Degree Type

Dissertation

Date of Award

1988

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Department

Economics

First Advisor

Stanley R. Johnson

Abstract

This study analyzes the implications of heterogeneous quality in the international wheat market, and attempts to explain the decline in U.S. wheat exports between 1980-1986. Theoretical models are used to determine the effects of heterogeneous quality on the behavior of importers and exporters. Two approaches are used to model quality. The characteristic approach is used in Chapters Three, Four, and Five. Chapter Six is based on the assumption that importers have a reservation quality level or threshold. The former approach is adequate to investigate the effects of changes in characteristics such as the percentage of foreign material or dockage, while the latter approach better suits the specific nature of characteristics such as protein content;The effects of deterministic changes in quality and of quality uncertainty on consumption and production decisions are analyzed. When importers do not have full information about quality at the time of purchase, they use the reputation of the firm to make their decision. The reputation of the firm is modeled using two approaches. In addition, different types of trade barriers are compared when importers are assumed to have a reservation level of quality.

DOI

https://doi.org/10.31274/rtd-180813-9309

Publisher

Digital Repository @ Iowa State University, http://lib.dr.iastate.edu/

Copyright Owner

Bruno Larue

Language

en

Proquest ID

AAI8825411

File Format

application/pdf

File Size

217 pages

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