Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Introduction

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Book cover Farm-Level Microsimulation Modelling

  • 336 Accesses

Abstract

Agriculture in OECD countries is one of the most regulated industries, most heavily dependent upon political expenditures and special tax codes, with a complex mix of market and non-market outputs. There is very significant heterogeneity amongst farmers from small-scale hobby producers with off-farm income sources, to very poor low-income farmers, to highly mechanised, large-scale operations. There is stakeholder interest, for information in relation to the ex-ante impact of market and policy changes across the distribution of farms and across the dimensions discussed above, including spatial and temporal. Microsimulation modelling is a simulation-based tool with a micro-unit of analysis that can be used for ex-ante analysis. It is a micro-based methodology, utilising micro-units of analysis, simulating the impact of public policy, economic or social changes. This chapter presents the context and justification of the book. It places farm-level microsimulation within the wider farm-level modelling field, defining overlaps and differentiation.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 99.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Aaberge, R., & Colombino, U. (2014). Labour supply models. In Handbook of microsimulation modelling (pp. 167–221). Bingley: Emerald Group Publishing Limited.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ballas, D., Clarke, G. P., & Wiemers, E. (2006). Spatial microsimulation for rural policy analysis in Ireland: The implications of CAP reforms for the national spatial strategy. Journal of Rural Studies, 22(3), 367–378.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Behan, J., Carroll, J., Hennessy, T., Keeney, M., Newman, C., O’Brien, M., et al. (2007). An Examination of the contribution of off-farm income to the viability and sustainability of farm households and the productivity of farm businesses. Carlow: Teagasc, Irish Agriculture and Food Development Authority.

    Google Scholar 

  • Berntsen, J., Petersen, B., Jacobsen, B., Olesen, J., & Hutchings, N. (2003). Evaluating nitrogen taxation scenarios using the dynamic whole farm simulation model FASSET. Agricultural Systems, 76(3), 817–839.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Burlacu, I., O’Donoghue, C., & Sologon, D. M. (2014). Hypothetical models. In C. O’Donoghue (Ed.), Handbook of microsimulation modelling. Bingley: Emerald Group Publishing Limited.

    Google Scholar 

  • Buslei, H., Bach, S., & Simmler, M. (2014). Firm level models☆ Specifically Firm Models based upon large data sets. In Handbook of microsimulation modelling (pp. 479–503). Bingley: Emerald Group Publishing Limited.

    Google Scholar 

  • Callan, T., O’Donoghue, C., & O’Neill, C. (1996). Simulating welfare and income tax changes: The ESRI tax-benefit model. Dublin: Economic and Social Research Institute.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ciaian, P., Espinosa, M., Gomez y Paloma, S., Heckelei, T., Langrell, S., Louhichi, K., et al. (2013). Farm level modelling of CAP: A methodological overview. European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Institute for Prospective Technological Studies.

    Google Scholar 

  • Doole, G. J. (2012). Cost-effective policies for improving water quality by reducing nitrate emissions from diverse dairy farms: An abatement–cost perspective. Agricultural Water Management, 104, 10–20.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hemme, T., Deblitz, C., Isermeyer, F., Knutson, R., & Anderson, D. (2000). The International Farm Comparison Network (IFCN)-objectives, organisation and first results on international competitiveness of dairy production. Züchtungskunde, 72(6), 428–439.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hemme, T., Uddin, M. M., & Ndambi, O. A. (2014). Benchmarking cost of milk production in 46 countries. Journal of Reviews on Global Economics, 3, 254–270.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hermes, K., & Poulsen, M. (2012). A review of current methods to generate synthetic spatial microdata using reweighting and future directions. Computers, Environment and Urban Systems, 36(4), 281–290.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hynes, S., Farrelly, N., Murphy, E., & O’Donoghue, C. (2008). Modelling habitat conservation and participation in agri-environmental schemes: A spatial microsimulation approach. Ecological Economics, 66(2), 258–269.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hynes, S., & Garvey, E. (2009). Modelling farmers’ participation in agri-environmental schemes using panel data: An application to the rural environmental protection scheme in Ireland. Journal of Agricultural Economics, 60(3), 546–562.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hynes, S., Morrissey, K., O’Donoghue, C., & Clarke, G. (2009). Building a static farm level spatial microsimulation model for rural development and agricultural policy analysis in Ireland. International Journal of Agricultural Resources, Governance and Ecology, 8(2), 282–299.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lau, K. H., & Kam, B. H. (2005). A cellular automata model for urban land-use simulation. Environment and Planning B: Planning and Design, 32(2), 247–263.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li, J., & O’Donoghue, C. (2013). A survey of dynamic microsimulation models: Uses, model structure and methodology. International Journal of Microsimulation, 6(2), 3–55.

    Google Scholar 

  • Louhichi, K., Ciaian, P., Espinosa, M., Colen, L., Perni, A., & Gomez y Paloma, S. (2015). An EU-wide individual farm model for common agricultural policy analysis (IFM-CAP): First application to crop diversification policy. JRC Science and Policy Report 2015, JRC, Séville.

    Google Scholar 

  • Louhichi, K., Kanellopoulos, A., Janssen, S., Flichman, G., Blanco, M., Hengsdijk, H., et al. (2010). FSSIM, a bio-economic farm model for simulating the response of EU farming systems to agricultural and environmental policies. Agricultural Systems, 103(8), 585–597.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miller, E. J., & Salvini, P. A. (2001). The integrated land use, transportation, environment (ILUTE) microsimulation modelling system: Description and current status. Travel Behaviour Research: The Leading Edge, 711–724.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mishra, A. K., & Goodwin, B. K. (1997). Farm income variability and the supply of off-farm labor. American Journal of Agricultural Economics, 79(3), 880–887.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • O’Donoghue, C. (2013). Modelling farm viability. In C. O’Donoghue, S. Hynes, K. Morrissey, D. Ballas, & G. Clarke (Eds.), Spatial microsimulation for rural policy analysis. Advances in Spatial Science. Berlin: Springer-Verlag.

    Google Scholar 

  • O’Donoghue C., Hynes, S., Morrissey, K., Ballas, D., & Clarke, G. (2013). Spatial microsimulation for rural policy analysis. Advances in Spatial Science. Berlin: Springer-Verlag.

    Google Scholar 

  • O’Donoghue, C. (2014). Handbook of microsimulation modelling. Bingley: Emerald Group Publishing Limited.

    Google Scholar 

  • Offermann, F., Kleinhanss, W., Huettel, S., & Kuepker, B. (2005, February). Assessing the 2003 CAP reform impacts on German agriculture using the farm group model FARMIS. In Modelling Agricultural Policies: State of the Art and New Challenges. Proceedings of the 89th European Seminar of the EAAE, Parma, Italy (pp. 546–564).

    Google Scholar 

  • Orcutt, G. H. (1957). A new type of socio-economic system. The Review of Economics and Statistics, 39(2), 116–123.

    Google Scholar 

  • Orcutt, G. H. (1960). Simulation of economic systems. The American Economic Review, 50(5), 894–907.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ramilan, T., Scrimgeour, F., & Marsh, D. (2011). Analysis of environmental and economic efficiency using a farm population micro-simulation model. Mathematics and Computers in Simulation, 81(7), 1344–1352.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Richardson, J. W., Hennessy, T., & O’Donoghue, C. (2014). Farm level models. In Handbook of microsimulation modelling (pp. 505–534). Bingley: Emerald Group Publishing Limited.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ryan, M., O’Donoghue, C., & Upton, V. (2014). Land use change from agriculture to forestry: A structural model of the income and leisure choices of farmers. Ljubljana, Slovenia: European Association of Agricultural Economists.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ryan, M., O’Donoghue, C., & Phillips, H. (2015). Modelling financially optimal afforestation and forest management scenarios using a bio-economic model. Open Journal of Forestry, 6(1), 19.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shrestha, S., Hennessy, T., & Hynes, S. (2007). The effect of decoupling on farming in Ireland: A regional analysis. Irish Journal of Agricultural & Food Research, 46(1).

    Google Scholar 

  • Shrestha, S., Barnes, A., & Ahmadi, B. V. (Eds.). (2016). Farm-level modelling: Techniques, applications and policy. CABI.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sutherland, H., & Figari, F. (2013). EUROMOD: The European Union tax-benefit microsimulation model. International Journal of Microsimulation, 6(1), 4–26.

    Google Scholar 

  • van Leeuwen, E. S. (2010). Microsimulation of rural households. In Urban-rural interactions (pp. 115–135). Heidelberg: Physica-Verlag.

    Google Scholar 

  • van Leeuwen, E., & Dekkers, J. (2013). Determinants of off-farm income and its local patterns: A spatial microsimulation of Dutch farmers. Journal of Rural Studies, 31, 55–66.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Van Soest, A. (1995). Structural models of family labor supply: A discrete choice approach. Journal of Human Resources, 30(1), 63–88.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Rural Economy and Development Programme, Athenry, Galway, Ireland

    Cathal O’Donoghue

Authors
  1. Cathal O’Donoghue
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Cathal O’Donoghue .

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2017 The Author(s)

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

O’Donoghue, C. (2017). Introduction. In: Farm-Level Microsimulation Modelling. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-63979-6_1

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-63979-6_1

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-63978-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-63979-6

  • eBook Packages: Economics and FinanceEconomics and Finance (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation