The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the debate over agricultural trade and the environment by asking: Does a Japan-Korea FTA (JKFTA) increase nitrogen pollution from agriculture? In order to contribute to answering the above research question, we measure the potential impact of nitrogen pollution from agriculture caused by agricultural trade liberalization under the JKFTA, using the Global Trade Analysis Project (GTAP) model and the OECD Nitrogen Balance Database. The scenario we model assumes the complete removal of all import tariffs between Japan and Korea, not only in the agricultural sector but in non-agricultural sectors as well. The results show the JK-FTA is likely to lead to an overall increase in the total nitrogen surplus for Japan and Korea. Therefore, our results suggest that a JKFTA increases the potential nitrogen pollution from agriculture.

View full abstract

The production and utilization of biofuels is promoted in many countries and regions, with Brazil and the USA being the two main bioethanol producing countries. It is estimated that both markets will expand as a result of their biofuel programs. Our study is the first to evaluate how expansion of FFV utilization in Brazil and the U.S. biofuel policy amendment will impact the world bioethanol, sugar, and corn markets. We utilize a world bioethanol market model which is linked to the world sugar and corn markets models. As a result of our econometric analysis, we conclude that both the expansion of Brazilian FFV utilization and the U.S. biofuel policy amendment are predicted to impact not only the bioethanol market but also the world corn and sugar markets.

View full abstract

The discussion of the low wage problem has a long history, and there are a huge number of studies even if we were to consider only those that pertain to non-farming wages. Therefore, it is hard to trace all the discussion that has taken place. The aim of this article is to give an overview of the studies on the low non-farming wage problem. In addition, this article also introduces, based on data from the newest study, a fresh and relevant discussion of the low wage problem as it stands today. An overview of the actual wage levels indicate that non-farming wages of males meet their family budgets in the urbanized region, but fall to half these levels in the farming-oriented region. The outline of our discussion indicates that the family factor was paid more attention to in order to explain the low wage levels in the later discussions; moreover, the latest study points out that the different family norms have bond with the wage difference.

View full abstract