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Can Spot And Contract Markets Co-Exist In Agriculture?

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  • Babcock, Bruce A.
  • Carriquiry, Miguel A.

Abstract

New production technologies, consumers who are more discriminating, and the need for improved coordination are among the forces driving the move from spot markets to contracts. Some worry that this tendency will result in the disappearance of spot markets, or at least that they will become too thin to be of help for an efficient price discovery process. Other authors point to the reduction in welfare of independent producers resulting from contracting in oligopsonistic industries. While a large body of literature is available tackling the contract versus spot market decision, much less is known about the reasons that lead to procurement in both markets. This paper provides a very simple model to study how fundamental economic factors influence the contracting behavior of farmers and processors. In the model, processors contract upstream into a competitive industry (farmers). We find that participation in both markets arises as a Nash equilibrium for a range of contract prices. We use numerical methods to examine the effects of fundamental economic factors on the relative size of the spot and contract markets and the effect of contract price on the relative profitability of farmers and processors.

Suggested Citation

  • Babcock, Bruce A. & Carriquiry, Miguel A., 2002. "Can Spot And Contract Markets Co-Exist In Agriculture?," Hebrew University of Jerusalem Archive 18404, Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
    • Handle: RePEc:ags:hebarc:18404
    DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.18404
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Xi Yang & Nicholas D. Paulson & Madhu Khanna, 2016. "Optimal Mix of Vertical Integration and Contracting for Energy Crops: Effect of Risk Preferences and Land Quality," Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 38(4), pages 632-654.
    3. Hu, Y. & Hendrikse, G.W.J., 2007. "Allocation of Decision Rights in Fruit and Vegetable Contracts in China," ERIM Report Series Research in Management ERS-2007-077-ORG, Erasmus Research Institute of Management (ERIM), ERIM is the joint research institute of the Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University and the Erasmus School of Economics (ESE) at Erasmus University Rotterdam.
    4. Olmos, Marta Fernandez & Rosell-Martinez, Jorge & Espitia-Escuer, Manuel Antonio, 2008. "On the co-existence of spot and contract markets: an analysis of quality," 2008 Annual Meeting, July 27-29, 2008, Orlando, Florida 6082, American Agricultural Economics Association (New Name 2008: Agricultural and Applied Economics Association).
    5. Krishna, Vijesh V. & Erenstein, Olaf & Sadashivappa, Prakash & Vivek, B. S., . "Potential Economic Impact of Biofortified Maize in the Indian Poultry Sector," International Food and Agribusiness Management Review, International Food and Agribusiness Management Association, vol. 17(4), pages 1-30.
    6. Olmos, Marta Fernandez & Rosell-Martinez, Jorge & Espitia-Escuer, Manuel Antonio, 2008. "The yield/quality trade-off and contractual choice," 2008 Annual Meeting, July 27-29, 2008, Orlando, Florida 6065, American Agricultural Economics Association (New Name 2008: Agricultural and Applied Economics Association).
    7. Fumasi, Roland J., 2005. "Estimating The Impacts Of Differing Price-Risk Management Strategies On The Net Income Of Salinas Valley Lettuce Producers: A Stochastic Simulation Approach," 2005 Annual Meeting, July 6-8, 2005, San Francisco, California 36310, Western Agricultural Economics Association.

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