This paper examines the effects of political, structural and economic changes on environmental quality in 25 Central and East European countries (CEECs) and the countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) using selected water pollution indicators and by testing the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC). Despite substantial research on the transition effects from centrally planned economies and totalitarian political systems to democracy and free market economies, the literature is limited with respect to the short- and long-term environmental impacts. Considering the institutional and structural changes in these economies, rising per capita income and increased trade and investment openness, these countries can be characterized as early, late and non-liberalizers with respect to the start and continuation of liberalization processes - a critical element of the systemic transformation in the CEECs. While trends in selected economic and social indicators (based on the OECD pressure-state-response framework) show that early liberalizers enjoyed positive gains relative to late liberalizers, the selected environmental indicators do not indicate consistent trends with regard to surface water quality. Among early and late liberalizers, nitrate, orthophosphate and ammonium concentrations decline and converge over time. Phosphorus concentrations initially dropped but then increased again for both groups of countries. Using the indicator of biological oxygen demand (BOD) as the dependent variable and a set of structural and economic measures as the independent variables, our econometric regression model provides some evidence for the EKC hypothesis and estimates the per capita income turning point for industrial BOD effluents to be approximately 3800-5000 USD. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley &amp
Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.

This study is to recognize how the large-scale farms in Japan have developed with the help of full-time workers. Especially the corporate farms in Kagawa Prefecture show their rapid expansion by mixing staffs of Japanese workers and the technical intern trainees from abroad. Their business strategy like the independent operation of different division of companies makes them able to accept the number of trainees which they need, against the quantum system of training program that each farm has the limit number of trainees in proportion to the number of Japanese full-time workers

The objectives of this study were to identify the determinants for productivity and production efficiency in the transition economies of Central Europe and Southeast Asia and to derive policy implications for sustainable development in agriculture. The impacts of the EU integration in Central Europe and trade liberalization through joining the WTO and the ASEAN in Southeast Asia were examined. The national level examinations for the transitions economies were undertaken.The divergence in performance of total factor productivity (TFP) has been observed among the new member countries as well as old member countries in the European Union after the enhancement of the European Union in 2004. The study team argued that the introduction of the second pillar of agricultural development in the common agriculture policy (CAP) has created this divergence in productivity among member countries. The divergence has not been observed in Asia unlike the European Union. Among ASEAN countries, new memberships for ASEAN and WTO served as sources for the improvement in TFP.The significant contributions of regional cooperation and economic integration to agricultural development have been proved in this study. Thus, the importance of the strategic approach on international trade and regional cooperation has been derived as policy implication

This study first compared the private agriculture and socialist agriculture for the period prior to the reforms being happened starting 1989 in Poland in terms of production structure, production technology, the use of inputs and the changes in total factor productivity. The private sector did not perform well because of restricted markets of inputs and outputs. The rate of growth in total factor productivity for the private sector was not found to be as high as one would expect for the sector with private ownership of the means of production.This study also examined the changes observed after the introduction of reform measures. The level of agricultural protection was significantly reduced. The amount of subsidies allocated to the sector dropped sharply and the border protection became loose. The decline in real income as a result of tight fiscal and monetary policies led to the drop in demand for food items. This then had an impact to lower the prices of agricultural products. Supply response slowed and the production was stagnated.The agricultural sector in Poland occupies still a large share in labor force and GDP contribution. Structural changes in this sector is inevitable for the economic development of the Polish economy. The increase in productivity of agricultural production and the development of the agro-industry based in rural areas seem to be the keys for further development. The role of the Government finds to be significant in these areas. The improvement in research and development programs is one of the key areas the Government has to take own initiatives.The de-collectivization process has been creating problems of its own and other East European countries have been experiencing stagnation of agricultural production with the changes in ownership of means of production. The Polish case provides a lesson that the settlement in this de-collectivization process would not necessarily guarantee the betterment of performance of the agricultural sector. Other efforts now the Polish Government is making have to be made at the same time as the de-collectivization process

本研究は移行期経済における消費行動の変化に関して、データが整備されておりまた入手可能なポーランドをケースとして分析を加えるものである。供給量の制限もモデルに取り入れた需要関数モデルを使い、家計消費調査データを定量的に分析し、改革以前の中央計画経済体制下における食料消費行動と改革後のその変化をつかむことが本研究の目的であった。市場経済への移行に取り組んでいる国において観察される一人当たりの食料消費量の低下は、実質価格の低下と実質小売価格の上昇といった経済条件の変化によって説明されうるが、それ以外にも消費を取り巻く諸制度の変革が消費者行動に構造変化をもたらしていることが確認できた。本研究を進めるにあっては以下の作業を実施した。1.この分野における最近の内外の研究成果について再サーベイを行い、需要関数モデルを基本とする理論モデルを構築した。また入手可能データに対応した形で推計モデルを考案し、さらに基礎データを使い試行的な推計を行った。2.ワルシャワ経済大学のコバルスキー助教授を通して中央統計局が収集した家計消費データを勤労・農家・年金生活家計につき、1960年から1993年まで入手した。家計の種類別、所得階層別に支出額、商品単価を入力し、データベースを作成した。3.分類別に1.で試みられた推計モデルを使い、消費行動の分析を行う。その際には所得・価格変化に対する需要弾力性を計算するほかに、計測パラメーターの変化より構造変化の有無、またその程度を検証した。この結果市場経済化に伴う制度の改革等非経済的要因も経済的要因と並び消費行動の変化を説明する要因となっていることが分かった。今後は、よりミクロレベルのデータを用いて各制度の影響についてより詳細な考察を行いこの研究をより深化させていく予定である。さらに同様な分析を他の移行期にある国についても行い国際比較を試みる予定である

Rice is the dominant staple food crop and the most important agricultural product in Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan. Preserving rice self-sufficiency has been the important objective of agricultural policy, and the rice sector has been strongly protected economically and politically in these three countries. Due to acceptance of the GATT Uruguay Round agreement in 1995, Japan and South Korea partially opened their rice market. Taiwan is not a member of the GATT,but it is seeking GATT membership. The most likely terms to be agreed upon for rice is said to be similar to the Japanese arrangement. On the other hand, the U.S.rice sector is going to experience a big change under the WTO and the 1996 farm bill.There are five major objectives in this study : first, to investigate government programs implemented to improve production efficiency and reduce production costs in rice ; second, to analyze the factors that caused a decrease in per capita rice consumption ; third, to identify factors to increas rice production while analyzing growth accounting and estimate rice production in the future ; fourth, to project supply and demand in each country for the next fifteen years and develop policy scenarios based on the estimates ; and the last, to investigate the U.S.rice supply and demand situation and its export potential to Japan, Korea, and Taiwan in the next fifteen years.The major conclusions related to future supply and demand balance of rice are as follows :1.Because of the minimum access rice import, declining rice consumption, and yield growth, the rice diversion program will need to be expanded in Japan.2.The annual supply/demand balance of rice is predicted to be negative during the period 1995-2010, and South Korea may have to start importing some more rice in addition to the minimum access import at the end of the 1990s.3.Although Taiwan has been exporting some rice, rice production will start declining due to the decrease in rice area harvested, and will become a rice importer in the future.4.Because of the cut back in export subsidies and agricultural budget, rice production and rice exports of the U.S.are likely to decrease

The purpose of this study was to examine the impacts of various economic reform measures on the environment in agriculture for the economies in transition. Policy implications were expected to be derived from the analyzes. The roles of the governments and new institutions were also studied.The followings have been accomplished.1. An extensive literature review has been carried out regarding the changes in recent policies and economic performance for the economies in transition. Especially issues related with agriculture and the environment have been carefully studied and a review paper has been written with Dr.Kalman Rajkai in Hungary ;2. Data on water quality and economic activities have been collected from Hungary. A simulation analysis has been undertaken and some findings have been presented at the conference of the Japanese Society or Environmental Economics and Policies. New economic environments have been confirmed to have been contributing for the improvement of water quality there ; and3. Besides already published general papers concerning agricultural development in Poland and Hungary, two environmental policy papers are near to their completion. Necessity of establishing new institutions and economic incentive based programs are being discussed there

We examined the impacts of various reform measures on agriculture and the environment in Poland and Hungary. We also considered the policy options for these economies in transition to cope with the environmental problems in agriculture. The followings are what we achieved through this research project.First, we surveryed the existing literature on the topics of the policy reforms in transition economies and the environmental models in agriculture. We identified the characteristics of the existing models for the latter review. Later, a crop growth model was developed by our team to evaluate the impact of policy changes on the field level environment. We also studied the changes in nitrogen balance for Hungarian agriculture using the same model. The decline in chemical fertilizer use was identified to be the source of the improvement in the condition of groundwater pollution.Second, the time-series quality data on surface water were obtained from Hungary. Weelaborated the link between agriculture and the quality changes in surface water using this data set. This exercise confirmed our simulation results from the crop growth model.Third, policy implications were derived from these studies. The policy papers related with agriculture and the environment were written and one was presented at the 11th Congress of the International Farm Management Association.Fourth, interviews were conducted to study the current status of agricultural producers and reports have been written based on the information collected. The issues related with environmentally friendly agricultural production were covered in this effort

In this study, determinants of the efficiency in agricultural production have been examined. Policy implications were derived based upon the findings from statistical analyses of the data from Eastern and Central Europe and Central Asia. The followings are what I have achieved through this research project.First, I surveyed the existing literature on the topics of agricultural development in transition economies. The fact that the difference in the extent of the liberalization of agricultural markets and privatization of production, marketing and processing organizations has produced a wide range of the diversity in the performance of agriculture was confirmed through this reviewSecond, a set of cross-sectional data was obtained from Hungary and Uzbekistan, respectively. A database was created in order to perform statistical analyses.Third, determinants of the difference in the performance of private farms were identified using regression analyses. Private farms were confirmed to be price responsive in these two economies. Non-economic variables such as education were found to be the important factors in explaining the difference in economic activities in agricultural production, Distortions in input and output markets were found to be a blame for non-profit maximizing behavior of agricultural producers in transition economies.Fourth, policy implicaations were derived from these analyses. The policy need for lowering market distortions was identified.Fifth, research papers were written and presented at the 1999 Agricultural Economics Association of Japan's meeting, the 12th Congress of the International Farm Management Association and the 1999 European Agricultural Economics Associatioris meetings

In this study, factors determining the performance of agricultural productionand marketing have been examined. Policy implications were derived based upon the findings from statistical analyses of the data from Central Asia and Eastern and Central Europe. The followings are what we have achieved through this research project.First, our team surveyed the existing literature on the topics of agricultural development in transition economies. The fact that the difference in the extent of the liberalization of agricultural markets and privatization of production, marketing and processing organizations has produced a wide range of the diversity in the performance of agriculture was confirmed through our reviewSecond, a set of cross-sectional data was obtained from Central Asia, and Eastern and Central Europe. A database was created in order to perform statistical analyses.Third, determinants of the difference in the performance of private farms were identified using regression analyses. We found that distortions in input and output markets have been causing non-profit maximizing behavior of agricultural producers in transition economies. The government roles are still large to carry out further reform measures for Central Asian economies we also argued.Fourth, policy implications were derived from theseanalyses. The policy need for lowering market distortions was emphasized.Fifth, research papers were written and presented at the 1999 Agricultural Economics Association of Japan's meetings, the 12th Congress of the International Farm Management Association, the 7th European Association of Agricultural Economists conference and the 23^<rd> International Association of Agricultural Economists' congress

The purpose of this project is to find the changing pattern of consumers' behavior in 3 years after the accession to EU (1st, May, 2004), in Poland and Lithuania on 3 fields. i.e. farmer's behavior of cultivation of agricultural products, consumer finance and housing loan, and short-term and long-term labor outside his country.Even before the beginning of our research we expected the scale of change of consumers' behavior will be quite large. As a result of 3 years' our research the extent of the change of consumers' behavior after the accession to EU becomes very immerse and dynamic.In the filed of agriculture the farmers of Poland and Lithuania every year changed their products elastically adjusting the price-cost situation in EU.The housing loan delivered to Polish grew from 74 billion zloty in 2002 to more than 280 billion zloty in 2006. The automobile loan also drastically increased in Poland and Lithuania.On 1st of May England and Ireland opened her labor market to foreign workers from EU countries. From 1st of May to 31st of July England accepted 65,525 foreign workers, in which the number of Polish was 35,710. Tremendous boom of short and medium term emigration had happened in Poland in 2004. As a result of it the serious deficit of high-qualified workers had happened in Poland and Lithuania.These three fact findings are, as far as we know, indeed our originality of our project

Water has been always in demand for the purposes of achieving economic development and meeting the needs of growing population in developing countries. This study analyzed the data on water resources in agriculture in South India, where water has been scarce in the recent decades. This study is part of efforts to find useful policy implications for dealing with the shortage of water resources and the resulted negative consequences on economic and social development.The objectives of this study are to understand reasons for the difference in production efficiency and allocative efficiency among surveyed farms with different backgrounds and endowments on water resources for agricultural production and to derive policy implications for sustainable development in rural India. The followings are the outputs of this study so far.1.A set of database, which is useful for policy analyses, has been created based on our own survey in Tamilnadu in South India,2.A new non-parametric approach to decompose the efficiency measures has been developed and applied to the data which have been collected from the field,3.A new approach to calculate shadow prices of input materials has been also developed to derive policy implications on subsidy policies of input materials, and4.The economic values of the existence of well irrigation systems have been identified using time-series data. This research output has been presented at the Winter meetings of the American Agricultural Economic Association in January 2007. Two other papers related with 2 and 3 are in the process of the preparation for publication

Agricultural development in Central and Eastern Europe faces challenges to meet individual needs for agricultural, food and rural development objectives while adopting Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) of the European Union. This study attempted to examine the sources of change and difference in productivity and efficiency for agricultural production and to derive policy implications

東欧における45年に及ぶ中央計画経済体制は，重工業を中心とした産業構造を固定化し，さらに歪んだ価格体系は生産要素の過剰投入や非効率的な生産体制の存続を許した。これにより環境汚染が進み，農業分野においても持続可能な発展が危ぶまれるような状態となっていた。 本研究においては，持続可能な農業発展を図るという視点より，移行期にあるポーランド農業の課題を検証した。政治上の混乱は続くが，経済政策面では堅実な財政・金融政策を導入している同国において，経済発展の回復が見られ，農業分野においても資源利用の効率性が高まったことが確認できた。これをさらに環境への負荷が低く持続可能な営農形態へ導くためには，今後各種の制度改革が必要となることが分かった。またポーランドにおいては農業外雇用機会の創出と農村工業の発展が課題となっていることが分かった。