When prices spike: Identifying excessive volatility in fertilizer markets

C-Tier
Journal: Economics Letters
Year: 2026
Volume: 259
Issue: C

Score contribution per author:

0.503 = (α=2.01 / 2 authors) × 0.5x C-tier

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

Abstract

Sharp and volatile fertilizer price movements can hinder adoption and reduce agricultural productivity, especially among vulnerable smallholders. Using a nonparametric location-scale approach to model price returns, we quantify the conditional value-at-risk (CVaR) — the high return threshold exceeded with low probability — to identify excessive price spikes in potash, urea, and di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) markets. We use the bias-corrected estimator from Martins-Filho et al. (2018) and propose a simpler estimator based on Hill (1975). Backtesting results indicate superior performance of the Hill-based estimator, supporting its value as a convenient method for detecting unusual fertilizer price surges amid recurring global volatility.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:eee:ecolet:v:259:y:2026:i:c:s0165176525005956
Journal Field
General
Author Count
2
Added to Database
2026-02-02