Special Issue in Memory of Bruce Gardner 1942-2008: Dedication and Introduction

Bruce L. Gardner was a giant in the agricultural economics profession. He was a brilliant academician, and had a major influence on U.S. farm policy over several decades and a number of presidential administrations. This special issue contains eight papers in his memory. One paper deals with the interface between public and private research, another deals with the compensation principle as the basis for benefit-cost analysis, and six deal with energy and biofuels. The latter papers focus on manipulation of the oil market; the impact of biofuels on land use; and the role played by government subsidies, including tariffs on ethanol imports and ethanol processor subsidies. Important results are derived that add to the growing literature on the economic impacts of biofuels. While there are significant gains from biofuels, there are also associated large costs. The verdict is still out on whether the benefits outweigh the costs.