The lack of adequate transportation infrastructure in Brazil has been a bottleneck for the soybean producers for many years. Moreover, the costly inland transportation incurred from this bottleneck has resulted in a loss in competitiveness for Brazil compared to other exporting countries, especially the United States. If transportation costs are reduced by introducing improved infrastructure, Brazil is expected to increase its competitiveness in the world soybean market by increasing its exports and producer revenues. On the other hand, the United States and other significant soybean competing exporting countries are expected to lose market share as well as producer revenues. This study uses a spatial equilibrium model to analyze transportation infrastructure improvements proposed by the Brazilian government vis-à-vis enhance the nation’s soybean transportation network. The analyzed transportation improvements are: (i) the development of the Tapajós-Teles Pires waterway; (ii) the completion of the BR- 163 highway; (iii) the construction of the Mortes-Araguaia waterway; (iv) the Ferronorte railroad expansion to Rondonópolis and the linkage between the city of Rio Verde to Uberlândia; and (v) the Ferropar railroad expansion to the city of Dourados. The model specifies the Brazilian inland transportation network and the international ocean shipments. The model divides Brazil into 18 excess supply regions and 8 excess demand regions. The competing exporting countries are the United States, Argentina, Rest of South America (Bolivia, Paraguay, and Uruguay), Canada, and India. The importing countries are composed of China, European Union, Southeast Asia, Mexico, and the Rest of the World. Results suggest these proposed transportation improvements yield potential noteworthy gains to Brazil with producer revenues increasing more than $500 million and exports increasing by 177 thousand metric tons. Consequently, the world soybean price declines by $1.16 per metric ton and producer revenues and exports in the United States fall by 63 thousand metric tons and $104.89 million, respectively. Although the absolute gains in price, revenues, and exports for Brazil are considerable, they only represent in relative changes 1.48, 2.35, and 0.32 percent, respectively. Similarly, the loss in price, revenue, and export value for the United States is also low, declining by 0.23, 0.23, and 0.12 percent, respectively.

The lack of adequate transportation infrastructure in Brazil has been a bottleneck for the soybean producers for many years. Moreover, the costly inland transportation incurred from this bottleneck has resulted in a loss in competitiveness for Brazil compared to other exporting countries, especially the United States. If transportation costs are reduced by introducing improved infrastructure, Brazil is expected to increase its competitiveness in the world soybean market by increasing its exports and producer revenues. On the other hand, the United States and other significant soybean competing exporting countries are expected to lose market share as well as producer revenues. This study uses a spatial equilibrium model to analyze transportation infrastructure improvements proposed by the Brazilian government vis-à-vis enhance the nation's soybean transportation network. The analyzed transportation improvements are: (i) the development of the Tapajós-Teles Pires waterway; (ii) the completion of the BR- 163 highway; (iii) the construction of the Mortes-Araguaia waterway; (iv) the Ferronorte railroad expansion to Rondonópolis and the linkage between the city of Rio Verde to Uberlândia; and (v) the Ferropar railroad expansion to the city of Dourados. The model specifies the Brazilian inland transportation network and the international ocean shipments. The model divides Brazil into 18 excess supply regions and 8 excess demand regions. The competing exporting countries are the United States, Argentina, Rest of South America (Bolivia, Paraguay, and Uruguay), Canada, and India. The importing countries are composed of China, European Union, Southeast Asia, Mexico, and the Rest of the World. Results suggest these proposed transportation improvements yield potential noteworthy gains to Brazil with producer revenues increasing more than $500 million and exports increasing by 177 thousand metric tons. Consequently, the world soybean price declines by $1.16 per metric ton and producer revenues and exports in the United States fall by 63 thousand metric tons and $104.89 million, respectively. Although the absolute gains in price, revenues, and exports for Brazil are considerable, they only represent in relative changes 1.48, 2.35, and 0.32 percent, respectively. Similarly, the loss in price, revenue, and export value for the United States is also low, declining by 0.23, 0.23, and 0.12 percent, respectively.

This study examines the impact of the opportunity cost of urban land on urban growth. Based on prices, costs and productivity data on agricultural commodities at county levels, the opportunity cost of land was measured by the weighted revenue, cost, and government payment per acre of farm lands. Aggregating county data to metropolitan area levels, a panel data for 269 metropolitan areas from 1978-2000 were constructed. This study found that, as predicted by the theory, cities grow slower when revenue increases or cost decrease in the area. The impact of commodity program payment was also examined. Our results show that price shocks and agricultural subsidies do have an instantaneous impact on urban growth by a ecting the opportunity cost of urban land.

The Brazilian aquaculture sector has experienced growth in recent decades, and economic data from the sector is needed to characterize the supply chain, the consumer markets and financial indicators of fish producing units. Reliable statistical data on the Brazilian aquaculture sector is also needed to aid in the research efforts toward the sector. This dissertation analyzes data collected from experiments, suppliers and consumers of tilapia and tambaqui, the two most important fish farming species in Brazil, in three essays. <p></p><div><br></div><div>The first essay aims to fill a gap in the literature by assessing the economic returns to lettuce and juvenile tilapia production in an aquaponics system. Experimental data that varied fish stocking density and feeding rate when co-producing fish and lettuce in Brazil is analyzed. Using different nonparametric efficiency testing methods, a set of undominated technologies in the form of input mix, is identified. In addition, sensitivity analysis is used to assess the ranges for prices over which the choice of technology is robust. Results from the technical efficiency analysis show that it is possible to get marketable lettuce in synchronization with the fish production cycle using a reduced level of feed. At observed average regional market prices (0.18 R$/tilapia fingerling, 2.8 R$/kg for fish feed, 20 R$/kg for juvenile fish and 1.70 R$/lettuce plant), the highest profit alternative in the experimental design is from an initial stocking density of 250 fingerlings per m3, feeding at the recommended rate, and harvesting on the 29th day. Sensitivity analysis indicates that the choice of best input combination is sensitive to only the prices of fish feed input and juvenile fish output. A complete financial analysis was based on this production strategy, and results indicate that a 10-year project is economically viable.<br></div><div><br></div><div>Consumer demand for tilapia and tambaqui product attributes is studied in the second essay. Seafood supply chains, from fish farmers to supermarkets selling direct to consumers, must understand consumer demand for product attributes to ensure production and availability of desired products. Consumers’ willingness to pay (WTP) for tilapia and tambaqui fillets was estimated taking consumer demographics into account for each of the five Brazilian regions. A random parameters logit model was used to analyze data from discrete choice experiments conducted in-person at supermarket seafood counters. On average, Brazilian fish consumers prefer tilapia to tambaqui, and fresh to frozen fillets. Stated preferences were found to be related to knowledge about fish. This study is the first known analysis of national seafood preferences considering factors such as product form, species, and familiarity with fish and fish products in Brazil. <br></div><div><br></div><div>In the third essay, a spatial analysis of the supply chain of tilapia and tambaqui is conducted with a focus on potential policy interventions and changes in the economic environment. The analysis is based on a partial equilibrium model of the sector and is the first comprehensive model of the aquaculture supply chain for Brazil. The demand component of the model is estimated econometrically using synthetic data based on the previous consumer choice experiment combined with secondary data on aggregate fish demand. The resulting demand system reflects asymmetric cross price impacts violating Samuelson’s integrability condition. Rather than imposing symmetry during estimation, the model is formulated as a complementary problem. The spatially disaggregated model is applied to the evaluation of the impact of factors such as governmental incentives (subsides of fish feed), international oil price shocks (changes in the cost of transportation), increases in consumers’ income (shifts in demand), and decreases in retailers’ margins on the regional pattern of tilapia and tambaqui production and final consumption. Changes in transportation costs, impacted by oil prices or road improvements had little impact on market outcomes. A 10% reduction on retailers’ gross margins decreased prices by 5.2% and increased quantity demanded by 5.4%, while an 8% reduction in fish feed costs due to tax cuts indicates, on average, 5.4% lower selling prices for farmers.<br></div>

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Local government policy often relies on taxation to address the central concern of ensuring municipal growth. This paper uses a measure of taxes compiled by the Rose Institute of State and Local Government called the Kosmont Cost of Doing Business rating to discuss the effects of tax policy on growth. The goal of this paper is to use the spatial equilibrium model to estimate the correlation between the cost of doing business and certain basic observable outcomes. These outcomes are reflected in wage, population, and price levels. The underlying spatial equilibrium model leads to “deep effects” equations, which are used to connect these observable correlations to more tangible measures of growth. Through the deep effects equations, we analyze the effect of the cost of doing business on the productivity, amenities, and economic success of California’s cities. We find that a higher cost of doing business does not lead to lower productivity and amenities, but rather improves amenities and maintains steady levels of productivity under a long-term equilibrium.

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Vietnam und Thailand sind zwei der führenden Exporteure für Reis. Zurzeit hat die staatliche Preispolitik den stärksten und meisten Einfluss auf die vietnamesische Branche für Reis. Es beschränkt die Exportmenge, um die Menge für den nationalen Nahrungsmittelbedarf sicherzustellen. Diese Regulierung hält die vietnamesische Produktion unter ihrem vollständigen potenzial, im Vergleich zu der Reisproduktion in Thailand, zurück. Viele Experten unterstellen, dass Vietnam mehr Aufmerksamkeit der nationalen Strategie zur Ernährungssicherung schenkt als es notwendig wäre. Das verursacht Marktverzerrung und schwächt den landeseigenen Reisexport im Vergleich zu Thailand. Um die Auswirkungen der staatlichen Preispolitik mit einer quantitativen Methode zu untersuchen, wird über ein Gleichgewichtsmodell drei verschiedenen Szenarien eruiert: (1)Die Regulierungsrichtlinie für Reispreise wird wöchentlich aktualisiert; (2)Die Regulierungsrichtlinie für Reispreise wird monatlich angepasst; (3)Die Regulierungsrichtlinie für Reispreise wird quartalsweise überabeitet. Basierend aus den Produktionsdaten, dem Konsum, inländischen Preis, Transportkosten, der Elastizität der Nachfrage und der Angebotsfunktion der vietnamesischen und thailändischen Reisbranche zeigt dieses Modell Resultat: Mit kleinen Anpassungen in der Preispolitik wächst der Wettbewerb in Bezug auf der vietnamesischen Exportmenge auf dem internationalen Markt ohne negative Auswirkungen auf die Ziele der nationalen Ernährungssicherung. Nicht-Reisbauern werden in eine nachteilige Position gestellt aufgrund von höheren Preisen auf dem inländischen Markt. Jedoch Bevölkerung, welche Reisbauern sind, werden von den höheren Handelsmengen, den steigenden Umsätzen und ebenfalls von dem steigenden Nettoeinkommen der Reisexporteure profitieren. Deshalb empfehlen wir nicht die staatliche Preispolitik regelmäßig zu überarbeiten, um das Ziel einer besseren Wetbewerbsfähigkeit von Vietnam zu erreichen / Vietnam and Thailand are the top two rice exporters who contribute more than 50 per cent of market shares in the international market. Therefore, any changes in their rice policies have a strong influence on the world market. Currently, one of the strongest and most often impacts on the Vietnamese rice industry is the Price Controls Policy that regulates the competition in rice market. It restricts the export amount in order to ensure national food security. This policy keeps Vietnamese rice production under its full potential compared with the rice industry in Thailand. Many experts suggest that Vietnam pays more attention on national food security than necessary. This causes market distortion and weakens the country’s competitiveness with Thailand. In order to examine the effects of the Price Controls Policy with a quantitative method, we build and run a spatial equilibrium model with 3 different scenarios: (1) Price Controls Policy updated every week; (2) Price Controls Policy updated every month; (3) Price Controls Policy updated quarterly. Base on the available data of production, consumption, domestic price, transportation cost and elasticities of demand and supply function of Vietnamese and Thai rice industry, the model shows the following result. With less changes in the Price Control policy, the competitiveness in terms of export quantity of the Vietnamese rice on international markets rises without having negative effects on the national food security goal. Non-rice farmers will be in disadvantage position due to higher domestic prices for rice, but the majority of the population who are rice farmers, accounting for more than 70 per cent of the population, will benefit from the higher volume and turnover of rice export, and so the net social revenue will increase also. Therefore, we highly recommend that the Price Controls Policy should not be revised on regular to serve the purpose of achieving better competitiveness of Vietnamese rice

The developed countries, heavily impacted by the economic and financial crisis of 2008, signaled the recovery with negotiations on two major international trade agreements, The Trans-Pacific Partnership and the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TPP and TTIP, respectively). The establishment of trade agreements may minimize the effects of protectionist policies of countries/blocks, eliminating or reducing existing barriers, thus stimulating the increase in trade among member countries of such agreements. The TPP and TTIP imply the reduction of tariffs and non-tariff barriers between member countries, the United States case. Thus, competition with Brazil will tend to increase in many products, case of the chicken meat, in which the United States occupies the first position in world production, while Brazil positions itself as the largest exporter of the commodity. From this new trade matrix, the present study aims to examine the possible impacts of the Transpacific and Transatlantic agreements on the Brazilian chicken meat market. The methodology derives from a Spatial Equilibrium Model as a Mixed Complementarity Problem (MCP), based on five alternative scenarios, which aimed to highlight possible changes in the market of chicken meat from the implementation of new trade agreements. The first scenario simulates the formation of the TPP with the reduction of tariff barriers, while the second scenario presupposes the elimination of tariff and non-tariff barriers. Regarding the TTIP, scenarios 3 and 4, it is assumed the reduction of tariff barriers as well as the elimination of tariff barriers and technical constraints; in the fifth scenario was considered the simultaneous occurrence of the two agreements, through the elimination of tariff and non-tariff barriers. The results indicate that, in general, with the implementation of both agreements the Brazilian chicken meat market may invariably bring losses, particularly in relation to production, consequently, affecting producers' prices and surpluses. The most damaging scenarios for Brazil are the formation of the TPP in its broadest form, based on the elimination of tariff and non-tariff barriers, as well as the simultaneous formation of the agreements, in which the country show a net loss in welfare. From this, we emphasize the importance of negotiating trade agreements to ensure the industry conditions of expansion and access to new markets, As well as greater rigor in matters related to animal health, inspection and certification, aspects of a technical nature that have great potential to distort trade flows internationally. / Os países desenvolvidos, fortemente impactados pela crise econômica e financeira de 2008, sinalizaram a recuperação a partir de negociações de dois grandes acordos no comércio internacional, a Parceria Transpacífico e a Parceria Transatlântica de Comércio e Investimento (TPP e TTIP, respectivamente). A constituição de acordos comerciais possivelmente minimizam os efeitos das políticas protecionistas dos países/blocos, eliminando ou reduzindo as barreiras existentes, estimulando assim o aumento do comércio entre os países-membros de tais acordos. O TPP e o TTIP implicarão na redução de tarifas e barreiras não tarifárias entre os países-membros, caso dos Estados Unidos. Assim, a concorrência com o Brasil tenderá a aumentar, em muitos produtos, caso da carne de frango, no qual o país norte-americano ocupa a primeira posição na produção mundial, enquanto que o Brasil posiciona-se como maior exportador da commodity. A partir desta nova matriz de comércio, o presente estudo tem por objetivo examinar os possíveis impactos da implementação dos acordos Transpacífico e Transatlântico sobre o mercado de carne de frango brasileiro. A metodologia deriva de um Modelo de Equilíbrio Espacial na forma de um Problema de Complementaridade Mista (PCM), baseando em cinco cenários alternativos, cujo objetivo foi evidenciar possíveis mudanças no mercado da carne de frango decorrentes da implementação de novos acordos comerciais. O primeiro cenário simula a formação do TPP a partir da redução das barreiras tarifárias, já o segundo cenário pressupõe a eliminação das barreiras tarifarias e não tarifárias. Em relação ao TTIP, cenários 3 e 4, pressupõe-se a redução das barreiras tarifarias como também a eliminação das barreiras tarifárias e restrições técnicas; num quinto cenário considerou-se a ocorrência simultânea dos dois acordos, por meio da eliminação das barreiras tarifárias e não tarifárias. Os resultados indicam que, de maneira geral, com a efetivação de ambos os acordos o setor de carne de frango brasileiro, pode invariavelmente trazer prejuízos, principalmente no que se refere à produção e, em consequência, afetando os preços e os excedentes dos produtores. Os cenários mais prejudiciais ao Brasil consistem na formação do TPP em sua forma mais ampla, baseando-se na eliminação das barreiras tarifárias e não tarifarias, como também na formação simultânea dos acordos, nos quais o país apresenta perda líquida de bem estar. A partir disso, ressalta-se a importância da negociação de acordos comerciais para garantir ao setor condições de expansão e acesso a novos mercados, assim como maior rigor nas questões relacionadas à saúde animal, fiscalização e certificação, aspectos de natureza técnica que tem grande potencial de distorção dos fluxos de comércio internacionalmente.

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