China's bilateral trade in food and agricultural products has grown dramatically since the country's entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO). However, the country faces significant problems related to sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) compliance because of increasing concerns about food...

Comparative advantage motivates large trade flows in feeder animals throughout the world. Trade creates externalities when animal diseases can spread beyond the purchasing farm. When growers can choose between open and closed production systems, Nash equilibrium will likely involve socially...

Many deficiencies in the capacity of a food system to deliver safe products are systemic in nature. We suggest a taxonomy of four general ways in which a systemic failure might occur. One relates to the connectedness, or topology, of the system. Another arises from mistrust on the part of...

Finisher hog production in North America has seen a shift toward larger production units and contract-organized production since circa 1990. Given the efficiency gains and conversion costs associated with contract production, growers may have to choose between long term commitment through...

Finisher hog production in North America has seen a shift toward larger production units and contract-organized production since circa 1990. Given the efficiency gains and conversion costs associated with contract production, growers may have to choose between long term commitment through...

 Finisher hog production in North America has seen a shift toward larger production units and contract-organized production since around 1990. Given the efficiency gains and conversion costs associated with contract production, growers may have to choose between long-term commitment through...

Finisher hog production in North America has shifted toward larger units and contract format since 1990. Exit among independent growers has been high. We develop a model showing that growers with any of three efficiency attributes (lower innate hazard of exit, variable costs, or contract...