Harry Ayer

Social Rates of Return and Other Aspects of Agricultural Research: The Case of Cotton Research in São Paulo, Brazil

Economic impacts of investments in cotton seed research and development in Sao Paulo, Brazil, are estimated. The internal rate of return to Brazilian society is estimated to have been approximately 90 percent. The effect on export earnings was large, and consumers benefited via a decrease in the price and an increase in the quantity of cotton cloth. Of total net benefits producers captured about 60 percent and consumers 40 percent. Landowners and managers received the largest share of producer benefits. Laborers benefited through an increase in employment, but wage rates were not raised. Policy implications are given.

The Border Industry Program and the impacts of expenditures by Mexican Border Industry employees on a U.S. Border Community: An empirical study of nogales

The Border Industries Program was initiated in 1965 as a series of agreements between Mexico and the United States to bring U.S. industries to the Mexican side of the border, and thereby provide employment and income opportunities in a region of relatively high unemployment. Since 1965, many U. S. industries have taken advantage of the Program, and located firms on the Mexican and U.S. side of the border. Supposedly this has fostered economic development of not only the Mexican border region, but also U.S. border communities. Part of this impact has resulted from the expenditures of Mexican Border Industry employees in the adjacent U.S. town. The objective of the research presented in the present article is to empirically estimate the impact of these expenditures on income, employment, and population in a specific U.S. border community. An input-output model of the Nogales, Arizona, area is used in a case study in making the analysis. The results indicate that the impact of the Mexican Border Industry wage payments on the Nogales, Arizona, economy have been significant. Policy implications for those interested in regional economic development are given.

Government policy cross effects: The cotton and dairy programs' influence on alfalfa hay markets

To illustrate the magnitude of government policy impacts on nonprogram products, estimates are presented of the 1986-1987 crop year effects of both the 1986 cotton and dairy programs on the Arizona alfalfa hay market. These policy “cross effects” are calculated from simulation results of a simple econometric model. The estimated impact of

Economic Responses of Broccoli and Cauliflower to Water and Nitrogen in the Desert

8.91 per ton represents a nine percent reduction in gross unit revenues from hay.