World Perspectives

God Given Right

Expectations and reality do not always match. This is especially true in rich democracies where citizens expect their voices to be heard, or else. This dynamic works most of the time, for most people, but not always with rational results. German statistician Ernst Engel noted that what people spend on food relative to their total consumption outlays varies based on income. Food comprises a larger share of outlays for the poor. This is true across different countries. There is an informal moral obligation to food, but the poor and the rich consume different calories. There is a policy view that food should not be regressive – that poor and rich should have equal opportunities when it comes to food. Thus, some do not want to restrict the...

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Summary of Futures

May 26 Corn closed at $4.4575/bushel, down $0.0275 from yesterday's close.  May 26 Wheat closed at $5.7725/bushel, down $0.1425 from yesterday's close.  May 26 Soybeans closed at $11.64/bushel, down $0.0675 from yesterday's close.  May 26 Soymeal closed at $312.9/short ton, down...

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From WPI Consulting

Forecasting developments in production agriculture

On behalf of a private U.S. agricultural technology provider, WPI’s team generated an econometric model to forecast the movement of concentrated corn production north and west from the traditional U.S. Corn Belt. WPI’s model has subsequently provided quantitative support to a multi-million-dollar investment into short-season corn variety development. WPI’s methodology included a series of interviews with regional grain elevators and seed consultants. Emphasizing outreach and communication with stakeholders who possess intimate sectoral knowledge – on-the-ground insights – is a regular component of WPI’s methodologies, made possible by WPI’s ever-growing network of industry contacts.

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