1,721,194 research outputs found
Assessing environmental management in agriculture
Full text linkThis paper incorporates interdisciplinary New Institutional Economics and suggests a holistic framework for assessing the forms and efficiency of environmental management in agriculture. First, it defines environmental management as a specific system of social order regulating behaviour and relations of various agents related to natural environment, and environmental management in agriculture as eco-management associated with agricultural production. Second, it specifies spectrum of modes and mechanisms of eco-management comprising: institutional environment, market, private, collective, public and hybrid. Third, it suggests stages in analysis and improvement of environmental management in agriculture including: identification of problems, and risks associated with natural environment; assessment of efficiency of available and feasible modes, and specifying cases of market, private, and public failures; assessment of comparative efficiency of alternative modes for new public intervention and selection of the most efficient one(s). Forth, it classifies personal, institutional, technological, natural, and transaction costs factors of management choice. Finally, it builds a principle governance matrix with the most effective market, private, and public modes taking into account the critical dimensions of eco-activity and transactions (appropriability, assets specificity, uncertainty and frequency), and their potential to coordinate and stimulate eco-activities, meet preferences and reconcile conflicts of individuals, protect eco-rights and investments, overcome uncertainty and risk, assure socially desirable level of environmental protection, and minimize overall (implementing, third-party and transacting) costs.environmental and natural resources governance; institutions, market, private, public and hybrid modes; agriculture
Governing of agro-ecosystem services - modes, efficiency, perspectives
Full text linkIn this study we incorporate interdisciplinary New Institutional and Transaction Costs Economics (combining Economics, Organization, Law, Sociology, Behavioral and Political Sciences), and suggest a new framework for analysis of mechanisms of governance of agro-ecosystem services. The first part it discusses the modern concepts and the economics of agro-ecosystem services. After that, it presents a framework for analysis and improvement of the governance of agro-ecosystem services. This new approach takes into account: the role of the specific institutional environment; and the behavioral characteristics of individual agents; and the transaction costs associated with the various forms of governance; and the critical factors of agrarian activity and exchanges; and the comparative efficiency of market, private, public and hybrid modes; and the comparative efficiency of alternative modes for public intervention; and the complementarities between different modes and the needs for multilateral and multilevel governance; and the role of technological and ecological factors.
In the second part it identifies and evaluates the efficiency of market, private and public modes of environmental governance in Bulgarian agriculture. It depth analyses is made on structures for governing agro-ecosystems services in Zapadna Stara Planina, a mountainous region in the North-West part of the country. Assessment on prospects for evolution of environmental governance in the conditions of EU CAP implementation follows.
This book aims to give insights on modern understanding of environmental governance, and elaborate a holistic framework for analysis and improvement of the governance of agro-ecosystem services, and test this new approach in the transitional Bulgarian conditions. In addition, diverse (positive and negative) examples from different countries are widely used to support arguments of the author
Agrarian governance - the case of Bulgaria
No full textThe term governance is widely used in a number of scientific disciplines, as well as by international, state, business, non-governmental, etc. organizations. The interdisciplinary New Institutional Economics has contributed greatly to the modern understanding of the nature and factors of governance in general, and of governance in individual areas of social activity and levels of analysis – from the governance of individual transactions to the governance of global affairs. Almost ninety years after the “discovery” of transaction costs by Coase (1937) and the “reasons” for the existence of economic organizations of different types, today this “new” methodology is an integral part of the general (mainstream) economic theory and analysis. Of course, Williamson (1985) - in operationalizing this concept, and North (1991) - in revealing the role of institutions in economic development, significantly contributed to the development of the New Institutional Economics. Many other economists have also made a great contribution to the development of this new "branch" of economic science, which has been well summarized by Furubotn and Richter (2005) and Ménard and Shirley (2022).
The author of this study was among the first to adapt the achievements of the New Institutional Economics in the analysis of agrarian governance and institutional modernization in Bulgaria (Bachev, 1996) and elsewhere (Bachev, 1995). Over the past three decades, Bulgarian economists have made numerous publications with analyses of the forms, factors, effectiveness and evolution of the governance of the main types of agrarian transactions, farmer organizations, and levels of governance during the period of transformation, pre-accession and full membership of the country in the European Union (https://agro-governance.alle.bg/#). Here we would like to underline our close cooperation with the leading scholars in the institutional analysis of agrarian contracts and organizations from the University of Missouri in the USA, which began in 1992 and has been deepening to the present day. We are especially grateful to Michael Cook and Michael Sykuta for their training, inspiration, continuous support and long-term cooperation.
The paper presents the results of current research in the field of agrarian governance in Bulgaria. Without claiming to be comprehensive, it provides an idea of the Bulgarian experience in agrarian governance, and of the modest Bulgarian contribution to the implementation of the institutional analysis of the modes and mechanisms of agrarian governance.
First, a holistic approach to understanding and analysing agrarian governance is presented. Then, the economic role of agrarian contracts is revealed, their types are classified, and an approach to assessing their effectiveness is presented. This is followed by an assessment of the quality of the system of agrarian governance in Bulgaria at the present stage of development. Then, an analysis of the governance and contractual structures of major functional areas of Bulgarian farms is made. Then, the forms, factors and effectiveness of land and labour supplies in Bulgarian farms are identified. The identification of modes, factors and efficiency of the provision of ecosystem services by the Bulgarian farms follows. After that, the levels and evolution of governance efficiency of Bulgarian farms are evaluated. Then, a holistic assessment of the comparative and absolute competitiveness of Bulgarian farms is made. Finally, the state, evolution, efficiency and factors of governance of agricultural inclusion in sustainable wastewater management in Bulgaria are presented
Agricultural policies in Bulgaria in post Second World War years
Full text linkThis paper analyzes evolution, implementation and impacts of state agricultural policies in Bulgaria during post Second World War years now. Firstly, it presents agricultural policies development during 1950s and 1960s (post war nationalization, cooperation of peasants, central planning and price control, support to agriculture) and its impacts on farming modernization and improvement of peasants welfare. Second, it analyzes reforms in 1970s and 1980s (concentration of farming in large agro-industrial complexes, experimentations with “economic” mechanisms of governance) and their effects on agriculture. Third, it evaluates policies during post-communist transition and EU integration, and their consequences for agricultural development.State agricultural policies, impacts on agriculture, Post Second World War, Communist system, post-communist transition, Bulgaria
Governing of agrarian innovations
Full text linkThis paper adapts the principles of the new developing New Institutional and Transaction Cost Economics (integrating Economics, Organization, Law, Political and Behavioral Sciences) to the area of agrarian research and innovations. The major institutional, behavioral, dimensional, technological and transaction costs factors for governing research and innovation activities are determined. The specific market, private, public and hybrid modes for organization of agrarian innovations are specified. The effective boundaries of different governing modes are assessed, and needs and forms for public intervention in agrarian research and innovation are clarified.governance, agrarian research and innovation, research and innovation institutions, new institutional economics, public, private and hybrid organizations
Икономика на аграрните институции
Full text linkТази статия е част от три поредни статии, в които се адаптира ново развиващата се методология на Икономиката на транзакционните разходи към трансформиращото се селско стопанство. В статията аграрните институции са дефинирани като „правилата на играта”, които структурират поведението на аграрните агенти и предопределят икономическата резултатност. Аграрните организации са „участниците в играта” и форми за икономизиране на разходите за индивидуални транзакции. Транзакционните разходи са естествен резултат от разделението на труда в селското стопанство, и от „ограничената рационалност” и „тенденция за опортюнизъм” на аграрните агенти. Те са дефинирани като разходи за договаряне и за санкциониране на договорите във връзка с разнообразни (специфични, остатъчни, абсолютни, относителни) права на собственост, които индивидите притежават и разменят. Идентифицирани са различните разходи за мимолетна пазарно, класическо, неокласическо, релационно, вътрешно, колективно аграрно договаряне. Класифицирани са елементите на разходите за използване на пазара, и вътрешната организация, и за организационно и институционално развитие. Разкрита е ролята на технологията при минимизирането на транзакционите разходи. Икономическите граници на аграрните пазари и другите управленчески структури за организация са определени на базата на сравнителната ефективност на тези алтернативни форми за транзакция. Разпределението на аграрните транзакции между многообразните пазарни и непазарни управленчески форми са обяснени с потенциала на тези реално възможни договорни форми да икономизират разходите за транзакция. Определена е икономическата роля на държавата в условията на трансформация като ефективен участник в пазарните и частни транзакции. Прецизиран е критерия за включването на трета страна (държавата) в аграрните транзакции и за селекция на ефективните форми за държавна интервенция (подпомагане, регулация, държавно производство на обществени стоки и т.н.). Представен е ”измерителния проблем” за голяма част от транзакционните разходи в аграрната сфера. Отбелязана е необходимостта от оценяване на относителните разходи за транзакция чрез анализ на сравнителните предимства на алтернативните форми по отношение на координация, контролиране, и стимулиране. Предлага се да се замени маргиналния с дискретен структурен анализ, и използване на „отнасяне на различните транзакции към ефективните форми за управление”. Определени са взаимоотношенията между краткосрочните и дългосрочните разходи за транзакция чрез „логиката за откупуване” на капиталните инвестиции за развитие от икономиите на разходите на новите форми за транзакция. Класифицирани са разнообразните форми на „ограничена рационалност” и „опортюнизъм” на аграрните агенти в условията на трансформация. Посочени са примери от скорошното развитие в България за ефективен организационен отговор за минимизиране на „ограничената рационалност” на индивидите и за защита на транзакциите от възможен „опортюнизъм”
Икономически граници на фермата
Full text linkВ статията се използват анализът транзакционни разходи-права на собственост и се дефинират хоризонталните и вертикалните граници на фермата в условията на трансформация. Съществуването и границите на фермата за самозадоволяване се определят от високото равнище на пазарните транзакционни разходи и достъпа на домакинството до аграрни ресурси. В класическа еднолична ферма има единствен собственик на всички „остатъчни права” и силни стимули за управление на ресурсите съгласно пазарните критерии. Разширяването на фермата е ограничено от персоналните възможности за осъществяване на разнообразни специализирани дейности и управление на външни транзакции. Фамилната ферма има голям потенциал за експлоатиране на възможностите за вътрешно коопериране на ресурсите и специализация на труда с ниски вътрешни транзакционни разходи. Кооперирането на собственици на ресурси преодолява ограниченията за реализирането на икономии на размери и мащаби на специфичен капитал. То съдържа силни стимули за инвестиции тъй като всички членове на кооперацията да собственици на остатъчните права. Високите транзакционни разходи за „колективна работа” ограничават хоризонталното разширяване на размера на фермата чрез интеграция с конкурентите, като тя е ефективна за хомогенни и нетрудоемки производства. Разделянето на собствеността от управлението в производствените кооперации беше единствена форма за фермерска организация в условия на липса на пълни права върху аграрните активи и висока взаимназависимост на придобиваните индивидуални дялове. Повечето от производствените кооперативи не са устойчиви в дългосрочен план (висока информационна асиметрия и липса на механизми за ефективен контрол върху менажерите, нееднакви инвестиционни стимули и конфликт на интересите между различните членове, високи разходи за групово вземане на решения). Някои от съществуващите кооперативи трябва да ориентират дейността си към организиране на вертикални и специфични за индивидуалните членове транзакции (преодоляване на пазарната неопределеност, разделяне на риска, икономия на размери и мащаби на специфичен капитал). Друга част ще бъдат ориентирани към пазара и ще изискат форма на управление подобна на агрофирма (затворена корпорация). Освен това за да се икономизират транзакционни разходи (на размери и мащаби, симетрична зависимост на активите) или преодолеят сериозни транзакционни проблеми (монопол, липсващи пазари, едностранна зависимост), ще трябва да се използват специални вертикално интегрирани форми извън вратите на фермата (обвързани контракти, обща собственост, кооперация, сдружения за договаряне на цени, асоциации за лобиране). Чистата обществена ферма не е ефективна форма за организация (по отношение на потенциал за разходи и стимули) тъй като няма индивиди, притежаващи остатъчните права. Следователно трябва да се използват хибридни форми за обществена интервенция (подпомагане, регулации, финансиране, жоинт венчъри). В зависимост от атрибутите на аграрните транзакции ще бъдат най-ефективни или частното управление на обществени проекти или делегирането на обществени функции на фермерски организации нецелящи печалба
Identification of development strategy and intervention needs of AKIS in Bulgaria
Full text linkThe goal of this paper is to access the state, specify trends, compare with other EU states, and identify intervention needs of Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation System (AKIS) in Bulgaria, and assist policy formation for the next programing period. Modern scientific approaches of SWOT, Strategic Orientation, Gap Analysis, Comparative Institutional Analysis, etc. are used to identify actors and relations, trends in development, assess Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats, formulate adequate strategy, and specify overall and public intervention needs of AKIS in the country. Bulgarian AKIS demonstrates low resource endowment and efficiency, domination of outdated public institutions and undeveloped private sector, insufficient sharing of knowledge and innovations, slow and uneven application of modern technologies, varieties, production and management methods, digitalization, etc. in different type of farms, subsectors of agriculture and regions of the country. The list of specified AKIS needs is provided to government for taking a political decision about appropriate measures for public intervention. This study demonstrates that preparation of country’s RDP is (has to be) based of comprehensive scientific approach while research community proves that it can contribute to solving an important academic and practical problem
Governance of agrarian sustainability
Full text linkThis study presents a modern framework for understanding and improving agrarian sustainability and its governance. It incorporates the interdisciplinary New Institutional and Transaction Costs Economics (combining Economics, Organization, Law, Sociology, and Behavioral and Political Sciences), and suggests a new framework for analysis of mechanisms of governance of agrarian sustainability. Moreover, it discusses all available mechanisms affecting individual and collective actions for achieving economic, social, environmental, and intra and inter-generational goals of sustainable development including formal and informal institutions (“rules of the game”), "invisible hand of market" (market competition), individual initiatives (codes of behavior), contractual arrangements (private order), "visible hand of the manager” (fiat), collective decision-making (collective order), government intervention (public order), multinational actions (international order) and hybrid modes. The book provides effective tools for understanding, analyzing and improving public policies, business strategies, and individual and collective actions for sustainable development
Agrarian governance - the case of Bulgaria
No full textThe term governance is widely used in a number of scientific disciplines, as well as by international, state, business, non-governmental, etc. organizations. The interdisciplinary New Institutional Economics has contributed greatly to the modern understanding of the nature and factors of governance in general, and of governance in individual areas of social activity and levels of analysis – from the governance of individual transactions to the governance of global affairs. Almost ninety years after the “discovery” of transaction costs by Coase (1937) and the “reasons” for the existence of economic organizations of different types, today this “new” methodology is an integral part of the general (mainstream) economic theory and analysis. Of course, Williamson (1985) - in operationalizing this concept, and North (1991) - in revealing the role of institutions in economic development, significantly contributed to the development of the New Institutional Economics. Many other economists have also made a great contribution to the development of this new "branch" of economic science, which has been well summarized by Furubotn and Richter (2005) and Ménard and Shirley (2022).
The author of this study was among the first to adapt the achievements of the New Institutional Economics in the analysis of agrarian governance and institutional modernization in Bulgaria (Bachev, 1996) and elsewhere (Bachev, 1995). Over the past three decades, Bulgarian economists have made numerous publications with analyses of the forms, factors, effectiveness and evolution of the governance of the main types of agrarian transactions, farmer organizations, and levels of governance during the period of transformation, pre-accession and full membership of the country in the European Union (https://agro-governance.alle.bg/#). Here we would like to underline our close cooperation with the leading scholars in the institutional analysis of agrarian contracts and organizations from the University of Missouri in the USA, which began in 1992 and has been deepening to the present day. We are especially grateful to Michael Cook and Michael Sykuta for their training, inspiration, continuous support and long-term cooperation.
The paper presents the results of current research in the field of agrarian governance in Bulgaria. Without claiming to be comprehensive, it provides an idea of the Bulgarian experience in agrarian governance, and of the modest Bulgarian contribution to the implementation of the institutional analysis of the modes and mechanisms of agrarian governance.
First, a holistic approach to understanding and analysing agrarian governance is presented. Then, the economic role of agrarian contracts is revealed, their types are classified, and an approach to assessing their effectiveness is presented. This is followed by an assessment of the quality of the system of agrarian governance in Bulgaria at the present stage of development. Then, an analysis of the governance and contractual structures of major functional areas of Bulgarian farms is made. Then, the forms, factors and effectiveness of land and labour supplies in Bulgarian farms are identified. The identification of modes, factors and efficiency of the provision of ecosystem services by the Bulgarian farms follows. After that, the levels and evolution of governance efficiency of Bulgarian farms are evaluated. Then, a holistic assessment of the comparative and absolute competitiveness of Bulgarian farms is made. Finally, the state, evolution, efficiency and factors of governance of agricultural inclusion in sustainable wastewater management in Bulgaria are presented
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