Interregional Trade in Producer Services: Review and Synthesis

This paper reviews some of the past decade's studies of producer or intermediate-services exports from local regions. After a discussion of conceptual and methodological problems and inconsistencies, we present these studies according to the three basic methodologies: surveys, location quotients, and input-output. Overall, our sense is that these studies support limited but important conclusions: (1) If intermediate services are defined broadly, certain of these activities have as their major function interregional or international transfer or trade. By nature, these distributive services have widespread clients, and benefit from locations with substantial physical and communications infrastructure. (2) Among most business-and financial-service activities, most offices are established to serve a local region, but may derive some revenues from beyond this expected zone. (3) The exceptions—the activities and establishments that derive much of their revenue beyond such “normal” zones—are particularly specialized, particularly large, or parts of multiregional enterprises. (4) Such firms tend to locate in larger or more specialized urban places, probably because of the labor force, the corporate connections, and the rapid dissemination of ideas, contacts, and information within and among the largest metropolitan areas. These conclusions lead to some general policy recommendations.     

Transaction Costs,Agglomeration Economies,and Industrial Location*

ABSTRACT Following an outline of the different types of agglomeration economy, consideration is given to transaction costs. Transaction costs may have a definite spatial dimension because institutional, commercial, cultural, and language characteristics are differentiated across the geographic space separating market agents. The concept of transaction space is introduced to represent the spatial differentiation of these characteristics, and this concept is used to cast light on how space can contribute to coordination and agency problems that raise transaction costs. Contractual agreements that are rearranged, so as to span a less heterogeneous transaction space, permit the reduction of transaction costs. Agglomeration can then be interpreted as an alternative to hierarchical structures within firms in economizing on transaction costs. The paper concludes with illustrations of how this framework may help to understand the spatial implications of corporate restructuring and new information technologies.     

The Value of Ranch Open Space to Tourists: Combining Observed and Contingent Behavior Data

ABSTRACT Several empirical studies have estimated the value of agricultural land as open space to local residents. An important goup of individuals that may be affected by the loss of agricultural land are visitors to a region. The value of ranchland to tourists visiting a resort town in the Rocky Mountains is estimated through a travel cost model that combines information on observed behavior data from actual trips with contingent behavior data on intended current visitation if the resource were converted to urban and resort uses. The value of ranch open space to tourists is the gain or loss in consumer surplus derived from a visit to the study area attributable to the resource. A random effects Poisson regression model is estimated because of the panel nature of the data, accounting for the correlation of the multiple responses from heterogeneous individuals. Twenty-five percent of the sample would reduce visitation and 23 percent of the sample would increase visitation if ranch open space were converted to urban and resort uses. The overall effect of converting ranch open space to resort and urban uses is no net change in average consumer surplus per trip for summer tourists in general.     

State Lottery Sales: Separating the Influence of Markets and Game Structure

ABSTRACT State lotteries are the fiscal gimmick for the 1980s, receiving widespread popular and legislative approval. Unfortunately, the impact of structural and external influences on lottery sales is not well understood. This analysis sheds light on these influences, demonstrating that state economic activity, age of the game, interstate lottery competition, and game portfolios significantly affect sale and, consequently, benefit to the state.     

A vision for Weed Science in the twenty‐first century

Weed Science, particularly in Japan, needs to return to a focus on “undesirable plants.” In three major eras until the present, the discipline has shifted from an exclusive focus on agriculture to land uses with more complex weed management goals. The goals of Weed Science, once clearly understood and universally recognizable, in the present era appear to lack clarity. This is due to various factors including: a perceived lack of unmet technical needs in weed management, a lack of funding for research, a frequent lack of understanding and respect of our discipline from fellow scientists and academic administrators, and a bad reputation for herbicides among non‐scientists. We present a future vision for the discipline that includes a return to the basics for Weed Biology, an integrated approach to Weed Management, and a need to educate both scientists and non‐scientists about the importance of Weed Science.