The Corn Price Surge: Impacts on Rural Mexico

B-Tier
Journal: World Development
Year: 2011
Volume: 39
Issue: 10
Pages: 1878-1887

Authors (2)

Score contribution per author:

1.005 = (α=2.01 / 2 authors) × 1.0x B-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

We use an agent-based, general-equilibrium model to explore the impacts of world corn-price increases on land use and income in rural Mexico. In the model, interactions among heterogeneous agents within a local context shape both macro and microeconomic outcomes. Results suggest that subsistence activities allowed agriculture to absorb the shock, limiting the benefits of higher prices for the population while keeping deforestation pressures in check. An estimated 5.7% corn-area expansion by 2008 and wide variation across regions corresponds well with ex-post reports. Agricultural growth led to 0.02% and 3.9% increases in real income for rural households and absentee landholders, respectively.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:eee:wdevel:v:39:y:2011:i:10:p:1878-1887
Journal Field
Development
Author Count
2
Added to Database
2026-01-29