In this paper, we describe recent developments in the rental market for agricultural land in sele... more In this paper, we describe recent developments in the rental market for agricultural land in selected EU member states and candidate countries. The analysis focuses on the importance of the rental market as well as on the evolution of rental prices. It appears that the share of rented land in the total utilised agricultural area varies considerably among member states. In the old member states, the share of rented land ranges between 18% in Ireland and 74% in France, while in the new member states (NMS) it ranges from 17% in Romania to 89% in Slovakia. For the former, different strategies to provide tenure security to tenants can explain differences in the importance of rental markets. Changes in the significance of land rental have also reflected changes in institutions and in economic and political conditions. In the NMS, diverse approaches to land reform have resulted in assorted ownership structures and hence in differences in the share of rented land. Regarding rental prices, g...
Transition countries provide a natural experiment to study the development of land markets. This ... more Transition countries provide a natural experiment to study the development of land markets. This paper provides survey-evidence of the variation in the development of land markets, identifies a series of patterns, and provides a set of hypotheses to explain these variations in land market development.
Studies on efficiency changes in transition agriculture yield mixed results. This paper develops ... more Studies on efficiency changes in transition agriculture yield mixed results. This paper develops both a theoretical model and an empirical analysis of how distribution of efficiency scores changes with the various stages of transition. We use a unique set of representative farm survey data to calculate farm level efficiency scores, compare the efficiency distributions of different transition countries and correlate
While we can rely on markets to match producer supply with consumer demand for most goods and ser... more While we can rely on markets to match producer supply with consumer demand for most goods and services, markets fail to yield the socially optimal outcome in the case of pollution so that government interventions are desirable. However, determining the "right" level of environmental protection is a question that holds both a social and a political component. Policy makers are
This chapter analyses the impact of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) direct payments on land ... more This chapter analyses the impact of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) direct payments on land markets in the European Union. It starts with a theoretical model, followed by an overview of the empirical findings. Next is presented the empirical evidence of a natural experiment, i.e. the accession of several countries to the European Union where as a result of accession
This paper analyses the main institutional factors affecting the rental and sales markets for agr... more This paper analyses the main institutional factors affecting the rental and sales markets for agricultural land. Particular attention is paid to the effects of the common agricultural policy on land markets, and more specifically the underlying mechanism through which agricultural subsidies are capitalised into land values and farmland rents. This paper also provides a broad overview of the empirical studies
Based on survey data on Bulgarian and Hungarian crop and dairy farms, a double-peaked distributio... more Based on survey data on Bulgarian and Hungarian crop and dairy farms, a double-peaked distribution of technical efficiency is observed. Several factors explain differences in efficiency. Human capital matters not only through age and education, but also through gender as farms with a higher share of women are more efficient. Contracting with upstream processors increased efficiency through facilitating the adoption
This chapter analyses the impact of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) direct payments on land ... more This chapter analyses the impact of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) direct payments on land markets in the European Union. It starts with a theoretical model, followed by an overview of the empirical findings. Next is presented the empirical evidence of a natural experiment, i.e. the accession of several countries to the European Union where as a result of accession
This paper analyzes how imperfections of property rights affect allocation of assets and welfare,... more This paper analyzes how imperfections of property rights affect allocation of assets and welfare, using micro-survey data from Bulgaria. Co-ownership of assets is widespread in many countries due to inheritance. Central and Eastern Europe offers an interesting natural experiment to assess the effects of such rights imperfections because of the asset restitution process in the 1990s. Bulgaria is particularly interesting because of the prominence of the co-ownership problem (about half of all land plots are co-owned), because of the strong fragmentation of land, and because of legislation providing an instrument to separate out chosen (endogenous) versus forced (exogenous) forms of co-ownership. We find that land in co-ownership is much more likely to be used by less efficient farm organizations or to be left abandoned, and that it leads to significant welfare losses.
This study used a unique 2003 survey dataset to analyse the developments in land use and exchange... more This study used a unique 2003 survey dataset to analyse the developments in land use and exchange in Bulgaria. The survey analysis yields several results. Land is highly fragmented in Bulgaria which increases the need for an efficient exchange of land between owners and users of land. However, the land sales market is not well developed. In contrast, land rental agreements are very widespread. Land rental is widely used to exchange land between owners and users of the land. The users include a variety of farm types, including cooperatives, farming companies, and individual farms. While land titles are distributed and land plots clearly defined and delineated, an important property rights problem exists under the form of so-called co-ownership. By law, certain plots are undividable among heirs because the plot size after division would fall under the imposed minimum plot size. Our estimation results show that co-ownership has a major impact on land use and allocation. Land under co...
Studies on efficiency changes in transition agriculture yield mixed results. This paper develops ... more Studies on efficiency changes in transition agriculture yield mixed results. This paper develops both a theoretical model and an empirical analysis of how distribution of efficiency scores changes with the various stages of transition. We use a unique set of representative farm survey data to calculate farm level efficiency scores, compare the efficiency distributions of different transition countries and correlate these with various indicators of particular reforms. Our study indicates that, in particular, general institutional reforms and reforms focused on market institutions and on reducing market imperfections in input and output markets have an important positive impact on farm efficiency.
Several regions around the globe are at risk of incurring damage from landslides, but only few st... more Several regions around the globe are at risk of incurring damage from landslides, but only few studies have concentrated on a quantitative estimate of the overall damage caused by landslides at a regional scale. This study therefore starts with a quantitative economic assessment of the direct and indirect damage caused by landslides in a 2910km(2) study area located west of Brussels, a low-relief region susceptible to landslides. Based on focus interviews as well as on semi-structured interviews with homeowners, civil servants and the owners and providers of lifelines such as electricity and sewage, a quantitative damage assessment is provided. For private properties (houses, forest and pasture land) we estimate the real estate and production value losses for different damage scenarios, while for public infrastructure the costs of measures to repair and prevent landslide induced damage are estimated. In addition, the increase in amenity value of forests and grasslands due to the occ...
Research on agricultural technology adoption generally occurs ex post, after the introduction of ... more Research on agricultural technology adoption generally occurs ex post, after the introduction of a technology. In this paper, the authors use a choice experiment to reveal farmers' preferences for new agricultural technologies ex ante, before new technologies are developed and introduced. The authors implement a choice experiment among 200 farmers in Burundi and use mixed logit models to analyse preferences for specific traits of improved climbing bean varieties. It was found that farmers had a strong preference for climbing bean varieties that resulted in higher yields and improved soil fertility, while the maturation period and the responsiveness to fertilizer were less important. Seed price was found to matter only for the most food-insecure farmers. These choice experimental results can inform agricultural research and extension programmes ex ante to take into account farmers' preferences and accelerate the adoption of new technologies.
Solar powered consumer electronics are a likely starting point for organic photovoltaics’ (OPV) m... more Solar powered consumer electronics are a likely starting point for organic photovoltaics’ (OPV) market development. Still, consumers’ willingness to adopt a product depends on how they value it. Therefore, a discrete choice experiments (DCEs) study is presented to find out how Flemish (northern part of Belgium) consumers value solar cell characteristics for solar powered consumer electronics. We contribute to literature by incorporating heterogeneity into our modelling efforts and by identifying the model that has the highest model fit. The random parameter logit (RPL) model with interactions is found to provide a better fit than the latent class (LC) and conditional logit model for our choice data. Consequently, the individual level, assumed by the RPL model, explains heterogeneity better than the segment level, used by the LC model. Furthermore, all mean main effects exhibited the expected sign. Accordingly, we advise OPV scientists to aspire higher efficiencies and longer lifetim...
In this paper, we describe recent developments in the rental market for agricultural land in sele... more In this paper, we describe recent developments in the rental market for agricultural land in selected EU member states and candidate countries. The analysis focuses on the importance of the rental market as well as on the evolution of rental prices. It appears that the share of rented land in the total utilised agricultural area varies considerably among member states. In the old member states, the share of rented land ranges between 18% in Ireland and 74% in France, while in the new member states (NMS) it ranges from 17% in Romania to 89% in Slovakia. For the former, different strategies to provide tenure security to tenants can explain differences in the importance of rental markets. Changes in the significance of land rental have also reflected changes in institutions and in economic and political conditions. In the NMS, diverse approaches to land reform have resulted in assorted ownership structures and hence in differences in the share of rented land. Regarding rental prices, g...
Transition countries provide a natural experiment to study the development of land markets. This ... more Transition countries provide a natural experiment to study the development of land markets. This paper provides survey-evidence of the variation in the development of land markets, identifies a series of patterns, and provides a set of hypotheses to explain these variations in land market development.
Studies on efficiency changes in transition agriculture yield mixed results. This paper develops ... more Studies on efficiency changes in transition agriculture yield mixed results. This paper develops both a theoretical model and an empirical analysis of how distribution of efficiency scores changes with the various stages of transition. We use a unique set of representative farm survey data to calculate farm level efficiency scores, compare the efficiency distributions of different transition countries and correlate
While we can rely on markets to match producer supply with consumer demand for most goods and ser... more While we can rely on markets to match producer supply with consumer demand for most goods and services, markets fail to yield the socially optimal outcome in the case of pollution so that government interventions are desirable. However, determining the "right" level of environmental protection is a question that holds both a social and a political component. Policy makers are
This chapter analyses the impact of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) direct payments on land ... more This chapter analyses the impact of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) direct payments on land markets in the European Union. It starts with a theoretical model, followed by an overview of the empirical findings. Next is presented the empirical evidence of a natural experiment, i.e. the accession of several countries to the European Union where as a result of accession
This paper analyses the main institutional factors affecting the rental and sales markets for agr... more This paper analyses the main institutional factors affecting the rental and sales markets for agricultural land. Particular attention is paid to the effects of the common agricultural policy on land markets, and more specifically the underlying mechanism through which agricultural subsidies are capitalised into land values and farmland rents. This paper also provides a broad overview of the empirical studies
Based on survey data on Bulgarian and Hungarian crop and dairy farms, a double-peaked distributio... more Based on survey data on Bulgarian and Hungarian crop and dairy farms, a double-peaked distribution of technical efficiency is observed. Several factors explain differences in efficiency. Human capital matters not only through age and education, but also through gender as farms with a higher share of women are more efficient. Contracting with upstream processors increased efficiency through facilitating the adoption
This chapter analyses the impact of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) direct payments on land ... more This chapter analyses the impact of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) direct payments on land markets in the European Union. It starts with a theoretical model, followed by an overview of the empirical findings. Next is presented the empirical evidence of a natural experiment, i.e. the accession of several countries to the European Union where as a result of accession
This paper analyzes how imperfections of property rights affect allocation of assets and welfare,... more This paper analyzes how imperfections of property rights affect allocation of assets and welfare, using micro-survey data from Bulgaria. Co-ownership of assets is widespread in many countries due to inheritance. Central and Eastern Europe offers an interesting natural experiment to assess the effects of such rights imperfections because of the asset restitution process in the 1990s. Bulgaria is particularly interesting because of the prominence of the co-ownership problem (about half of all land plots are co-owned), because of the strong fragmentation of land, and because of legislation providing an instrument to separate out chosen (endogenous) versus forced (exogenous) forms of co-ownership. We find that land in co-ownership is much more likely to be used by less efficient farm organizations or to be left abandoned, and that it leads to significant welfare losses.
This study used a unique 2003 survey dataset to analyse the developments in land use and exchange... more This study used a unique 2003 survey dataset to analyse the developments in land use and exchange in Bulgaria. The survey analysis yields several results. Land is highly fragmented in Bulgaria which increases the need for an efficient exchange of land between owners and users of land. However, the land sales market is not well developed. In contrast, land rental agreements are very widespread. Land rental is widely used to exchange land between owners and users of the land. The users include a variety of farm types, including cooperatives, farming companies, and individual farms. While land titles are distributed and land plots clearly defined and delineated, an important property rights problem exists under the form of so-called co-ownership. By law, certain plots are undividable among heirs because the plot size after division would fall under the imposed minimum plot size. Our estimation results show that co-ownership has a major impact on land use and allocation. Land under co...
Studies on efficiency changes in transition agriculture yield mixed results. This paper develops ... more Studies on efficiency changes in transition agriculture yield mixed results. This paper develops both a theoretical model and an empirical analysis of how distribution of efficiency scores changes with the various stages of transition. We use a unique set of representative farm survey data to calculate farm level efficiency scores, compare the efficiency distributions of different transition countries and correlate these with various indicators of particular reforms. Our study indicates that, in particular, general institutional reforms and reforms focused on market institutions and on reducing market imperfections in input and output markets have an important positive impact on farm efficiency.
Several regions around the globe are at risk of incurring damage from landslides, but only few st... more Several regions around the globe are at risk of incurring damage from landslides, but only few studies have concentrated on a quantitative estimate of the overall damage caused by landslides at a regional scale. This study therefore starts with a quantitative economic assessment of the direct and indirect damage caused by landslides in a 2910km(2) study area located west of Brussels, a low-relief region susceptible to landslides. Based on focus interviews as well as on semi-structured interviews with homeowners, civil servants and the owners and providers of lifelines such as electricity and sewage, a quantitative damage assessment is provided. For private properties (houses, forest and pasture land) we estimate the real estate and production value losses for different damage scenarios, while for public infrastructure the costs of measures to repair and prevent landslide induced damage are estimated. In addition, the increase in amenity value of forests and grasslands due to the occ...
Research on agricultural technology adoption generally occurs ex post, after the introduction of ... more Research on agricultural technology adoption generally occurs ex post, after the introduction of a technology. In this paper, the authors use a choice experiment to reveal farmers' preferences for new agricultural technologies ex ante, before new technologies are developed and introduced. The authors implement a choice experiment among 200 farmers in Burundi and use mixed logit models to analyse preferences for specific traits of improved climbing bean varieties. It was found that farmers had a strong preference for climbing bean varieties that resulted in higher yields and improved soil fertility, while the maturation period and the responsiveness to fertilizer were less important. Seed price was found to matter only for the most food-insecure farmers. These choice experimental results can inform agricultural research and extension programmes ex ante to take into account farmers' preferences and accelerate the adoption of new technologies.
Solar powered consumer electronics are a likely starting point for organic photovoltaics’ (OPV) m... more Solar powered consumer electronics are a likely starting point for organic photovoltaics’ (OPV) market development. Still, consumers’ willingness to adopt a product depends on how they value it. Therefore, a discrete choice experiments (DCEs) study is presented to find out how Flemish (northern part of Belgium) consumers value solar cell characteristics for solar powered consumer electronics. We contribute to literature by incorporating heterogeneity into our modelling efforts and by identifying the model that has the highest model fit. The random parameter logit (RPL) model with interactions is found to provide a better fit than the latent class (LC) and conditional logit model for our choice data. Consequently, the individual level, assumed by the RPL model, explains heterogeneity better than the segment level, used by the LC model. Furthermore, all mean main effects exhibited the expected sign. Accordingly, we advise OPV scientists to aspire higher efficiencies and longer lifetim...
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