. various problems with adaptation. The land management practices in Miga and Tsetse villages were different from the traditional farming practices in their places of origin in the then Western Transvaal, where they were self-reliant. The new farming practices in Miga and Tsetse are based on modern agricultural land use system, which include the use of modern equipment and other inputs. Most of the community members cannot afford them due to high levels of unemployment. Moreover, given the arid conditions of the area, the new farming practices depend on availability of rain. The policy strategies and projects instituted and implemented by both the Bophuthatswana government and the North West Provincial government did not benefit the two communities much. Lack of funds and dependency on government funds made the projects unsustainable. The study recommended that since the Miga and Tsetse Communities have access to land for farming, the North West Provincial Department of Agriculture should put more emphasis on promoting and improving indigenous farming methods by incorporating them into the provincial agricultural development strategies. This is due to the fact that these practices are sustainable and affordable to the local communities. They are adaptable and tuned to the needs of people. Also, they pertain to cultural values of the communities. Moreover, the current poverty situation in Miga and Tsetse villages necessitates the great need for the communities to initiate other income generating ventures beside agriculture. The government should provide the communities with the necessary support including capacity building to ensure the sustainability and success of these projects / (M.Soc.Sc.) North-West University, Mafikeng Campus, 2005