Three essays on the economics of cocoa : the technical and environmental efficiency of Indonesian cocoa production

In the new millennium, the soaring economic growth in Asia and Africa, the increase of world trade, and globalization have boosted the global demand for cocoa. However, world cocoa supply could barely keep up with demand. These processes triggered a high volatility in global cocoa prices. Volatility induces uncertainty among market participants, hence preventing the market from working properly. It also makes the millions of cocoa farmers in the developing world highly vulnerable to poverty. Our first essay helps to inform development policies of the elements involved in the global cocoa be...