This thesis investigates whether developments associated with globalization and regional integration have caused the levels of government support provided to agricultural producers in Canada and the United States to converge in a downward direction. The literature is sharply divided as to whether governments retain the ability to pursue an independent agricultural policy course. To shed light on this debate, the levels of government assistance payments made to farmers in six contiguous Canadian provinces and American states (Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Montana) are compared over the 1990-2001 period. This time-frame allows for sufficient periods both before and after the establishment of NAFTA and the WTO to study the effects of these developments on the relevant policy outcomes. After outlining the programs and policy changes that drove the shifts in levels of government support provided to farmers, the paper argues that although the levels of government payments made to farmers in the six sub-units converged in the mid-1990s, they diverged thereafter. The evidence drawn from this examination supports the contention that governments do possess considerable room to manoeuvre in the agricultural policy making arena and significant ability to chart an independent policy course.

The purpose of the thesis is to examine the effect EU’s subsidised dairy export has on developing countries’ dairy production. This is done by constructing a model containing various factors that are assumed to affect production. Data was collected for 23 countries in Africa, Central- and South America and was pooled together using a least squared dummy variable model (LSDV). The variable of interest for this study is the imports from EU to the selected countries. The regression result showed that this variable was negatively correlated with the countries’ domestic dairy production and was significant on the 1% level confirming the hypothesis of the variable. Due to the negative correlation, a reduction of the EU exports is thus assumed to increase these countries’ own production within this agricultural sector. As shown in the thesis, agriculture is important for a country’s development and hence, by exporting subsidised goods, EU might hinder development in the countries studied. However, over the years the EU has received a lot of pressure from the WTO to decrease its domestic- and export subsidies. Due to this, the EU has promised, based upon certain conditions, to remove its export subsidies completely by 2013. This is seen as positive for the developing countries’ future development prospects.

<p>The purpose of the thesis is to examine the effect EU’s subsidised dairy export has on developing countries’ dairy production. This is done by constructing a model containing various factors that are assumed to affect production. Data was collected for 23 countries in Africa, Central- and South America and was pooled together using a least squared dummy variable model (LSDV). The variable of interest for this study is the imports from EU to the selected countries. The regression result showed that this variable was negatively correlated with the countries’ domestic dairy production and was significant on the 1% level confirming the hypothesis of the variable. Due to the negative correlation, a reduction of the EU exports is thus assumed to increase these countries’ own production within this agricultural sector. As shown in the thesis, agriculture is important for a country’s development and hence, by exporting subsidised goods, EU might hinder development in the countries studied. However, over the years the EU has received a lot of pressure from the WTO to decrease its domestic- and export subsidies. Due to this, the EU has promised, based upon certain conditions, to remove its export subsidies completely by 2013. This is seen as positive for the developing countries’ future development prospects.</p>

Zugl.: Heidelberg, Univ., Diss., 2008

Thesis (M. Soc. Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 1985.

published_or_final_version / Housing Management / Master / Master of Housing Management

published_or_final_version / Urban Design / Master / Master of Urban Design

Οι επιδοτήσεις κεφαλαίου αποτελούν ένα ευρέως διαδεδομένο όργανο περιφερειακής και βιομηχανικής πολιτικής στην Ε.Ε και συχνά αναγκαίο εργαλείο, είτε για την αντιμετώπιση οικονομικών και κοινωνικών προβλημάτων, είτε για την επίτευξη σημαντικών στόχων της Κοινότητας, όπως η οικονομική και κοινωνική συνοχή μεταξύ των κρατών μελών και η σύγκλιση μεταξύ των περιφερειών που έχουν αναπτυχθεί με άνισο τρόπο. Ένας σημαντικός αριθμός πρόσφατων ερευνών μελέτησε τις επιδράσεις των επιδοτήσεων κεφαλαίου στην απόδοση, στην παραγωγικότητα και στη πιθανότητα επιβίωσης των εταιρειών, οι οποίες παρείχαν στοιχεία θετικών επιδράσεων. Η παρούσα μελέτη εξετάζει τις επιδράσεις των κεφαλαιακών επιδοτήσεων σε τέσσερις διαστάσεις της εταιρικής επίδοσης, στην κερδοφορία, στην αποτελεσματικότητα, στη μόχλευση και στην δανειακή επιβάρυνση. Βασίστηκε σε μια πάνελ βάση εταιρειών, του τομέα της μεταποίησης και των υπηρεσιών της Περιφέρειας Κρήτης, για το διάστημα 2005-2007 και έδειξε ότι οι επιδοτήσεις κεφαλαίου επηρέασαν ελαφρώς, μόνο την ανάπτυξη των εταιρειών της Περιφέρειας Κρήτης, ενώ δεν έδειξαν κάποια επίδραση στην επίδοση των εταιρειών, των κλάδων της μεταποίησης και υπηρεσιών. / The capital subsidization is a widespread instrument of regional and industrial policy in the EU and sometimes necessary tool, either to solve economic and social problems or to achieve important objectives of the Community, such as economic and social cohesion between Member States and convergence between regions that have been developed unequally. A significant number of recent surveys have examined the effects of subsidies on capital efficiency, productivity and the probability of the survival of the companies, which provided strong evidence of positive effects. This present study examines the effects of capital subsidization on four dimensions of the financial performance of firms, that is profitability, efficiency, capital structure and the growth. It has been based on a panel database of companies in the manufacturing and services sector of the Region of Crete for the period 2005-2007 and showed that the capital subsidies affect slightly, only the development of the Region of Crete, while showed no effect on performance of the companies of manufacturing and services sector.

State subventions to parties have been introduced in many Western democratic states with little discussion about the effect that such payments from a state to a political party have on the party. Political scientists, though, have conducted a lively debate about the effect of these state subventions on parties and party systems. With the introduction of state subventions in Canada, there is a significant opportunity to study the effects of the subsidy on parties. This thesis is a case study of the Green Party of Canada during the first three years after the introduction of state subventions to parties. The Green Party of Canada offers us a unique opportunity to see a party emerge from fringe status with the assistance of a state subvention to the party. There are many important findings we can draw from this party’s experience of the state subvention. / ix, 128 leaves ; 29 cm.

Agricultural crops are a food subsidy for wild ungulates that can bring animals into close proximity, facilitating disease spread. We used stable isotope analysis to reconstruct the diets of elk and white-tailed deer in three areas in the Canadian prairies and calculated their isotopic niche breadth. Isotopic niche breadth was greater for deer than elk, indicating that deer are a generalist species composed of individual specialists with varied diets, while elk are individual generalists. White-tailed deer niche breadth decreased with increasing consumption of agricultural foods in early fall, but not on an annual timescale. Elk niche breadth did not change with consumption of agricultural foods. Agricultural sources were 40-80% of the diets of both species in all areas. Agricultural feeding may increase the risk of disease in elk and deer not only by increasing their apparent density at feeding sites, but also by subsidizing increases to their overall density.