Articles
"When Governments Increase Their Funding of Public Goods, How Do Individuals Respond?" by Matthew J. Kotchen and Katherine R.H. Wagner
June 28, 2022
We discuss how standard public goods theory can explain a wider range of individual responses to changes in government funding of public goods than the literature suggests. For example, increases …
"Too Little Too Late? The Two-Pronged Approach of the Federal Reserve" by Bulat Gafarov and Jens Hilscher
June 28, 2022
At its most recent scheduled meetings, the Federal Reserve raised interest rates by 0.25%, 0.5%, and 0.75%. The last three readings of U.S. inflation were 8.5%, 8.3%, and 8.6%—the highest …
"War in Ukraine and Impacts on California Food and Agriculture" by Olena Sambucci and Daniel A. Sumner
June 28, 2022
The Russian invasion of Ukraine is a tragedy for those in the region and an ongoing threat to food security in many places. California agriculture can help mitigate some food …
"What Price is Right? Cigarette Demand Has Become More Responsive to Prices" by Bulat Gafarov, Tengda Gong and Jens Hilscher
April 26, 2022
We provide evidence that demand for cigarettes has become relatively more sensitive to price changes, while other products’ demand has become slightly less responsive. This change happened during a time …
"Are You Eating More Fruit? U.S. Dietary Recommendations and Fruit Consumption Trends" by Hoy Carman
April 26, 2022
U.S. consumers have responded to calls for improved diets by increasing per capita fresh fruit consumption from 88 pounds in 1980 to 116 pounds in 2020. Even with some decreases …
"Could Fixing Leaky Pipes Help Solve California’s Water Problems?" by Amanda Rupiper, Joakim Weill, Ellen M. Bruno, Katrina Jessoe and Frank Loge
April 26, 2022
Water utilities in the United States lose approximately 17% of their delivered water to leaks each year. California’s Senate Bill 555 aims to reduce these water leaks through the imposition …
"Inflation Risks are on the Rise" by Jens Hilscher, Alon Raviv and Ricardo Reis
Feb. 24, 2022
U.S. inflation rose sharply in 2021. Perhaps this is temporary, due to soaring energy prices and a fast recovery, or perhaps there will be a sustained increase in prices. Forward-looking …
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"Why Soil Fumigation Changed the Strawberry Industry" by Ryan Olver and David Zilberman
Feb. 24, 2022
We assess the U.S. strawberry industry and its transition from land to capital intensity, with emphasis on the role of methyl bromide, a broad-spectrum soil fumigant, and its impact on …
"The Story of Rising Fertilizer Prices" by Aaron Smith
Feb. 24, 2022
High fertilizer prices in the past year have increased costs for farmers, but for some crops more than others. Multiple potential causes could explain these price increases, stemming from both …
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"California’s Organic Agriculture: Diverse and Growing" by Rachael Goodhue, Joji Muramoto, Daniel A. Sumner and Hanlin Wei
Dec. 20, 2021
California is the leading U.S. state in organic agriculture by value, as it is for conventional agriculture, and accounts for well over a third of national organic production. In 2016, …
