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In this paper, we investigate the impacts of climate extremes on the production and trade of apples. Apple production being notoriously sensitive to climate shocks, we show that March and April temperatures and precipitations beyond estimated thresholds cause large yield reductions in Quebec and Ontario. In years when climate shocks are large and highly correlated across space, large variations in national production cause major variations in trade flows. Hence, we exploit the theoretical foundations of a sectoral structural gravity model to implement counterfactual trade experiments about harvest shocks in Canada and the United States. We report changes in tariffs, imports, exports, farmgate prices, and in consumer welfare. The shocks greatly impact trade between North American countries but have little impact on other countries except for Chile and New Zealand which see their exports grow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate two puzzles in the export duration literature. The first puzzle has to do with the frequent entries and exits of firms in export markets, which are at odds with the large fixed export costs in such markets. We introduce convex production technologies in a trade model to show how variable marginal costs create direct linkages between export markets. As fixed export costs vary across destinations, more productive firms need not necessarily export to more destinations. Cost convexity implies that the probability of supplying a given export market is adversely affected by positive export shocks in other markets. This is supported by our empirical analysis of bilateral flows for over 200 agri‐food products to 176 destinations originating from six large exporting countries. The second puzzle has to do with the paradoxical effect of tariffs reported in empirical export duration studies. When endogeneity is addressed, tariffs increase the probability of an export failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To authenticate to the full-text of this article, please visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1744-7976.2010.01187.x Byline: Pascal L. Ghazalian (1), Bruno Larue (2), Gale E. West (3) Abstract: Agricultural activities simultaneously produce good and bad outputs. A translog cost function is used to evaluate the cost associated with reduction of chemical runoff and how it is influenced by the scale of crop and animal production. The results show that reducing runoff entails increasing costs and that these costs decrease with the level of crop production, but are unaffected by the level of animal production. The estimates of the cost elasticities of Best Management Practices (BMPs) were all positive, but many have large standard errors that imply that the true elasticities can be much lower or much higher. Also, the cost elasticities decrease with the scale of crop production for most BMPs whereas the scale of animal production has the opposite effect for crop rotation and herbicide control practices. Our results reaffirm that there are economies of size in production. L'agriculture produit de bons et de mauvais extrants. Une fonction de cout translog est utilisee pour evaluer les couts associes a l'amelioration de la qualite de l'eau en reduisant les problemes de ruissellement et de transfert de nutriments. Nous evaluons comment ces couts changent avec les niveaux des productions animales et de cultures. Nos resultats indiquent que la reduction des transferts de nutriments est couteux mais que l'elasticite-cout decroit avec la valeur des cultures produites tout en etant independant de l'envergure de la production animale. Les elasticites-cout associes aux pratiques environnementales (PE) sont positives et ont de grandes erreur-types, ce qui veut dire que les vraies elasticites peuvent etre beaucoup plus grandes ou plus petites. Les elasticites-cout pour la plupart des PE diminuent avec la production de cultures produit tandis que la taille de la production animale a un effet contraire sur les elasticites pour la rotation de cultures et le controle des herbicides. Nos resultats confirment qu'il existe d'importantes economies de taille a exploiter en agriculture. Author Affiliation: (1)Assistant Professor, Department of Economics, University of Lethbridge, C-582, U-Hall, 4401 University Drive West, Lethbridge, Alberta, T1K 3M4, Canada (corresponding author: phone: 403-329-2514; fax: 403-329-2519; e-mail:pascal.ghazalian@uleth.ca). (2)Professor and Canada Research Chair in International Agri-Food Trade, Center for Research on the Economics of Agri-Food (CREA), Laval University, 2425 Rue De L'Agriculture, Room 4417, Pavillon Paul-Comtois, Quebec, Quebec, G1V 0A6 (phone: 418-656-2131, ext. 5098; fax: 418-656-7821; e-mail :Bruno.Larue@eac.ulaval.ca). (3)Professor, Center for Research on the Economics of Agri-Food (CREA), Laval University, 2425 Rue De L'Agriculture, Room 4421, Pavillon Paul-Comtois, Sainte-Foy, Quebec, G1V 0A6 (phone: 418-656-2131, ext. 3755; fax: 418-656-7821; e-mail:Gale.West@eac.ulaval.ca).

To authenticate to the full-text of this article, please visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1744-7976.2009.01153.x Byline: Bruno Larue (1), Olivier Bonroy (2) Abstract: The food distribution and retail sectors in Quebec are highly concentrated and integrated as large food distributors are also involved in food retailing. As such, they are competing with small grocery and convenience stores they sell inputs to. A review of the industry suggests that there are important economies of size in distribution, but that smaller stores offering convenience face a more inelastic demand. Concerns over the survival of smaller stores in Quebec have motivated two types of regulations. The first type aims at reducing the cost advantage of dominant retailers by restricting the number of employees that they are allowed to use during specific time periods. The second type restricts retail prices. We develop a simple model capturing the main features of the industry to ascertain the impact of these regulations on retail and wholesale prices. Our results suggest that these regulations reduce welfare and may induce both tighter margins and lower surplus for small retailers. Au Quebec, les secteurs du commerce de detail et de la distribution des aliments sont fortement concentres et integres puisque les grands distributeurs d'aliments sont aussi engages dans le commerce de detail. A ce titre, ils font concurrence aux petites epiceries et aux depanneurs qu'ils approvisionnent. Un examen de l'industrie autorise a penser qu'il existe d'importantes economies de taille dans le secteur de la distribution, mais que les petites epiceries de depannage sont confrontees a une demande plus inelastique. Les inquietudes entourant la survie des petites epiceries au Quebec ont motive deux types de reglements. Le premier vise a diminuer l'avantage de cout des detaillants dominants en limitant le nombre d'employes pendant certaines periodes specifiques. Le deuxieme vise a limiter les prix de detail. Nous avons elabore un modele simple qui renferme les principales caracteristiques de l'industrie pour evaluer les repercussions de ces reglements sur les prix de detail et de gros. Nos resultats portent a croire que ces reglements diminuent le bien-etre et peuvent entrainer un resserrement des marges et une diminution des surplus des petits detaillants. Author Affiliation: (1)Canada Research Chair in Agri-food Trade, CREA and Department of Agricultural Economics, and Consumer Studies, Laval University, room 4417, 2425 Rue de l'agriculture, Quebec, Canada, QC G1V 0A6 (corresponding author: phone: 418-656-2131, ext. 5098; fax: 418-656-7821; e-mail:Bruno.Larue@eac.ulaval.ca). (2)Research Fellow, INRA, UMR 1215 GAEL, F-38000 Grenoble, France, and CREA, Laval University, Quebec, Canada, QC G1V 0A6 (phone: 011-33-4-76-82-5688; fax: 33-4-76-82-5455; e-mail:Olivier.Bonroy@grenoble.inra.fr).

To purchase or authenticate to the full-text of this article, please visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1744-7976.2008.00139.x Byline: Jean-Philippe Gervais (1), Bruno Larue (2), Harvey E. Lapan (3) Abstract: Multilateral negotiations on agriculture in the WTO are making very little progress as developed economies are reluctant to bind trade-distorting domestic support and import tariffs at levels acceptable to developing countries. This paper presents the basic Bagwell-Staiger framework as it relates to agricultural trade negotiations. In its basic version, market access commitments are sufficient to achieve efficient trade agreements. We show that vertical linkages between agricultural goods and processed food commodities may prevent countries to reach an efficient trade agreement. We argue that the features of agricultural supply chains hinder the argument that total discretion over domestic policies is appropriate. Les negociations multilaterales de l'OMC sur l'agriculture progressent tres lentement etant donne que les pays developpes hesitent a maintenir un soutien interne qui fausse les echanges et des barrieres tarifaires a des niveaux acceptables pour les pays en developpement. Le present article traite du modele Bagwell-Staiger dans le contexte des negociations sur le commerce des produits agricoles. Dans sa version de base, les engagements quant a l'acces au marche sont suffisants pour permettre des echanges commerciaux efficaces. Nous montrons que les liens verticaux entre les produits agricoles et les produits alimentaires transformes peuvent empecher les pays d'atteindre un accord commercial efficace. Nous soutenons que les caracteristiques des chaines d'approvisionnement agricole entravent l'argument voulant que l'entiere discretion quant aux politiques interieures soit appropriee. Author Affiliation: (1)Associate Professor, Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, North Carolina State and CREA, Laval University, 4336 Nelson Hall, Campus Box 8109, Raleigh, NC 27695 (corresponding author: phone: 919-515-6092; fax: 919-515-1824; e-mail:JP_Gervais@ncsu.edu). (2)Canada Research Chair in Agri-food Trade, CREA and Department of Agricultural Economics, and Consumer Studies, Laval University, 4417 Comtois, 2425 Rue de l'agriculture, Quebec, QC G1V 0A6 (phone: 418-656-2131, ext. 5098; fax: 418-656-7821; e-mail:Bruno.Larue@eac.ulaval.ca). (3)University Professor, Department of Economics, Iowa State University, 283 Heady Hall, Ames, IA 50011 (phone: 515-294-5917; fax: 515-294-0221; e-mail:hlapan@iastate.edu).

Thiocyanatonickel(II) compounds with composition {[(As[Ph.sub.4]).sub.2][Ni[(NCS).sub.4]]} 1, {(Cat)[Ni[(NCS).sub.4]]} 2, {(As[Ph.sub.4]).sub.4][[Ni.sub.2][(NCS).sub.8]] } 3, {[(Cat).sub.2] [[Ni.sub.2][(NCS).sub.8]]*2[CH.sub.3][NO.sub.2]} 4, and {[([Et.sub.4]N).sub.4][Ni[(NCS).sub.6]]} 5 ([Cat.sup.2+] = [(p-xylylenebis(triphenyphosphonium)).sup.2+]) were prepared. The crystal structures of compounds 1, 3, and 4 were determined. Compound 1 crystallizes in the monoclinic C2/c space group with a = 22.761(2) [Angstrom], b = 15.055(1) [Angstrom], c = 15.054(1) [Angstrom], [beta] = 108.915(1)[degrees], V = 4879.9(6) [Angstrom].sup.3], and Z = 4. Compound 3 crystallizes in the triclinic P1 space group with a = 11.2183(6) [Angstrom], b = 14.2551(8) [Angstrom], c = 16.629(1) [Angstrom], [alpha] = 79.326(1)[degrees], [beta] = 73.605(1)[degrees], [gamma] = 75.496(1)[degrees], V = 2451.0(2) [Angstrom].sup.3], Z = 2. Compound 4 crystallizes in the monoclinic [P2.sub.1]/n space group with a = 13.1148(9) [Angstrom], b = 27.128(2) [Angstrom], c = 14.882(1) [Angstrom], [beta] = 114.056(2)[degrees], V = 4834.8(6) [[Angstrom].sup.3], Z = 4. The magnetic properties of compounds 1-4 were studied over the 2-300 K temperature range. Compounds 1 and 2 with monometallic [Ni[(NCS).sub.4]].sup.2-] complex units have similar magnetic properties, in agreement with nickel(II) ions in pseudo-tetrahedral environments. Compounds 3 and 4 with bimetallic [[[Ni.sub.2][(NCS).sub.8]].sup.4-] complex units exhibit magnetic properties, which are indicative of Ni(II)-Ni(II) ferromagnetic interactions with zero-field splitting effects caused by the pseudo-square-pyramidal or pseudo-trigonal-bipyramidal coordination environments of the nickel(II) ion in compounds 3 and 4, respectively. The structures and magnetic results for all compounds are correlated with NIR--UV--vis absorption spectra. Key words: nickel(II) thiocyanato complexes, crystal structures, paramagnetism, molecular magnetism, exchange coupling, absorption spectroscopy.