http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/handle/36339 Search the Channel search http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/simple-search http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/handle/31987 Title: Steigerung der Faktorproduktivitat in der Schweizer Milchverarbeitung <br/> <br/>Authors: Lips, Markus <br/> <br/>Abstract: The paper simulates a factor productivity increase in the Swiss dairy sector. As a result, the raw milk price is noticeably supported. The analysis is carried out with a general equilibrium model. http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/handle/31988 Title: The Common Agricultural Policy from a Swiss point of view <br/> <br/>Authors: Hofer, Eduard; Eggenschwiler, Christophe <br/> <br/>Abstract: The present contribution relates to the development of the CAP from it's creation in the 60's to it's last reform in June 2003. On the one hand, this reform has been designed to respond to the challenge of financing the EU enlargement despite the CAP budgetary restrictions. On the other hand, it is obliged to respond to the demands of the society. This last reform shows outstanding similarities with the agriculture policies reforms undertaken in Switzerland in the 90'. 'Cross compliance' (direct payments bound to eco-logical conditions) and decoupling of domestic support measures are surely among the most significant similarities of the two reforms. Although quite a significant price gap remains, the UE and Swiss agricultural policies are constantly drawing nearer. The bi-lateral agreement and the common interests in the WTO negotia-tion will certainly intensify this process. http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/handle/31989 Title: Marktorientierte Landwirtschaft und dezentrale Besiedlung: ein Widerspruch? <br/> <br/>Authors: Burkard, Michael <br/> <br/>Abstract: According to the principle of multifunctionality in article 104 of the Federal Constitution of the Swiss Confederation the Confederation shall ensure that agriculture contributes substantially by way of a market-oriented production to a decentralized inhabitation of the country. The following article investigates the relation of the two political aims market orientation and decentralized inhabitation from analysing the effects of agricultural subsidies. Resulting from this example different development scenarios are highlighted for the rural area. http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/handle/31990 Title: Neue Nationalparks: Externe Wunsche versus lokale Existenz <br/> <br/>Authors: Menet, Sibylle <br/> <br/>Abstract: The New Regional Policy places emphasis on local initiatives, e.g. the use of local potential such as the creation of a national park. National parks aim at combining nature conservation with business development and provide new stimulus for the concerned region. The success of the projects largely depends on the support of local stakeholders and the meeting of their interests. National parks have direct and indirect impacts on rural areas and influence the functioning of communities. If the national park does not provide a stimulus to the economic function, the by-products recreation and ecological compensation will not be produced. This weakens the functioning of communities. The locals play an important role. They decide on how to benefit from local potential, on which by-products they will produce and whether they will agree to a national park or not. http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/handle/31991 Title: Changing future: expected development in Alpine farming <br/> <br/>Authors: Flury, Christian; Gotsch, Nikolaus; Rieder, Peter <br/> <br/>Abstract: In the coming years, significant changes are to be expected in agriculture in mountain regions due to the changing general environment. It can be assumed that product prices will sink while production costs remain unchanged at their present high level. Therefore, a more incisive structural change will be necessary if additional direct payments are not forthcoming. Economic survival can only be assured if the number of farms, and in particular the number of workforce, decrease even further. This will also lead to a decline in agriculture's contribution to decentralised settlement. On the other hand, if this structural adaptation is impeded, the result will be a major decline in the per capita income of the workforce and, consequently, social problems. The reduction in the number of workforce is an economic necessity and in turn will lead to changes in production strategies. Given the anticipated price relationships, dairy farming will become less competitive compared to meat production. If the workforce is mobile and economic decisions are based on labour costs, labour-intensive production systems in animal husbandry and land use will be cut back in favour of extensive meat production on large pastures. The undesirable consequences are higher emissions of volatile nitrogen or changes in the botanical composition on meadows that were previously mown. http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/handle/31992 Title: Frauen in der Mannerdomane Landwirtschaft. Aufgezeigt am Beispiel von zehn landwirtschaftlichen Betriebsleiterinnen in der Schweiz <br/> <br/>Authors: Contzen, Sandra <br/> <br/>Abstract: Until now agriculture has been considered a male domain. Although approximately one third of agricultural work is done by women, only very few of them run a farm (of their own). This paper focuses on female farm operators. Ten problem-centred interviews were conducted with female farm operators to examine the motives prompting women to decide on the position and job of farm operator and how they cope. Qualitative content analysis shows that the decision is influenced by various motives, the primary one being an interest in agriculture. The way women cope in this male domain is largely assessed as good. They are holding their own, although each of them is also experiencing difficulties which, however, are not only linked to the fact that they are in a job traditionally occupied by men. http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/handle/31993 Title: A solution for a transparent WTO market access: the Flexible Swiss Formula <br/> <br/>Authors: Campo, Isabelle Schluep <br/> <br/>Abstract: The Swiss tariff schedule is characterized by many disparities and distortions. Already in the Tokyo Round countries have recognized that in that case only a harmonizing formula for tariff reduction is effective. It prevents protectionists from escaping from tariff peak reduction and rewards countries that already have considerably reduced tariffs. The implementation of the Green Box, with direct payments as the central element of Swiss agricultural policy, is the basis for further liberalization of market access. Green Box measures are more efficient and transparent compared to trade distorting tariff rate quotas and tariffs. The Flexible Swiss Formula is a middle ground between the Uruguay and the Swiss Formula. Its progressive character reduces tariff peaks, tariff escalation and the binding overhang. The formula is transparent and fair and allows countries some flexibility for tariff reduction. Further, it provides a consistent framework to reduce tariff escalation and to mitigate the tariff rate quota problem. It would harmonize tariff schedules between countries and also ease distortions and disparities within each country's agricultural sector. http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/handle/31994 Title: Landwirtschaftlicher Strukturwandel unter soziologischen Aspekten <br/> <br/>Authors: Sutter, Maria <br/> <br/>Abstract: Forecasts on structural adjustment processes in agriculture based on financial, structural and socioeconomic key data may be reliable on an aggregated level. On an enterprise level, the consideration of only these aspects is not sufficient to explain structural change. The aim of this study was to investigate structural change in agriculture under a sociological point of view. Based on an oral and written survey with active and former farmers as well as with farm successors in the Obwalden canton, personal and social aspects affecting structural change were analysed. In a qualitative content analysis of the results of the oral interviews, possible causes for structural change-relevant decisions were examined. Among economic aspects, the presence of intrinsic (self fulfilment and pleasure at work) and social (social acceptance, tradition) values seems to be an important criterion for or against the take-over decision and/or the choice of an agricultural occupation. Premature farm abandonment frequently results from the combination of a high working load and low incomes. The results of the qualitative content analysis were confirmed in the evaluation of the written survey with descriptive statistics and a factor analysis. As a result of this work, it could be shown that personal and social aspects play a very important role for key events of structural change (occupation choice, take-over and decisions to give up farming). http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/handle/31990 Title: Neue Nationalparks: Externe Wunsche versus lokale Existenz <br/> <br/>Authors: Menet, Sibylle <br/> <br/>Abstract: The New Regional Policy places emphasis on local initiatives, e.g. the use of local potential such as the creation of a national park. National parks aim at combining nature conservation with business development and provide new stimulus for the concerned region. The success of the projects largely depends on the support of local stakeholders and the meeting of their interests. National parks have direct and indirect impacts on rural areas and influence the functioning of communities. If the national park does not provide a stimulus to the economic function, the by-products recreation and ecological compensation will not be produced. This weakens the functioning of communities. The locals play an important role. They decide on how to benefit from local potential, on which by-products they will produce and whether they will agree to a national park or not. http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/handle/31988 Title: The Common Agricultural Policy from a Swiss point of view <br/> <br/>Authors: Hofer, Eduard; Eggenschwiler, Christophe <br/> <br/>Abstract: The present contribution relates to the development of the CAP from it's creation in the 60's to it's last reform in June 2003. On the one hand, this reform has been designed to respond to the challenge of financing the EU enlargement despite the CAP budgetary restrictions. On the other hand, it is obliged to respond to the demands of the society. This last reform shows outstanding similarities with the agriculture policies reforms undertaken in Switzerland in the 90'. 'Cross compliance' (direct payments bound to eco-logical conditions) and decoupling of domestic support measures are surely among the most significant similarities of the two reforms. Although quite a significant price gap remains, the UE and Swiss agricultural policies are constantly drawing nearer. The bi-lateral agreement and the common interests in the WTO negotia-tion will certainly intensify this process. http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/handle/31993 Title: A solution for a transparent WTO market access: the Flexible Swiss Formula <br/> <br/>Authors: Campo, Isabelle Schluep <br/> <br/>Abstract: The Swiss tariff schedule is characterized by many disparities and distortions. Already in the Tokyo Round countries have recognized that in that case only a harmonizing formula for tariff reduction is effective. It prevents protectionists from escaping from tariff peak reduction and rewards countries that already have considerably reduced tariffs. The implementation of the Green Box, with direct payments as the central element of Swiss agricultural policy, is the basis for further liberalization of market access. Green Box measures are more efficient and transparent compared to trade distorting tariff rate quotas and tariffs. The Flexible Swiss Formula is a middle ground between the Uruguay and the Swiss Formula. Its progressive character reduces tariff peaks, tariff escalation and the binding overhang. The formula is transparent and fair and allows countries some flexibility for tariff reduction. Further, it provides a consistent framework to reduce tariff escalation and to mitigate the tariff rate quota problem. It would harmonize tariff schedules between countries and also ease distortions and disparities within each country's agricultural sector. http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/handle/31991 Title: Changing future: expected development in Alpine farming <br/> <br/>Authors: Flury, Christian; Gotsch, Nikolaus; Rieder, Peter <br/> <br/>Abstract: In the coming years, significant changes are to be expected in agriculture in mountain regions due to the changing general environment. It can be assumed that product prices will sink while production costs remain unchanged at their present high level. Therefore, a more incisive structural change will be necessary if additional direct payments are not forthcoming. Economic survival can only be assured if the number of farms, and in particular the number of workforce, decrease even further. This will also lead to a decline in agriculture's contribution to decentralised settlement. On the other hand, if this structural adaptation is impeded, the result will be a major decline in the per capita income of the workforce and, consequently, social problems. The reduction in the number of workforce is an economic necessity and in turn will lead to changes in production strategies. Given the anticipated price relationships, dairy farming will become less competitive compared to meat production. If the workforce is mobile and economic decisions are based on labour costs, labour-intensive production systems in animal husbandry and land use will be cut back in favour of extensive meat production on large pastures. The undesirable consequences are higher emissions of volatile nitrogen or changes in the botanical composition on meadows that were previously mown. http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/handle/31994 Title: Landwirtschaftlicher Strukturwandel unter soziologischen Aspekten <br/> <br/>Authors: Sutter, Maria <br/> <br/>Abstract: Forecasts on structural adjustment processes in agriculture based on financial, structural and socioeconomic key data may be reliable on an aggregated level. On an enterprise level, the consideration of only these aspects is not sufficient to explain structural change. The aim of this study was to investigate structural change in agriculture under a sociological point of view. Based on an oral and written survey with active and former farmers as well as with farm successors in the Obwalden canton, personal and social aspects affecting structural change were analysed. In a qualitative content analysis of the results of the oral interviews, possible causes for structural change-relevant decisions were examined. Among economic aspects, the presence of intrinsic (self fulfilment and pleasure at work) and social (social acceptance, tradition) values seems to be an important criterion for or against the take-over decision and/or the choice of an agricultural occupation. Premature farm abandonment frequently results from the combination of a high working load and low incomes. The results of the qualitative content analysis were confirmed in the evaluation of the written survey with descriptive statistics and a factor analysis. As a result of this work, it could be shown that personal and social aspects play a very important role for key events of structural change (occupation choice, take-over and decisions to give up farming). http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/handle/31989 Title: Marktorientierte Landwirtschaft und dezentrale Besiedlung: ein Widerspruch? <br/> <br/>Authors: Burkard, Michael <br/> <br/>Abstract: According to the principle of multifunctionality in article 104 of the Federal Constitution of the Swiss Confederation the Confederation shall ensure that agriculture contributes substantially by way of a market-oriented production to a decentralized inhabitation of the country. The following article investigates the relation of the two political aims market orientation and decentralized inhabitation from analysing the effects of agricultural subsidies. Resulting from this example different development scenarios are highlighted for the rural area. http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/handle/31987 Title: Steigerung der Faktorproduktivitat in der Schweizer Milchverarbeitung <br/> <br/>Authors: Lips, Markus <br/> <br/>Abstract: The paper simulates a factor productivity increase in the Swiss dairy sector. As a result, the raw milk price is noticeably supported. The analysis is carried out with a general equilibrium model. http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/handle/31992 Title: Frauen in der Mannerdomane Landwirtschaft. Aufgezeigt am Beispiel von zehn landwirtschaftlichen Betriebsleiterinnen in der Schweiz <br/> <br/>Authors: Contzen, Sandra <br/> <br/>Abstract: Until now agriculture has been considered a male domain. Although approximately one third of agricultural work is done by women, only very few of them run a farm (of their own). This paper focuses on female farm operators. Ten problem-centred interviews were conducted with female farm operators to examine the motives prompting women to decide on the position and job of farm operator and how they cope. Qualitative content analysis shows that the decision is influenced by various motives, the primary one being an interest in agriculture. The way women cope in this male domain is largely assessed as good. They are holding their own, although each of them is also experiencing difficulties which, however, are not only linked to the fact that they are in a job traditionally occupied by men.