Data/hora: 09/06/2024 06:25:05

Provedor de dados: | 31
País: | United States
Título: | INCREASING RETURNS AND MARKET EFFICIENCY IN AGRICULTURAL TRADE
Autores: | Fafchamps,   Marcel; Gabre-Madhin,   Eleni Z.; Minten,   Bart.
Data: | 2004-03-25
Ano: | 2003
Palavras-chave: | International Relations/Trade.
Resumo: | Using detailed trader surveys in Benin, Madagascar, and Malawi, this paper investigates the presence of increasing returns in agricultural trade. After analyzing margins, costs, and value added, we find little evidence of returns to scale. Motorized transport is found more cost effective for large loads on longer distances. But transporters pool quantities from multiple traders. Margin rates show little relationship with transaction size. Personal travel costs are a source of increasing returns, but the effect is small. Consequently, total marketing costs are nearly proportional to transaction size. Working and network capital are key determinants of value added. Constant returns to scale in all accumulable factors--working capital, labor, and network capital--cannot be rejected. This implies that policies to restrict entry into agricultural trade are neither necessary nor useful. Governments should focus instead on technological and institutional innovations to upgrade agricultural markets.
Tipo: | Working or Discussion Paper
Idioma: | Inglês

Identificador:

12983

http://purl.umn.edu/16136

Editor: | AgEcon Search

Relação:

International Food Policy Research Institute&gt;MTID Discussion Papers

MTID Discussion Paper

60

Formato:

56

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