@article{James:98203,
      recid = {98203},
      author = {James, Laura},
      title = {Theory and Identification of Marginal Land and Factors  Determining Land Use Change},
      address = {2010},
      number = {1097-2016-88829},
      pages = {99},
      year = {2010},
      abstract = {Biomass is being researched as a possible alternative to  fossil sources of energy, in order to avoid externalities  from fossil fuel use that affect the environment and the  economy.  Some biomass-based energy production systems may  produce unwanted externalities in their own right, such as  increasing the production pressure on the agricultural land  base, resulting in a rise in prices of food commodities.   Using marginal land for biomass production has been  suggested as a solution.  However, the definition of what  constitutes marginal land is poorly understood.  This paper  provides a theoretical foundation for identification of  marginal lands, and analyzes recent literature to assess  how current usage of the term marginal correspond to the  theoretical framework.  Then, the paper devises empirical  models  that test possible methods of identification of the  extensive margin of agricultural land in 19 counties in the  state of Michigan.  The models find that dynamic variables  such as price changes have a statistically significant  effect on land use change into and out of cropland.  Land  quality and regional effects are also statistically  significant.},
      url = {http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/record/98203},
      doi = {https://doi.org/10.22004/ag.econ.98203},
}