While the role of social transfers in reducing poverty and encouraging welfare-enhancing behaviors is well-established, emerging evidence shows that they also significantly impact both political and social attitudes and behaviors. This article undertakes a systematic review of the quantitative evidence on these typically unintended impacts, highlighting a broad set of outcomes related to both citizen–citizen

The Arrow-Savage-Debreu framework provides a theoretical foundation for analyzing productivity and efficiency under uncertainty. It treats uncertainty while preserving core economic principles and offering insights into producer decision-making. A key challenge is to reconcile ex ante conceptual models with ex post empirical data. We survey econometric and mathematical programming methods used to address

Mitigation action in agrifood systems is essential for addressing growing negative impacts from climate change. It remains unclear, however, to what extent mitigation in the agrifood systems space addresses gender inequalities and involves women as agents of climate action. This article reviews the literature to identify the main linkages between gender and mitigation in agrifood systems, examines

We review the research on global food demand and examine modeling efforts to address the complexities of dietary transitions. We also highlight challenges affecting the economic feasibility of dietary targets aimed at promoting both human health and environmental sustainability (e.g., EAT-Lancet). The relationships among income, prices, and food demand play an important role in understanding how economic

This article reviews a rapidly growing literature on how climatic risks and events affect public finances around the world. This literature includes empirical evaluations of how past climatic events have affected fiscal outcomes, empirical and model-based assessments of how climatic risks affect public borrowing costs, and macro-fiscal-climate models that investigate the policy and welfare implications

The extent to which natural disasters influence changes in human capital and productivity remains an open empirical question with significant policy implications. This article provides a systematic review of econometric studies examining the economic impacts of natural disasters on human capital over the past 10 to 15 years. It concentrates exclusively on quantitative studies with both macro-level

Economists have long studied the diffusion of improved agricultural technologies, often aiming to understand and relax the constraints that discourage their adoption among smallholder farmers. While this effort has documented and explored a long list of on-farm market constraints, the role of agrodealers in agricultural input markets has received far less attention—a critical blind spot. We review

Climate-smart soil health practices, such as cover crops and no-till, are considered to be key elements for climate change adaptation and mitigation in agriculture. We examine the empirical literature that provides data-driven evidence on the impact of cover crops and no-till on several economic variables of interest, such as yields, inputs, profits, risk, erosion, and water quality. In general, existing

Ensuring universal access to clean water remains one of the most pressing global challenges, particularly in low-income countries. Despite considerable efforts under the United Nations Millennium Development Goal and Sustainable Development Goals, progress has been uneven, with persistent gaps in infrastructure financing and service delivery. In this review, we critically assess current measurements

A growing literature on agricultural productivity in low- and middle-income countries has asked whether the gender of farmers may influence the level or growth rate of productivity. Using new data at the plot level, researchers have compared the productivity of plots managed by men and women. Expanding these analyses to include jointly managed and collectively managed plots has provided new insights

In the current era of ecological scarcity and rising global environmental risks, there are increasing calls for limits on damage to the environment. Some scientists advocate imposing planetary boundaries to protect key Earth system processes from human impacts. This article reviews the economic implications of such an approach. From an economic perspective, planetary boundaries represent both a relative

Natural disasters pose significant challenges to small businesses, as they are more vulnerable to shocks. Their recovery is crucial to the resilience of communities. This literature review explores the topic of US small business disaster recovery by examining research in economics, management, and disaster studies. The review highlights a consensus among small business researchers that even within

Agriculture will play a central role in meeting greenhouse gas (GHG) emission targets, as the sector currently contributes ∼22% of global emissions. Because emissions are directly tied to resources employed in farm production, such as land, fertilizer, and ruminant animals, the productivity of input use tends to be inversely related to emissions intensity. We review evidence on how productivity gains

This essay discusses three themes of my scholarly life from my student days up to today. They involve technological change, environmental accounting, and energy-climate-economic analysis. These themes have common analytical roots in the economic theory of public goods and encounter thorny issues of governance because of the Westphalian roots of international law and practice. Many of the issues, such

The focus of this review is the shadow economy (SE) in agriculture. Our research aim is to empirically quantify the SE in the agricultural sector based on data collected in the EU-15 member states from 1996 to 2019. We apply the multiple indicators multiple causes model to estimate the levels and development of the SE in these countries. Furthermore, we investigate how the size of the agricultural

Many low- and middle-income countries have made tremendous gains in electrification over the past few decades. These improvements in electricity access have enabled a growing body of empirical evidence on its impacts. This article complements prior reviews on the impacts of electrification by addressing several major remaining challenges faced by the electricity sector in developing countries—impediments

The global value chain (GVC) framework may provide a systematic approach to depict and advance sustainable path options at the global, national, and local scales. However, a coherent picture of the fragmented body of knowledge on the sustainability implications of GVCs is lacking. In an attempt to delineate the most effective perspective for addressing sustainability challenges within GVCs, this review

This article reviews the past 25 years of empirical research on the rural nonfarm economy (RNFE) in developing countries; that literature has evolved in ways that track and mirror the rural transformation itself. Since 2000, rapid urbanization, structural transformation, and a sharp series of economic, climate, and disease shocks have influenced trajectories in the RNFE. It has grown to become, on

Wildlife species generate significant economic value through recreational opportunities, ecosystem services, and their existence and preservation for future generations. Policymaker decisions about fish and wildlife conservation, population management, hunting and fishing limits, and damage assessments all rely to some extent on nonmarket valuation estimates of the species in question. Focusing on

Environmental and resource challenges continue to grow in magnitude and complexity. Addressing these challenges requires expansive thinking to formulate and implement effective solutions. Transdisciplinary research, considered the pinnacle of integration across disciplines, offers a powerful approach for addressing complex questions. Three key themes emerge from transdisciplinary research in the context

Rapid advances and diffusion of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies have the potential to transform agriculture globally by improving measurement, prediction, and site-specific management on the farm, enabling autonomous equipment that is trained to mimic human behavior and developing recommendation systems designed to autonomously achieve various tasks. Here, we discuss the applications of AI-enabled

Forced migration has a complex relationship with the environment. The type of policy responses required to alleviate distress migration and improve the livelihoods of involuntary migrants while preserving the environment for broader society will vary by context. We highlight the need to better identify the related mechanisms underlying forced migration and their practices in receiving areas in an attempt

Successfully analyzing and managing trade-offs between community welfare and wildlife conservation are complex tasks that require a multidisciplinary approach and consideration of various factors. Bioeconomic modeling provides a structured quantitative framework for understanding and evaluating the complex interactions between biological systems and economic activities, aiding in the crafting of more

We discuss the economics of geographical indications (GIs), a form of collective branding of products based on their geographic origin. GIs serve as essential tools in addressing market failures stemming from information asymmetries and supporting the provision of high-quality products in competitive settings. They are increasingly used in wine and food markets. We briefly review the institutional

This review discusses the role of road transport policies in achieving the European Union's ambitious zero-emission target for the transportation sector by 2050 and provides an overview of the empirical literature that studies the effectiveness of urban transport policies. The analysis is divided into two parts. First, we study policies that are relevant in the transitional phase from internal combustion

This article reviews the literature on the economic impacts of disasters caused by extreme weather and climate events to draw lessons on how societies can better manage these risks. While evidence that richer, better-governed societies suffer less and recover faster from climate extremes suggests adaptation, knowledge gaps remain, and little is known about the efficiency of specific adaptation actions

Food supply chain resilience has become a priority for policymakers in recent years. Prompted by several systemic disruptions and the increased likelihood of future shocks, significant attention and public financial investment have been devoted to preparing supply chains to be more able to absorb shocks and more nimbly respond in the future. Food and agricultural supply chains have been particularly

We review the literature on the performance of groundwater institutions, including command-and-control (CAC) approaches, market-based institutions (MBIs), and voluntary approaches, and evaluate how they will perform as agriculture adapts to climate change. Both CAC approaches and MBIs lead to uneven distributional impacts on farmers, and voluntary approaches have not been successful in reducing water

Water scarcity and drought have determined the structure, location, and fate of civilizations throughout history. Drought remains an important factor in the performance of developed and developing economies, especially in the agricultural sector. While significant attention has been paid to drought as a meteorological phenomenon and on its economic impact, comparative institutional analysis of the

This article reviews the literature on the political economy of agricultural and food policy in sub-Saharan Africa. In doing so, it first presents a conceptual framework highlighting that agricultural and food policy decisions are contingent on the intersection between governance structures, the preferences and pressures from societal interest groups, and international dynamics. The interrelations

More than five billion metric tons of agricultural residues are produced annually worldwide. Despite having multiple uses and significant potential to augment crop and livestock production, a large share of crop residues is burned, especially in Asian countries. This unsustainable practice causes tremendous air pollution and health hazards while restricting soil nutrient recycling. In this review,

This review evaluates three micro and three macro estimation approaches to determine whether unrealistic differences exist in estimating the size of nonobserved/shadow economies. While some macro-MIMIC estimates are higher than estimates using the statistical discrepancy approach, when adjusting for double-counting, MIMIC approaches provide similar results. Macro approaches usually cover not only typical

Agroecology is often considered as the ultimate and most comprehensive solution to the many challenges of the agricultural and food system, also referred to as the agri-food system. This review investigates to what extent agroecology can become the mainstream model for transforming agriculture toward more sustainable and resilient agri-food systems within the given economic and political context. We

Having experienced low prices for about a decade, the European Union Emissions Trading System has been supplemented with the market stability reserve (MSR) that adjusts the supply of allowances to market outcomes. We critically review the literature assessing the performance of the MSR against several policy objectives. In doing so, we cover both conceptual aspects and quantitative assessments. We

Identifying mechanisms of real-life human decision-making is central to inform effective, human-centric public policy. Here, we report larger trends and synthesize preliminary lessons from behavioral economic and neuro-economic investigations focusing on environmental values. We review the currently available evidence at different levels of granularity, from insights into how individuals value natural

Understanding the potential effect of environmental regulation on employment is of broad interest to key stakeholders. Concerns encompass both short- and longer-term effects on workers within the regulated sector, affected communities that already suffer from a lack of employment opportunities, and net employment in the overall economy. We begin our review by presenting a neoclassical microeconomic

Nutrient pollution from agricultural sources, coming primarily from fertilization of row crops and manure from livestock operations, affects ecological health in the United States through water and air pollution. We summarize data trends on commercial fertilizer use, manure, cropland, and concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus in waterways. We present data indicating that fertilizer applications

We take stock of the major changes in methodology for studying the impacts of international agricultural research, focusing on the period 2006–2020. Impact assessment of agricultural research has a long and recognized tradition. Until the mid-2000s, such assessments were dominated by a model of demand for and supply of agricultural products in partial equilibrium. The basic ideas for this approach

This article develops a conceptual framework on pathways through which noncontributory social protection can support resilient and inclusive agricultural growth in rural Africa. It draws insights from a review of rigorous empirical evidence on the impacts of cash transfers and multifaceted cash plus programs on a range of relevant productive outcomes, including accumulation of productive assets, inputs

This article reviews the literature on the financial sector impacts of natural disasters and physical climate change risks, covering banking, insurance, stock markets, bond markets, and international financial flows. Most studies have applied statistical approaches to historical data from developed countries to identify these impacts, while some have also used theoretical and computational modeling

Little progress has been made in reducing deaths from chronic noncommunicable diseases associated with being overweight or obese worldwide, prompting the World Health Organization and others to recommend the implementation of taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs). In response, SSB taxes have been widely implemented over the last decade, and a burgeoning literature aims at understanding their effects

In 2015, the United Nations and the G20 put food loss and food waste on the global agenda. While progress has been made since then, the scale of the problem persists because food loss and food waste are measured together, not separately. The paucity of data also poses a challenge. This article reviews the measurements, causes, and determinants of food loss as well as the interventions to reduce it

Traditionally, competition law and practice serve to preserve competition, with a focus on the maximization of consumer welfare. This has been criticized as conflicting with society's overarching goal of achieving greater (environmental) sustainability. Consequently, various jurisdictions have recently reformed their laws and guidance allowing them to account for sustainability benefits in the assessment

This article reviews recent economic studies on the causal effects of temperature on labor productivity. The negative effects of extreme temperatures are widespread, and the magnitudes of the impact differ across social and economic factors. In addition to physical outputs, extreme temperatures also impair mental productivity, including cognition and learning. In utero exposure to extreme temperatures

This article provides an overview of the recent economics literature analyzing the effect of air pollution on health outcomes. We review the common approaches to measuring and modeling air pollution exposures and the epidemiological and biological literature on health outcomes that undergird federal air regulations in the United States. The article contrasts the methods used in the epidemiology literature

The Annual Review of Resource Economics presents Professor Sir Partha Dasgupta in conversation with economist Dr. David Zilberman. In the conversation, we follow Sir Partha's life from his childhood in Bangladesh, where his father was a distinguished economist, to his childhood and undergraduate studies in India, his graduate studies in England, and his fascinating academic career, mostly in Cambridge

We first discuss the genesis and development of the Food Security Module in the United States. We then present a conceptual model of food insecurity, drawing on consumer choice theory. The model shows how food insecurity exhibits a quality–quantity trade-off and has linkages to policy levers. Next, we present new stylized facts pertaining to food consumption for those who report food insecurity versus

Climate change undeniably impacts agriculture and natural resources, enterprises and markets. For informed decision making, there is a need for information on climate change adaptation possibilities and mitigation alternatives. Mathematical programming has been used to address the economic aspects of such questions and allows analysis as climate change moves the environment into previously unobserved

Based on an extensive literature review and publicly available data, this article provides insights into the differences in prevalence, sociodemographics, contributing factors, socioeconomic consequences, health effects, and public policies related to obesity between developed and developing countries. Most importantly, it explores the relationship between obesity and life expectancy and identifies

An evolving literature evaluates the inferential and behavioral implications of measurement error (ME) in agricultural data. We synthesize findings on the nature and sources of ME and potential remedies. We provide practical guidance for choosing among alternative approaches for detecting, obviating, or correcting for alternative sources of ME, as these have different behavioral and inferential implications

Restoration of degraded ecosystems is essential for having a stable climate, reducing weather extremes and disease burden, producing enough food to feed growing populations, and generally keeping the world livable. However, we are currently rapidly degrading ecosystems worldwide, thus destroying the very basis of life. There is a major gap between what investments are needed to restore degraded ecosystems

Food fraud represents a serious threat to the integrity of the global agri-food marketing system and has received considerable attention by policy makers, academics, and the public at large. This review presents the conditions that enable fraudulent activity in agri-food supply chains (such as asymmetric information, imperfect certification processes, supply chain complexity, and weak monitoring and

R&D is slow magic. It takes many years before research investments begin to affect productivity, but then they can affect productivity for a long time. Many economists get this wrong. Here, we revisit the conceptual foundations for R&D lag models used to represent the temporal links between research investments and impact, review prevalent practice, and document and discuss a range of evidence on R&D

In recent decades, discrete choice experiment research applied to food choices has grown rapidly. Empirical applications include investigations of consumer preferences and demand for various food attributes, labeling programs, novel products and applications, and new food technologies. Methodological contributions include advances in the form of new theories, elicitation methods, and modeling. This

Governments across the world are coming under increasing pressure to invest heavily in projects that have maturities of decades or even centuries. Key areas of concern include climate change mitigation, environmental and biodiversity protection, nuclear decommissioning, enhancing infrastructure and coastal defenses, and long-term health care management. Whether such projects are evaluated as being

The global wildlife trade dates to antiquity. Recently, its harms to endangered species, animal welfare, and public health have become critical to address. The complexities of the wildlife trade are numerous, including the fact that much of the economic activity is illegal and unobserved. We find that wildlife products are used for sustenance, signaling status, medicine, and entertainment. There is

Our purpose is to review the economic impacts of Walmart's disruption of the food retailing industry. This review synthesizes the extant knowledge and research findings related to the economic impacts of Walmart's entry into, and subsequent domination of, food retailing in the United States and more broadly globally. The findings suggest five broad generalizations: ( a) Walmart's physical growth in

For over a century, starting with the work of Alfred Marshall (and also in resource economics), economic geography has emphasized the productivity of dense urban agglomerations. Yet little attention is paid to one key policy implication of economic geography's core mechanisms: Environmental policies can aid economic development, per se—not hurting the economy to help the environment but advancing both

A robust body of evidence shows that air pollution exposure is detrimental to health outcomes, often measured as deaths and hospitalizations. This literature has focused less on subclinical channels that nonetheless impact behavior, performance, and skills. This article reviews the economic research investigating the causal effects of pollution on nonhealth end points, including labor productivity

This review focuses on two emerging areas of agricultural product development, namely vertical farming and alternative animal products. We note that the drivers of this type of food innovation are a combination of factors that are resource based or supply chain based or reflect shifts in tastes, preferences, and food ethics. We conclude that leafy greens produced in vertical farms are now established