Economic analysis of the environmental sustainability of agriculture: recent studies using quasi-experimental methods

2022 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Agricultural Production ◽  
Experimental Approach ◽  
Experimental Methods ◽  
Review Article ◽  
Economic Research ◽  
Agricultural Sustainability ◽  
Spatial And Temporal Variation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Quasi Experimental

PurposeThe purpose of this review article is to demonstrate how the quasi-experimental approach has been used to study environmental and natural resource issues related to agricultural production.Design/methodology/approachThis review article first provides a short introduction to the quasi-experimental approach using the potential outcomes framework and then uses studies on the environmental sustainability of agricultural production to illustrate how quasi-experimental methods have been applied. Papers reviewed consist of studies that estimate the environmental externalities from agricultural production, evaluate agri-environmental and other related policies and programs, and demonstrate issues related to on-farm resource use and climate adaptation.FindingsDifference-in-differences (DID) and two-way fixed effects methods that utilize the spatial and temporal variation in panel data are widely used to estimate the causal impact of changes in agricultural production and policy on the environment. Utilizing the discontinuities and limits created by agricultural policies and regulations, local treatment effects on land and other input use are estimated using regression discontinuity (RD) or instrumental variable (IV) methods with cross-sectional data.Originality/valueChallenges faced by the food systems have made agricultural sustainability more critical than ever. Over the past three decades, the quasi-experimental approach has become the powerhouse of applied economic research. This review article focuses on quasi-experimental studies on the environmental sustainability of agriculture to provide methodological insights and to highlight gaps in the economics literature of agricultural sustainability.

Why familiar brands are sometimes harder to remember

2016 ◽  
Vol 50 (3/4) ◽  
pp. 621-638 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lara Stocchi ◽  
Malcolm Wright ◽  
Carl Driesener
Keyword(s):  
Field Data ◽  
Experimental Approach ◽  
Brand Image ◽  
Empirical Test ◽  
Dual Process ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Brand Familiarity ◽  
Strength Based ◽  
Quasi Experimental ◽  
Category Knowledge

Purpose This paper aims to show that strength-based theories of memory provide only a partial description of how consumers retrieve brands from memory. Dual-process theories of memory such as the Source of Activation Confusion (SAC) model provide a more robust explanation of brand retrieval by accounting for the separate effects of brand familiarity and category knowledge. Design/methodology/approach This paper examines brand image associations for 27 brands in three product categories using marketing field data. The authors apply a quasi-experimental approach to divide respondents into four groups based on their levels of brand familiarity and category knowledge. The authors compare brand retrieval for each group to test whether the SAC model, a dual-process theory of memory, or traditional strength-based theories of memory better explain brand retrieval. Findings Familiar brands are harder to remember when consumers know more about the product category. This effect cannot be explained by strength-based theories of memory, but it is a prediction of the SAC model. This outcome is a critical test that discriminates between competing theories of brand retrieval. Research limitations/implications Researchers may draw on the SAC model to identify new ways of analysing brand image data to better understand how consumers retrieve brands from memory. This includes, above all, developing methods to separately measure the effects of brand familiarity and category knowledge. Practical implications To maximise the chance that consumers will remember brands, managers of highly familiar brands should avoid promoting category knowledge through their branding and communications strategies. By contrast, managers of less familiar brands should promote category knowledge by linking their brand to episodes of category consumption. Originality/value This work illustrates that a quasi-experimental approach can be used to extend quantitative psychological models from laboratory experiments to marketing field data. It also illustrates the use of a critical empirical test to discriminate between competing theories in marketing.

Factorial surveys reveal social desirability bias over self-reported organic fruit consumption

2019 ◽  
Vol 121 (4) ◽  
pp. 897-909 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacopo Cerri ◽  
Francesco Testa ◽  
Francesco Rizzi ◽  
Marco Frey
Keyword(s):  
Social Desirability ◽  
Mixed Models ◽  
Experimental Approach ◽  
Flexible Tool ◽  
Sustainable Food ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Sustainable Lifestyles ◽  
Quasi Experimental ◽  
Organic Fruit

Purpose Surveys measuring consumers’ preferences for sustainable food might suffer from socially desirable responding. Social desirability stems in part from social norms about sustainable lifestyles, when respondents need approval from others and when privacy is not guaranteed during survey completion. While various studies showed this phenomenon through laboratory experiments and by comparing different modes of survey administration, no research adopted factorial survey experiments (FSEs) to measure which factors are perceived by consumers as critical for socially desirable answering. The purpose of this paper is to fill this gap, at least for young consumers in a case study with organic fruit. Design/methodology/approach In total, 143 under-30 respondents were involved in an FSE. Each respondent evaluated six hypothetical scenarios (n=858) describing a consumer surveyed about his/her preferences for organic fruit. Respondents indicated whether they believed participants would have answered honestly or not to the survey described in each scenario. Generalized linear mixed models were used to model how scenario attributes were perceived to influence honest answering. Findings Respondents believe that people are more prone to bias their answers the more they seek approval from others. Moreover, the presence of acquaintances during survey completion is another critical driver of survey misreporting. Originality/value This study, by using a novel robust quasi-experimental approach, confirms that social desirability could lead consumers to misreport their preferences when surveyed about an organic fruit. This confirms that well-designed surveys, adopting proper remedies for social desirability should be adopted even for those food products, like fruit, which are usually deemed to be less subjected to misreporting. It also introduces FSEs as a flexible tool for collecting insights from consumers about potential antecedents of their behavior.

Lateral Adsorbate Interactions Inhibit HCOO- While Promoting CO Selectivity for CO2 Electrocatalysis on Ag

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Divya Bohra ◽  
Isis Ledezma-Yanez ◽  
Guanna Li ◽  
Wiebren De Jong ◽  
Evgeny A. Pidko ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electrochemical Reduction ◽  
Experimental Approach ◽  
Decisive Role ◽  
Experimental Methods ◽  
Reaction Intermediates ◽  
Intermediate Species ◽  
Experimental Knowledge ◽  
Complex Interactions ◽  
Ag Catalysts

<p>The analysis presented in this manuscript helps bridge an important fundamental discrepancy between the existing theoretical and experimental knowledge regarding the performance of Ag catalysts for CO<sub>2</sub> electrochemical reduction (CO<sub>2</sub>ER). The results demonstrate how the intermediate species *OCHO is formed readily en-route the HCOO<sup>– </sup>pathway and plays a decisive role in determining selectivity of a predominantly CO producing catalyst such as Ag. Our theoretical and experimental approach develops a better understanding of the nature of competition as well as the complex interactions between the reaction intermediates leading to CO, HCOO<sup>–</sup> and H<sub>2</sub> during CO<sub>2</sub>ER.</p><p><br></p><p>Details of computational and experimental methods are present in the Supporting Information provided. </p><p><br></p><p><br></p>

Penurunan Body Dissatisfaction Pada Perempuan Dalam Masa Emerging Adulthood Dengan Gratitude Intervention

2016 ◽  
Vol 5 (02) ◽  
Author(s):  
Aliffia Ananta
Keyword(s):  
Emerging Adulthood ◽  
Positive Result ◽  
Body Dissatisfaction ◽  
Body Shape ◽  
Descriptive Analysis ◽  
Experimental Methods ◽  
Gratitude Intervention ◽  
Quasi Experimental ◽  
Need For Support ◽  
Ideal Body

This study aims to reduce body dissatisfaction in women in the period of emerging adulthood with gratitude intervention. Subjects of this study consisted of two people experiencing body dissatisfaction. This study used a quasi-experimental methods. Data making assessment conducted by interview, observation, body shape questionnaire, and gratitude questionnaire. Statistically the result showed that there is no gratitude intervention can not reduce body dissatisfaction (p= 0,180 > 0,05), but descriptive analysis showed that gratitude intervention gave positive result by reducing body dissatisfaction. The characteristic of body dissatisfaction are not confidence, never satisfied with their body, comparing their self to others who has more ideal body, sensitive, have a need for support and happy to get a compliment.Keywords : body dissatisfaction, gratitude intervention

Are leaders with postgraduate degrees perceived to be more transformational? A quasi-experimental field study

2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 259-273 ◽  
Author(s):  
Morris Mendelson ◽  
Jasmine Alam ◽  
Chris Cunningham ◽  
Adam Totton ◽  
Carrie Smith
Keyword(s):  
Transformational Leadership ◽  
Field Study ◽  
Positive Relationship ◽  
Master's Degree ◽  
Leadership Qualities ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Experimental Field ◽  
Strong Positive Relationship ◽  
Quasi Experimental ◽  
Master’S Degree

PurposeTransformational leadership has been shown to have a positive impact on a host of employee level and organizational performance indicators. However, little research has sought to understand some of the antecedents of this style of leadership. The purpose of this paper is to examine the link between having a post-secondary education and perceptions of transformational leadership.Design/methodology/approachData were collected from two surveys issued in a mid-sized energy company located on the eastern seaboard of North America. One-way ANOVA comparing employees’ perceptions of transformational leadership exhibited by their supervisors that either did or did not have a post-graduate degree demonstrated a strong, positive relationship between the attainment of a Master’s degree and perceived levels of transformational leadership qualities.FindingsThe findings of this quasi-experimental field study demonstrated a strong, positive relationship between the attainment of a Master’s degree and perceived levels of transformational leadership qualities.Originality/valueThis study is the first of its kind to demonstrate that more educated managers are generally perceived to be more transformational in their leadership style.

Does total factor productivity affect the energy efficiency

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 108-125 ◽  
Author(s):  
Salman Haider ◽  
Javed Ahmad Bhat
Keyword(s):  
Energy Efficiency ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Energy Efficient ◽  
Energy Intensity ◽  
Paper Industry ◽  
Labour Productivity ◽  
Efficient Technology ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Efficiency Performance ◽  
Energy Efficient Technology

Purpose Because of growing energy consumption and increasing absolute CO2 emissions, the recent calibrations about the environmental sustainability across the globe have mandated to achieve the minimal energy consumption through employing energy-efficient technology. This study aims to estimate linkage between simple measure of energy efficiency indicator that is reciprocal of energy intensity and total factor productivity (TFP) in case of Indian paper industry for 21 major states. In addition, the study incorporates the other control variables like labour productivity, capital utilization and structure of paper industry to scrutinize their likely impact on energy efficiency performance of the industry. Design/methodology/approach To derive the plausible estimates of TFP, the study applies the much celebrated Levinsohn and Petrin (2003) methodology. Using the regional level data for the period 2001-2013, the study employs instrumental variable-generalized method of moments (GMM-IV) technique to examine the nature of relationship among the variables involved in the analysis. Findings An elementary examination of energy intensity shows that not all states are equally energy intensive. States like Goa, Rajasthan, Jharkhand and Tamil Nadu are less energy intensive, whereas Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Chhattisgarh, Assam and Punjab are most energy-intensive states on the basis of their state averages over the whole study period. The results estimated through GMM-IV show that increasing level of TFP is associated with lower level of energy per unit of output. Along this better skills and capacity utilization are also found to have positive impact on energy efficiency performance of industry. However, the potential heterogeneity within the structure of industry itself is found responsible for its higher energy intensity. Practical implications States should ensure and undertake substantial investment projects in the research and development of energy-efficient technology and that targeted allocations could be reinforced for more fruitful results. Factors aiming at improving the labour productivity should be given extra emphasis together with capital deepening and widening, needed for energy conservation and environmental sustainability. Given the dependence of structure of paper industry on the multitude of factors like regional inequality, economic growth, industrial structure and the resource endowment together with the issues of fragmented sizes, poor infrastructure and availability and affordability of raw materials etc., states should actively promote the coordination and cooperation among themselves to reap the benefits of technological advancements through technological spill overs. In addition, owing to their respective state autonomies, state governments should set their own energy saving targets by taking into account the respective potentials and opportunities for the different industries. Despite the requirement of energy-efficient innovations, however, the cons of technological advancements and the legal frameworks on the employment structure and distributional status should be taken care of before their adoption and execution. Originality/value To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that empirically examines the linkage between energy efficiency and TFP in case of Indian paper industry. The application of improved methods like Levinsohn and Petrin (2003) to derive the TFP measure and the use of GMM-IV to account for potential econometric problems like that of endogeneity will again add to the novelty of study.

Credit constraints and labour allocation decisions in rural Burkina Faso

2017 ◽  
Vol 77 (2) ◽  
pp. 257-274 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamed Porgo ◽  
John K.M. Kuwornu ◽  
Pam Zahonogo ◽  
John Baptist D. Jatoe ◽  
Irene S. Egyir
Keyword(s):  
Burkina Faso ◽  
Agricultural Production ◽  
Credit Constraints ◽  
Probit Model ◽  
Multinomial Logit Model ◽  
Farm Households ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Labour Market Participation ◽  
On Farm ◽  
Allocation Decisions

Purpose Credit is central in labour allocation decisions in smallholder agriculture in developing countries. The purpose of this paper is to analyse the effect of credit constraints on farm households’ labour allocation decisions in rural Burkina Faso. Design/methodology/approach The study used a direct elicitation approach of credit constraints and applied a farm household model to categorize households into four labour market participation regimes. A joint estimation of both the multinomial logit model and probit model was applied on survey data from Burkina Faso to assess the effect of credit constraint on the probability of choosing one of the four alternatives. Findings The results of the probit model showed that households’ endowment of livestock, access to news, and membership to an farmer-based organization were factors lowering the probability of being credit constrained in rural Burkina Faso. The multinomial logit model results showed that credit constraints negatively influenced the likelihood of a farm household to use hired labour in agricultural production and perhaps more importantly it induces farm households to hire out labour off farm. The results also showed that the other components of household characteristics and farm attributes are important factors determining the relative probability of selecting a particular labour market participation regime. Social implications Facilitating access to credit in rural Burkina Faso can encourage farm households to use hired labour in agricultural production and thereby positively impacting farm productivity and relieving unemployment pressures. Originality/value In order to identify the effect of credit constraints on farm households’ labour decisions, this study examined farm households’ decisions of hiring on-farm labour, supplying labour off-farm or simultaneously hiring on-farm labour and supplying family labour off-farm under credit constraints using the direct elicitation approach of credit constraints. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to examine this problem in Burkina Faso.

Psychological influences on customer willingness to pay and choice in automated retail settings

2014 ◽  
Vol 29 (3/4) ◽  
pp. 237-260 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashutosh Dixit ◽  
Kenneth D. Hall ◽  
Sujay Dutta
Keyword(s):  
Willingness To Pay ◽  
Dynamic Pricing ◽  
Price Change ◽  
Price Fairness ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Theoretical Contribution ◽  
Perceived Price ◽  
Quasi Experimental ◽  
Small Increments ◽  
Perceived Price Fairness

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the influence of price attribute framing and factors such as urgency and perceived price fairness on customer willingness to pay (WTP) in automated retail settings. Design/methodology/approach – The authors conducted two sets of quasi-experimental scenarios surrounding vending-machine purchase decisions. The first set was analyzed with MANOVA, the second set with choice-based conjoint (CBC) analysis. Findings – When prices are framed positively (as a discount), customer WTP is higher at high published price levels than it is for unframed or negatively framed prices. The effect on WTP holds whether the reference price range is broad (few large increments) or narrow (numerous small increments). In the CBC scenarios, immediate availability of the product was most influential on choice, followed by price and brand effects. These findings held under conditions invoking both urgency and price fairness. Providing an explanation for higher prices increases perceived price fairness. Research limitations/implications – Further study might assess the presence or absence of interaction effects in the conjoint scenarios. Practical implications – Managers should consider transparency in dynamic pricing, particularly when the price change is outside the control of the firm. The conjoint scenario results also offer evidence that dynamic pricing will not impact other marketing-mix decisions for fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) dramatically (availability at point of purchase and presence in the consumer consideration set remain strong influences on choice). Social implications – Understanding these effects on WTP could help managers manage perceptions of unfairness and optimize WTP. Originality/value – A theoretical contribution from this study is that the immediate loss/gain consideration under theories of decision making under uncertainty outweigh considerations such as scarcity urgency or perceived unfairness. Use of conjoint analysis in WTP research, study of dynamic pricing in FMCG setting.

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