Uncertainty, risk aversion, and risk management for agricultural producers

GianCarlo Moschini () and David A. Hennessy

Chapter 02 in Handbook of Agricultural Economics, 2001, vol. 1, Part 1, pp 88-153 from Elsevier

Abstract: Uncertainty and risk are quintessential features of agricultural production. After a brief overview of the main sources of agricultural risk, we provide an exposition of expected utility theory and of the notion of risk aversion. This is followed by a basic analysis of agricultural production decisions under risk, including some comparative statics results from stylized models. Selected empirical topics are surveyed, with emphasis on risk analyses as they pertain to production decisions at the farm level. Risk management is then discussed, and a synthesis of hedging models is presented. We conclude with a detailed review of agricultural insurance, with emphasis on the moral hazard and adverse selection problems that arise in the context of crop insurance.

JEL-codes: Q00 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2001

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Related works:
Working Paper: Uncertainty, Risk Aversion, and Risk Management for Agricultural Producers (2002)
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