This first volume of the “Handbook of Agricultural Economics” presents work on topics central to the economics of agriculture: the quantitative representation of technology; market expectations; household production behaviour; consumer behaviour with uncertain quality and safety of goods; and issues of imperfect competition in food marketing. Volume 1A treats issues in agricultural production, representing the consequences of decades of work deepening and widening the original focus of agricultural economics on farm management. In addition to the theory and estimation of production and supply behaviour in agriculture, chapters are devoted to topics on which major advancements have been made: technological change; returns to agricultural research; the industrial structure of agriculture, land institutions and markets; and human capital and finance. Two chapters are further specialized to rural labour and household issues: migration and the role of women in developing countries.
VOLUME 2A: The subject matter of agricultural economics has both broadened and deepened and the chapters of this handbook present innovative work in the field. This volume contains sections on “agriculture, natural resources and the environment” and “agriculture in the macroeconomy”. Volume 2B completes the handbook with a section on “agriculture and food policy”. Although agricultural economists have always paid attention to these topics, research devoted to them has increased substantially in scope as well as depth in recent years.
