Consulta: creatorFacets:"Lopez,   Rigoberto A."
Registros recuperados: 39
Data/hora: 01/06/2024 11:45:57

The Impact of Imports on Price-Cost Margins: An Empirical Illustration
Provedor de dados: Research in Agricultural & Applied Economics (AgEcon Searh)
Autores: Lopez,   Rigoberto A.; Lopez,   Elena.
This article decomposes the impact of imports on domestic price-cost margins into separate price and cost effects.  Using data from 24 food-processing industries, the empirical results show that although the direct impact of imports on prices is always negative, a positive net impact on price-cost margins occurs in industries characterized by low own-price elasticity of demand and diseconomies of scale. Further results show that the disciplining effect of imports is more preponderant the lower the degree of domestic competition.
Tipo: Working or Discussion Paper
Palavras-chave: Market power; Imports; Market structure; International trade; Food industry; Agribusiness; Demand and Price Analysis; International Relations/Trade.
Ano: 2001
URL: http://purl.umn.edu/25153

TESTING PROTECTION FOR SALE IN THE FOOD INDUSTRIES
Provedor de dados: Research in Agricultural & Applied Economics (AgEcon Searh)
Autores: Lopez,   Rigoberto A.; Hathie,   Ibrahima.
This paper tests the Grossman-Helpman Protection for Sale model using panel data from U.S. food processing industries with endogenous protection, import penetration, and political campaign. The results support the key predictions of the model: organized industries are granted higher protection that decreases with import penetration and the price elasticity of imports.  Furthermore, the presence of import quotas raises the level of protection substantially. The estimated weight on aggregate welfare is strikingly similar those found by Goldberg and Maggi (1999) and Gawande and Bandopadhyay (2000), implying that protection is not for sale in these industries.
Tipo: Conference Paper or Presentation
Palavras-chave: Agribusiness.
Ano: 2002
URL: http://purl.umn.edu/19682

STRUCTURAL ADJUSTMENT PROGRAMS AND PEANUT MARKET PERFORMANCE IN SENEGAL
Provedor de dados: Research in Agricultural & Applied Economics (AgEcon Searh)
Autores: Lopez,   Rigoberto A.; Hathie,   Ibrahima.
The impacts of Structural Adjustment Programs (SAPs) on social welfare are investigated using data from the Senegalese peanut sector.  The findings suggest that SAP policies resulted in dramatic decreases in peanut production, undermining the profitability of the peanut processing plants as well.  Overall, the Senegalese society suffered net welfare losses.
Tipo: Conference Paper or Presentation
Palavras-chave: International Development; Production Economics.
Ano: 1998
URL: http://purl.umn.edu/20841

Campaign Contributions and Agricultural Subsidies
Provedor de dados: Research in Agricultural & Applied Economics (AgEcon Searh)
Autores: Lopez,   Rigoberto A.
This article examines the influence of campaign contributions on agricultural subsidies. Empirical results revealed that rent seeking works, i.e., campaign contributions of agricultural-related industries influence agricultural subsidies in the manner they best serve contributors' economic interests. Eliminating campaign contributions would significantly decrease agricultural subsidies, hurt farm groups, benefit consumers and taxpayers, and increase social welfare by approximately $5.5 billion. Although contributions are not the only determinants of agricultural subsidies, investment returns to farm PAC contributors are quite high ($1 in contributions brings about $2,000 in policy transfers). In fact, the results are in sharp contrast to the "truthful...
Tipo: Working or Discussion Paper
Palavras-chave: Agricultural and Food Policy; Political Economy.
Ano: 2001
URL: http://purl.umn.edu/25223

The Degree and Sources of Oligopsony Power: An Application to the Haitian Coffee Market
Provedor de dados: Research in Agricultural & Applied Economics (AgEcon Searh)
Autores: Lopez,   Rigoberto A.; Dorsainvil,   Daniel.
Tipo: Working or Discussion Paper
Palavras-chave: Agribusiness; Industrial Organization.
Ano: 1988
URL: http://purl.umn.edu/115901

Private Labels, Retail Configuration, and Fluid Milk Prices
Provedor de dados: Research in Agricultural & Applied Economics (AgEcon Searh)
Autores: Bonanno,   Alessandro; Lopez,   Rigoberto A.
This paper investigates the impacts of store brands (i.e., private labels) and retail characteristics (scanners, deli, bakery, and pharmacy departments, ATMs, restaurant and store size) on fluid milk prices using 1,740 supermarket-level observations from four cities. Non-parametric results reveal that although private label milk initially exerts a procompetitive effect on milk prices, eventually the effect is to raise the prices of both manufacturers' brands and private labels. Econometric results further reveal that price differentials are larger for reduced-fat milk than for whole milk and that the more enhanced the retail configuration is, the higher milk prices are. Overall, the results attest to some degree of price discrimination by retailers through...
Tipo: Working or Discussion Paper
Palavras-chave: Consumer/Household Economics; Demand and Price Analysis; Industrial Organization.
Ano: 2004
URL: http://purl.umn.edu/25222

WHAT DETERMINES WELFARE LOSSES FROM OLIGOPOLY POWER IN THE FOOD AND TOBACCO INDUSTRIES?
Provedor de dados: Research in Agricultural & Applied Economics (AgEcon Searh)
Autores: Bhuyan,   Sanjib; Lopez,   Rigoberto A.
This paper estimates welfare losses in thirty-eight U.S. food and tobacco industries at the four-digit SIC level, then relates such losses to market structure and conduct variables to identify the welfare loss determinants.  Empirical findings indicate that these losses are higher in markets characterized by high export intensity, high advertising expenditures, economies of scale, mergers and acquisitions, and market concentration.  In addition, losses are larger in industries that sell finished consumer products and face lower import competition.
Tipo: Journal Article
Palavras-chave: Agribusiness.
Ano: 1998
URL: http://purl.umn.edu/31519

Food Protection for Sale
Provedor de dados: Research in Agricultural & Applied Economics (AgEcon Searh)
Autores: Lopez,   Rigoberto A.; Matschke,   Xenia.
This article tests the Protection for Sale (PFS) model using detailed data from U.S. food processing industries from 1978 to 1992 under alternative import demand specifications. All empirical results support the PFS model predictions and previous empirical work qualitatively. Although welfare weights are very sensitive to import demand specification, a surprising result is that we obtain weights between 2.6 and 3.6 for domestic welfare using import slopes or elasticities derived from domestic demand and supply functions. In contrast, results based on import slopes or elasticities from directly specified import demands (including the Armington model) yield the usual, unrealistically large estimates for the domestic welfare weight. We contend that the latter...
Tipo: Working or Discussion Paper
Palavras-chave: Trade protection; Tariffs; Lobbying; Political economy; Food manufacturing; Agricultural and Food Policy; Political Economy; F13; F1; L66; C12.
Ano: 2005
URL: http://purl.umn.edu/25195

Wal-Mart’s Monopsony Power in Local Labor Markets
Provedor de dados: Research in Agricultural & Applied Economics (AgEcon Searh)
Autores: Bonanno,   Alessandro; Lopez,   Rigoberto A.
This paper measures the degree of monopsony power exerted by Wal-Mart over retail workers using a dominant-firm model and data on contiguous U.S. counties where the company operates, presenting for the first time a measure of the anti-competitive behavior of the company. Empirical results show that Wal-Mart’s monopsony power over workers varies significantly across the country, being higher in rural counties, particularly in the south. For instance, Wal-Mart’s buying power index in labor markets in rural southern central states is estimated to be 5% or higher while the impact on northeastern states’ retail wages is negligible.
Tipo: Conference Paper or Presentation
Palavras-chave: Labor and Human Capital.
Ano: 2008
URL: http://purl.umn.edu/6219

The Retail Service, The Market Power, and the Vertical Relationships in Breakfast Cereals Industry
Provedor de dados: Research in Agricultural & Applied Economics (AgEcon Searh)
Autores: Chidmi,   Benaissa; Lopez,   Rigoberto A.; Cotterill,   Ronald W.
This article extends the Berry, Levinsohn, Pakes (1995) model to include retail services by Boston supermarkets in an equilibrium model of breakfast cereals and then tests alternative vertical pricing games between manufacturers and supermarkets to ascertain who’s got the pricing power. Empirical results show that retail services play a significant role in market equilibrium. Consumers are willing to pay for additional retail services embedded in their cereal purchases, especially those with higher income and no kids. Markups and market shares increase with the level of retail services, although manufacturers dominate pricing decisions in the market channel for breakfast cereals. Significant downward biases in price elasticities and markup estimates result...
Tipo: Conference Paper or Presentation
Palavras-chave: Vertical relationships; Discrete choice; Supermarkets; Market channel; Industrial Organization; Marketing; L11; L13; L66.
Ano: 2009
URL: http://purl.umn.edu/51770

Price and Cost Impacts of Concentration in Food Manufacturing Revisited
Provedor de dados: Research in Agricultural & Applied Economics (AgEcon Searh)
Autores: Lopez,   Rigoberto A.; Liron-Espana,   Carmen.
This study estimates the elasticities of wholesale food prices, cost efficiency, and market power with respect to industrial concentration in 35 food processing industries, modifying the model of Lopez, Azzam, and Lirón-España (2002). In contrast to the results of their earlier analysis, findings of this study indicate that further increases in concentration would result in significant processing cost savings (and Lerner index increases) in nearly all industries and that output prices would decline in nearly 50% of the industries, although significantly so in only 20% of them. As industrial concentration rises, price declines occur in industries with low levels of concentration while price increases occur in highly concentrated industries.
Tipo: Journal Article
Palavras-chave: Cost efficiency; Food prices; Food processing; Industrial concentration; Market power; Marketing; Production Economics; Productivity Analysis.
Ano: 2005
URL: http://purl.umn.edu/59610

ECONOMIC SURPLUSES IN THE U.S. SUGAR MARKET
Provedor de dados: Research in Agricultural & Applied Economics (AgEcon Searh)
Autores: Lopez,   Rigoberto A.
The objective of this article is to estimate historical economic surpluses for the subsectors involved in the U.S. sugar market.  Annual producer and consumer surpluses were computed based on a five-equation model and 1958-87 data.  In the last decade, the welfare position of cane- and beet-sugar producers has been roughly maintained, the domestic consumer surplus and the export quasi-rents to foreign countries have both declined, and quasi-rents of the corn-sweetener industry now surpass those that accrue to the cane industry and are about the same as those of the beet-sugar industry.  Some policy implications are discussed.
Tipo: Journal Article
Palavras-chave: Crop Production/Industries.
Ano: 1990
URL: http://purl.umn.edu/28970

VERTICAL RELATIONSHIPS IN THE READY-TO-EAT BREAKFAST CEREAL MARKET: A BRAND-SUPERMARKET LEVEL ANALYSIS
Provedor de dados: Research in Agricultural & Applied Economics (AgEcon Searh)
Autores: Chidmi,   Benaissa; Lopez,   Rigoberto A.; Cotterill,   Ronald W.
The purpose of this paper is to examine the vertical relationship between the manufacturers of ready-to-eat cereals (RTEC) and the retailers in the Boston area. The study uses highly disaggregated (supermarket and brand level ) monthly data from Information Resources Inc (IRI) from 1995 to 1997.The Logit model is used to estimate the demand for 37 brands of RTEC in the top four supermarkets in the Boston area. The demand estimates are then used to compute the price-cost margins (PCM) for retailers and manufacturers under different vertical scenarios, including vertical Nash double marginalization, non-linear pricing, vertical integration, and collusion. The results of the study shed light on the power each agent (manufacturers and retailers) has to set the...
Tipo: Conference Paper or Presentation
Palavras-chave: Marketing.
Ano: 2004
URL: http://purl.umn.edu/19916

THE IMPACT OF ALTERNATIVE PAYMENT ARRANGEMENTS ON THE PERFORMANCE OF FLORIDA SUGARCANE COOPERATIVES
Provedor de dados: Research in Agricultural & Applied Economics (AgEcon Searh)
Autores: Lopez,   Rigoberto A.; Spreen,   Thomas H.
Payment arrangements among members of a cooperative play a critical role in the performance of the cooperative.  The impact of three payment systems is assessed for Florida sugarcane cooperatives through a bi-level programming model which incorporates both individual and collective behavior.
Tipo: Journal Article
Palavras-chave: Agricultural Finance.
Ano: 1984
URL: http://purl.umn.edu/29722

Imperfect Competition and Total Factor Productivity Growth in U.S. Food Processing
Provedor de dados: Research in Agricultural & Applied Economics (AgEcon Searh)
Autores: Azzam,   Azzeddine M.; Lopez,   Elena; Lopez,   Rigoberto A.
This article examines the role of imperfect competition in determining total factor productivity growth (TFPG) by bringing together a New Empirical Industrial Organization (NEIO) model and the TFPG model of Nadiri and Mamuneas (1998). Applying the integrated model to 1973-92 data from 29 food processing industries revealed that changes in markups, economies of scale, and demand growth contributed positively to TFPG while the disembodied technical change was a negative contributor. Furthermore, the TFPG estimates are starkly different from the conventional (Solow's residual) TFPG measures, underscoring the need to account for imperfect competition, returns to scale, and demand in analyses of this type.
Tipo: Working or Discussion Paper
Palavras-chave: Productivity growth; Imperfect competition; Scale economies; Food processing; Agribusiness; Industrial Organization; Productivity Analysis.
Ano: 2002
URL: http://purl.umn.edu/25147

RETAIL OLIGOPOLY POWER AND FLUID MILK PRICES IN BOSTON
Provedor de dados: Research in Agricultural & Applied Economics (AgEcon Searh)
Autores: Chidmi,   Benaissa; Lopez,   Rigoberto A.; Cotterill,   Ronald W.
This paper assesses the independent and joint impacts of oligopoly power of market intermediaries and the Northeast Dairy Compact (NEDC) on fluid milk prices in Boston.  Empirical results reveal that price increases due to oligopoly power far outweighed those caused by the NEDC by more than 10 times. In fact, markups are estimated at approximately 33% of the retail milk price, translating into approximately $1/gallon overcharge at 2002 milk prices averaging around $3/gallon.
Tipo: Conference Paper or Presentation
Palavras-chave: Demand and Price Analysis.
Ano: 2003
URL: http://purl.umn.edu/22107

Is Protection for Sale in U.S. Food Industries?
Provedor de dados: Research in Agricultural & Applied Economics (AgEcon Searh)
Autores: Lopez,   Rigoberto A.; Hathie,   Ibrahima.
This article tests the Grossman-Helpman Protection for Sale model using panel data from U.S. food processing industries with endogenous protection, imports, and political organization of industries. The results support the key predictions of the model: organized industries are granted higher protection that decreases with import penetration and the price elasticity of imports, but in unorganized industries protection increases with import penetration. In spite of substantial differences in data sets and empirical procedures, the estimated weight on aggregate welfare is strikingly similar those found by Goldberg and Maggi (1999) and Gawande and Bandopadhyay (2000), implying that protection is not for sale in these industries. Furthermore, the presence of...
Tipo: Working or Discussion Paper
Palavras-chave: Trade protection; Tariffs; Lobbying; Political economy; Food manufacturing; Agribusiness; Agricultural and Food Policy; International Relations/Trade; Political Economy.
Ano: 2002
URL: http://purl.umn.edu/25182

Market Power and/or Efficiency: An Application to U.S. Food Processing
Provedor de dados: Research in Agricultural & Applied Economics (AgEcon Searh)
Autores: Lopez,   Rigoberto A.; Azzam,   Azzeddine M.; Liron-Espana,   Carmen.
This article separates oligopoly-power and cost-efficiency effects of changes in industrial concentration and assesses their impact on output prices in 32 food-processing industries. Empirical results indicate that although concentration induces cost efficiency in one-third of the industries, oligopoly-power effects either dominate cost efficiency or reinforce inefficiency, resulting in higher output prices in most industries. The article also provides fresh econometric estimates of oligopoly power and economies of size for the industries in question.
Tipo: Working or Discussion Paper
Palavras-chave: Industrial concentration; Economies of scale; Industrial organization; Oligopoly power; Food processing; Agribusiness; Industrial Organization; Productivity Analysis; L00; L11; L13; L66.
Ano: 2001
URL: http://purl.umn.edu/25160

The Impact of Wal-Mart Supercenters on Supermarkets’ Profit Margins
Provedor de dados: Research in Agricultural & Applied Economics (AgEcon Searh)
Autores: Liu,   Xiaoou; Lopez,   Rigoberto A.
The Impact of Wal-Mart Supercenters on Supermarkets’ Profit Margins. XIAOOU LIU (Email: xiaoou2010@gmail.com, School of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development, Renmin University of China, Beijing, China 100872) RIGOBERTO LOPEZ (Professor and Department Head, Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Storrs, CT 06269) This paper quantifies the impact of Wal-Mart Supercenters on supermarkets’ profitability via a two-stage dynamic entry game, using simulated methods of moment and milk scanner data from Dallas/Fort Worth supermarkets. The empirical findings show that the entry of Wal-Mart Supercenters accounts for about an average of 50% decreases in profit margins for incumbent supermarkets. The effect of scale of economies is found to be more...
Tipo: Conference Paper or Presentation
Palavras-chave: Wal-Mart; Entry; Profit margins; Dynamic games; Industrial Organization.
Ano: 2010
URL: http://purl.umn.edu/61800

OPTIMAL TRANSBOUNDARY WATER DIVERSION: THE CASE OF THE SENEGAL RIVER
Provedor de dados: Research in Agricultural & Applied Economics (AgEcon Searh)
Autores: Hathie,   Ibrahima; Lopez,   Rigoberto A.
This paper ascertains the costs and benefits of diverting water from the Senegal River.  Two scenarios are compared to the status quo of inaction: the social planner and the competitive scenarios. Although these two scenarios yield positive present values of net benefits, the social planner scenario would use smaller quantities of water while providing the highest net benefits to society. Given that the benefits are one-sided while the costs are spread over several constituencies that share the river, it is possible for the gainers to compensate the losers, especially the farmers of flood recession agriculture identified as the main deprived group.
Tipo: Conference Paper or Presentation
Palavras-chave: Resource /Energy Economics and Policy.
Ano: 2002
URL: http://purl.umn.edu/19586

RETAIL OLIGOPOLY POWER, DAIRY COMPACT, AND BOSTON MILK PRICES
Provedor de dados: Research in Agricultural & Applied Economics (AgEcon Searh)
Autores: Chidmi,   Benaissa; Lopez,   Rigoberto A.; Cotterill,   Ronald W.
This paper assesses the impacts of the Northeast Dairy Compact (NEDC) and retail oligopoly power on fluid milk prices in Boston. Empirical results reveal that price increases due to oligopoly power outweighed those caused by the NEDC by nearly seven times. In fact, markups are estimated at approximately 25% of the retail milk price, translating into approximately a little less than $0.75/gallon. We also estimated that only around two-thirds of the raw milk price changes were passed forward to consumers. This helps explain why consumer prices have come down only little after elimination of the NEDC. In fact, the new milk income loss contract program, which basically provides partial price subsidies to farmers, has contributed to low raw milk prices that...
Tipo: Working or Discussion Paper
Palavras-chave: Industrial Organization; Livestock Production/Industries.
Ano: 2004
URL: http://purl.umn.edu/25212

When is Concentration Beneficial?
Provedor de dados: Research in Agricultural & Applied Economics (AgEcon Searh)
Autores: Liron-Espana,   Carmen; Lopez,   Rigoberto A.
This paper separates market power and efficiency effects of concentration in a sample of 255 U.S. manufacturing industries and computes welfare changes from rises in concentration. The empirical findings reveal that in nearly two-third of the cases, consumers lose as efficiency gains are generally pocketed by the industries. From an aggregate welfare standpoint, concentration is found to be beneficial in nearly 70% of the cases, mostly for low and moderate levels of concentration being particularly against the public interest in highly concentrated markets. Overall, the results support the existing U.S. Federal Trade Commission guidelines for approval of mergers.
Tipo: Working or Discussion Paper
Palavras-chave: Concentration; Marked power; Efficiency; Manufacturing; Industrial Organization.
Ano: 2001
URL: http://purl.umn.edu/25201

AMENITY BENEFITS AND PUBLIC POLICY: AN APPLICATION TO THE CONNECTICUT DAIRY SECTOR
Provedor de dados: Research in Agricultural & Applied Economics (AgEcon Searh)
Autores: Lopez,   Rigoberto A.; Altobello,   Marilyn A.; Shah,   Farhed A.
This article develops a conceptual framework for analyzing the role of state-level policies towards the dairy sector in the presence of farmland amenity benefits, and applies it to Connecticut.  Milk supply, demand and amenity benefit functions are estimated, and three exogenously determined milk prices are considered.  The empirical findings show, under each price scenario, the extent to which land is underallocated to the dairy sector if amenity benefits are ignored.  Analysis of policy options reveals that a partial production cost subsidy represents the least-cost alternative for attaining the socially optimal solution for the region.
Tipo: Journal Article
Palavras-chave: Amenity benefits; Policy; Dairy; Land use; Land Economics/Use; Livestock Production/Industries.
Ano: 1994
URL: http://purl.umn.edu/15176

Television Advertising and Soda Demand
Provedor de dados: Research in Agricultural & Applied Economics (AgEcon Searh)
Autores: Lopez,   Rigoberto A.; Liu,   Yizao; Zhu,   Chen.
This study examines the effects of television advertising on consumer demand for carbonated soft drinks using a random coefficients logit model (BLP) with household and advertising data from seven U.S. cities over a three year period. We find that advertising decreases the price elasticity of demand, indicating that advertising plays predominantly a persuasive, therefore anti-competitive role in this market. Further results show that brand spillover effects are significant and that measuring advertising with gross rating points (GRPs) outperforms measuring it with expenditures, as is conventionally done. Finally, simulation results indicate that eliminating all television advertising would lower market shares of sodas as consumers migrate to other...
Tipo: Presentation
Palavras-chave: Advertising; Demand; Competition; Consumer behavior; Sodas; Carbonated soft drinks; Demand and Price Analysis; Industrial Organization; Marketing; D12; L66; Q18; I18.
Ano: 2012
URL: http://purl.umn.edu/124445

Competition Effects of Supermarket Services
Provedor de dados: Research in Agricultural & Applied Economics (AgEcon Searh)
Autores: Bonanno,   Alessandro; Lopez,   Rigoberto A.
This paper investigates the effect of in-store services on retail food prices, supermarket competition, and demand using fluid milk as a case study. It is shown that higher-service supermarkets charge higher milk prices essentially because of an increase in market power due to differentiation of service offering. Results show that different types of services impact milk prices differently, that upscale food-retailers face stronger competition in newer services, and that service competition results in a trade-off for the consumer between the attractiveness of the enhanced retail configuration and the increase in prices.
Tipo: Conference Paper or Presentation
Palavras-chave: Retailing; Pricing; Milk; Supermarkets; Agribusiness; L81; D40; L66.
Ano: 2007
URL: http://purl.umn.edu/9833

Evaluating a New Payment System for a Processing Cooperative
Provedor de dados: Research in Agricultural & Applied Economics (AgEcon Searh)
Autores: Lopez,   Rigoberto A.; Spreen,   Thomas H.
This paper examines the potential benefits of introducing a new payment scheme in a sugarcane processing cooperative. Findings suggest that a use-value payment system would increase individual and total members’ net returns significantly over a sugar-based system. The proposed payment system would change the incentive structure so varieties with higher processing quality would become more appealing. In addition, the cooperative plant would be used more uniformly throughout the processing season and payments to members would be more consistent with their contribution to cooperative surplus.
Tipo: Journal Article
Palavras-chave: Agribusiness.
Ano: 1987
URL: http://purl.umn.edu/46200

A Supermarket-Level Analysis of Demand for Breakfast Cereals: A Random Coefficients Approach
Provedor de dados: Research in Agricultural & Applied Economics (AgEcon Searh)
Autores: Chidmi,   Benaissa; Lopez,   Rigoberto A.; Cotterill,   Ronald W.
This paper applies the BLP approach to the demand for ready-to-eat cereals (RTECs) at the supermarket-chain level in Boston using IRI monthly data. The Random Coefficient Model is used to estimate the demand for 37 brands of RTECs at the leading supermarkets in the Boston area. The empirical results provide a wealth of consumer behavior information, including own- and cross-price elasticites for 37 brands of RTECs at four leading supermarkets in Boston. The demand for RTECs is generally price elastic (ranging between -3 and -8). Consumers respond positively and strongly to promotion, negatively and strongly to price, calories and fiber, and weakly to sugar content. Income has a strong interactive effect with product characteristics and thus is a useful...
Tipo: Conference Paper or Presentation
Palavras-chave: Demand and Price Analysis.
Ano: 2005
URL: http://purl.umn.edu/19236

Are you are what you eat? Overweight Status and Soft Drink Choices
Provedor de dados: Research in Agricultural & Applied Economics (AgEcon Searh)
Autores: Huang,   Rui; Lopez,   Rigoberto A.
The rising obesity during the past three decades poses a severe public health challenge and spurred enormous research interests. This paper contributes to the growing literature on how obesity spreads by empirically investigating whether social norms affect soft drink consumption choices. Combining market level soft drink scanner data and survey data with consumer level characteristics, we employ reduced form regressions to test whether social norms of body weight affects per capita consumption of total or caloric soft drink consumption, on a market level. We also utilize a random-coefficient logit model to examine whether social norms of body weight affect consumer choices on a brand level. Our results from the market level analyses support that a heavier...
Tipo: Conference Paper or Presentation
Palavras-chave: Social norm; Body weight; Food choices; Agribusiness; Agricultural and Food Policy; Health Economics and Policy.
Ano: 2009
URL: http://purl.umn.edu/49480

Is Wal-Mart a Monopsony? Evidence from Local Labor Markets
Provedor de dados: Research in Agricultural & Applied Economics (AgEcon Searh)
Autores: Bonanno,   Alessandro; Lopez,   Rigoberto A.
This paper measures the degree of monopsony power exerted by Wal-Mart over retail workers using a dominant-firm model and data in the 48 contiguous U.S. states for counties where the company operates, presenting for the first time a measure of the company’s anticompetitive behavior. Empirical results show that Wal-Mart’s monopsony power over workers varies significantly across the country, being higher in non-metro and rural counties, particularly in the south. For instance, Wal-Mart’s buying power index in labor markets in rural southern and central states is estimated to be 5% or higher while the impact on northeastern states’ retail wages is negligible.
Tipo: Conference Paper or Presentation
Palavras-chave: Wal-Mart; Monopsony power; Wages; Labor; Retailing; Community/Rural/Urban Development; Industrial Organization; Labor and Human Capital; Research Methods/ Statistical Methods; J42; L13; L81.
Ano: 2009
URL: http://purl.umn.edu/51289

CHANGES IN THE U.S. DEMAND FOR SUGAR AND IMPLICATIONS FOR IMPORT POLICIES
Provedor de dados: Research in Agricultural & Applied Economics (AgEcon Searh)
Autores: Lopez,   Rigoberto A.; Sepulveda,   Jorge L.
The thrust of this paper is to identify and measure structural changes in the U.S. demand for sugar and to derive subsequent implications for import restriction policies.  Empirical results indicate that changes in consumer preferences and the availability of closer and cheaper sweeteners in food processing, especially high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), are exerting a downward pressure on sugar demand.  As the U.S. demand for sugar decreases and the food industry adjusts faster to sweetener choices, the U.S. government would have to impose more restrictive import barriers to maintain prices to domestic sugar and HFCS producers.  Furthermore, the welfare impact of U.S. sugar policy options on domestic consumers and food processors will be lessened.
Tipo: Journal Article
Palavras-chave: Demand and Price Analysis; International Relations/Trade.
Ano: 1985
URL: http://purl.umn.edu/28960

WELFARE LOSSES UNDER ALTERNATIVE OLIGOPOLY REGIMES: THE U.S. FOOD AND TOBACCO MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES
Provedor de dados: Research in Agricultural & Applied Economics (AgEcon Searh)
Autores: Bhuyan,   Sanjib; Lopez,   Rigoberto A.
This article systematically estimates the allocative efficiency losses in the U.S. food and tobacco manufacturing industries under alternative oligopoly pricing regimes using a formal model of oligopoly. Using 1987 data for 44 industries and an industry-wide oligopoly pricing scheme, these losses were estimated at approximately 3% of sales--2% in the food industries and 19% in the tobacco industries. Five additional oligopoly pricing regimes, four of which are price leaderships, are simulated and their results compared and tested relative to the industry-wide pricing regime. Findings underscore the importance of cost structure assumptions and that the impact of the type of oligopoly behavior assumed is not as dramatic when differences in demand and cost...
Tipo: Journal Article
Palavras-chave: Food and tobacco industries; Market power; Welfare loss; Industrial Organization.
Ano: 1995
URL: http://purl.umn.edu/15269

Home Bias in U.S. Beer Consumption
Provedor de dados: Research in Agricultural & Applied Economics (AgEcon Searh)
Autores: Lopez,   Rigoberto A.; Matschke,   Xenia.
We apply the Berry, Levinsohn and Pakes (1995) market equilibrium model (BLP) to data from 30 brands of beers sold in 12 U.S. cities over 20  quarters (1988-92) to estimate the consumers’ taste for beer characteristics (price, alcohol content, and calories) as well as for the cultural region of origin (USA, Anglo-European, Germanic, and countries bordering the U.S.).  Consumer heterogeneity is allowed with respect to age, income and gender. Overall we end up with 7,200 beer brand observations (30x12x20) and 13,920 (58 random draws x 12 x 20) consumer observations. Empirical results indicate that indeed there is home bias with respect to European beers and somewhat less so with respect to beers from bordering countries (Mexico and Canada). Home bias is more...
Tipo: Conference Paper or Presentation
Palavras-chave: Home bias; Beer; Country of origin; Demand; Differentiated products; Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety.
Ano: 2007
URL: http://purl.umn.edu/7883

The Role of Retail Services in Food Market Equilibrium
Provedor de dados: Research in Agricultural & Applied Economics (AgEcon Searh)
Autores: Chidmi,   Benaissa; Lopez,   Rigoberto A.
The increasing importance of services in industrialized economies is reflected in the relative importance of service in product offerings at the retail level. Yet, typical economic studies account only for physical product attributes in models of product differentiation even when conducted with retail data. In U.S. food retailing, the issue is very important as raw farm products account for only 19% of every dollar the consumer pays for food, most of the remaining going to services that do not transform the product but that add consumer utility and cost. In this paper, we examine this issue using the case of breakfast cereals in Boston in the context of upscale retail services provided by supermarkets. Focusing on ready-to-eat cereals (RTECs) allows us to...
Tipo: Conference Paper or Presentation
Palavras-chave: Agribusiness; Marketing.
Ano: 2007
URL: http://purl.umn.edu/6579

SUPPLY RESPONSE IN THE NORTHEASTERN FRESH TOMATO MARKET
Provedor de dados: Research in Agricultural & Applied Economics (AgEcon Searh)
Autores: Lopez,   Rigoberto A.; Munoz,   Arnold O.
This paper examines the forces that affected the Northeastern fresh tomato supply in the post-WWII period.  A simultaneous equation model is developed which incorporates a composite price expectation model, supply response, and factors affecting regional price.  Findings reveal that data are consistent with the Rational Expectation Hypothesis.  Urban pressure played a major role in shifting supply response while shipments from competing areas had a modest impact on regional production or price.  The positive elasticity of producers' revenue with respect to local production highlights the aggregate benefits of increasing yields.
Tipo: Journal Article
Palavras-chave: Demand and Price Analysis.
Ano: 1987
URL: http://purl.umn.edu/28890

Political Economy of the United States Sugar Policies
Provedor de dados: Research in Agricultural & Applied Economics (AgEcon Searh)
Autores: Lopez,   Rigoberto A.
Tipo: Working or Discussion Paper
Palavras-chave: Agricultural and Food Policy; Crop Production/Industries.
Ano: 1988
URL: http://purl.umn.edu/115808

MARKET-BASED LAND REFORM AND FARM EFFICIENCY IN COLOMBIA: A DEA APPROACH
Provedor de dados: Research in Agricultural & Applied Economics (AgEcon Searh)
Autores: Gonzalez,   Maria A.; Lopez,   Rigoberto A.
This paper uses Data Envelopment Analysis to measure scale and technical efficiencies of 925 farms in rural Colombia and a Tobit model to identify the effects of land market characteristics on efficiency. Findings indicate that although larger farms are more scale efficient, they are not more technical efficient than small farms. Participation in land markets increases technical efficiency, indicating a positive potential role for market-based land reform.  Further results show that intensity of violence in rural areas results in increased scale efficiency, allegedly through consolidation of land ownership.
Tipo: Conference Paper or Presentation
Palavras-chave: Industrial Organization; Productivity Analysis.
Ano: 2003
URL: http://purl.umn.edu/22202

Political Violence and Farm Household Efficiency in Colombia
Provedor de dados: Research in Agricultural & Applied Economics (AgEcon Searh)
Autores: Gonzalez,   Maria A.; Lopez,   Rigoberto A.
This paper estimates farm household levels of technical efficiency and their determinants in Colombia, with particular reference to political violence (i.e., guerilla fronts, assassinations, kidnappings, and displaced population). An input-oriented stochastic frontier is estimated simultaneously with a technical inefficiency model that incorporates violence at the local level, using survey data from 822 farm households. The findings show that household productivity is lower in areas of high political violence, particularly with high incidence of guerrilla fronts and kidnappings. Should political violence be eliminated, the average Farrell's technical efficiency index of farm households in the sample would increase by an average of 6.4%, favoring households...
Tipo: Conference Paper or Presentation
Palavras-chave: Distance function; Farm efficiency; Colombia; Violencia; Consumer/Household Economics; Q74; O13; O54; D24.
Ano: 2005
URL: http://purl.umn.edu/19528

AJAE Appendix: Brand-Supermarket Demand for Breakfast Cereals and Retail Competition
Provedor de dados: Research in Agricultural & Applied Economics (AgEcon Searh)
Autores: Chidmi,   Benaissa; Lopez,   Rigoberto A.
The material contained herein is supplementary to the article named in the title and published in the American Journal of Agricultural Economics, May 2007, Volume 89, Issue 2.
Tipo: Journal Article
Palavras-chave: Demand and Price Analysis.
Ano: 2007
URL: http://purl.umn.edu/7413

CONSTRAINTS AND OPPORTUNITIES IN VEGETABLE TRADE
Provedor de dados: Research in Agricultural & Applied Economics (AgEcon Searh)
Autores: Lopez,   Rigoberto A.; Pagoulatos,   Emilio; Polopolus,   Leo C.
The objective of this article is to provide an overview on constraints and opportunities for increased vegetable trade in the Americas. The realization of this potential will likely be constrained by the extent of the market, immigration reform in the United States, lack of investment capital in Latin America, high transportation costs of fresh produce, and quality and health concerns of consumers. Opportunities are more apparent in selected world areas (Asia, European Community, United States, and Canada), for high quality, fresh rather than processed vegetables with safe or zero levels of pesticide and chemical residues, especially due to consumers' concern for a healthier diet. Whether or not the potential for expanding vegetable trade will be realized...
Tipo: Journal Article
Palavras-chave: International Relations/Trade.
Ano: 1989
URL: http://purl.umn.edu/26686