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A Network Analysis of the U.S. Food Economy using the Agri-Food Economic Data System (AgFEDS)

Author

Listed:
  • Scherpf, Erik
  • Zachary, Chandler

Abstract

Recent disruptions to food supply chains have renewed interest in how shocks propagate through the U.S. food economy and which sectors occupy structurally important positions within it. This paper uses the USDA Economic Research Service Agri-Food Economic Data System (Ag-FEDS) to characterize the production network of the U.S. food economy and to connect that network structure to the USDA Food Dollar. We analyze the network along three dimensions: direction of propagation, depth of linkage, and conditioning on final food demand. Using measures based on input-output multiplier analysis, Domar weights, and related network centrality concepts, we examine both the overall food economy and the distinct production networks supporting food at home and food away from home. We also use the annual AgFEDS series from 2007 to 2024 to study the stability of these structural relationships over time. Conceptually, the paper shows how Food Dollar industry-group results can be decomposed into value-added intensity, food-conditional network centrality, and final-demand orientation, providing a bridge between Food Dollar accounting and the production-network literature.

Suggested Citation

  • Scherpf, Erik & Zachary, Chandler, 2026. "A Network Analysis of the U.S. Food Economy using the Agri-Food Economic Data System (AgFEDS)," 2026 Annual Meeting, July 26 - 28, 2026, Kansas City, Missouri 404692, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    • Handle: RePEc:ags:aaea26:404692
    DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.404692
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Girish Bahal & Damian Lenzo, 2023. "Beyond Domar Weights: A New Measure of Systemic Importance in Production Networks ," CAMA Working Papers 2023-30, Centre for Applied Macroeconomic Analysis, Crawford School of Public Policy, The Australian National University, revised May 2024.
    2. Canning, Patrick, "undated". "A Revised and Expanded Food Dollar Series: A Better Understanding of Our Food Costs," Economic Research Report 262243, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.
    3. Charles R. Hulten, 1978. "Growth Accounting with Intermediate Inputs," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 45(3), pages 511-518.
    4. Vasco M. Carvalho, 2014. "From Micro to Macro via Production Networks," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 28(4), pages 23-48, Fall.
    5. Nikola Dacic & Marko Melolinna, 2022. "The size-centrality relationship in production networks," Bank of England Staff Working Paper series 994, Bank of England.
    6. David Rezza Baqaee & Emmanuel Farhi, 2019. "The Macroeconomic Impact of Microeconomic Shocks: Beyond Hulten's Theorem," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 87(4), pages 1155-1203, July.
    7. Rehkamp, Sarah & Zachary, James Chandler & Baker, Quinton & Canning, Patrick, 2026. "Documentation for the Agri-Food Economic Data System (Ag-FEDS): Multiplier Model Applications," Technical Bulletins 396235, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.
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