Suchergebnisse

AbstractHow does a social welfare program affect farmland use? This paper addresses this question by investigating the causal effect that a farmer's pension program has on the amount of land enrolled in a farmland set‐aside program by using a unique dataset in Taiwan as an illustration. The dataset was constructed by compiling administrative profiles of a farmland set‐aside program and a farmer's pension program in 2010. The final sample consists of 852,375 parcels of the set‐aside land, and the regression discontinuity design model was estimated to cope with the endogeneity bias. Although the social welfare program and the farmland use program have different policy objectives, our empirical results indicate a significant interaction between these two programs. Landowners who received pension payments enrolled 14% more land into the farmland set‐aside program than those who received no such payments. In term of policy relevance, our results suggest that a more effective farm safety net can be achieved by considering the interaction between the social welfare and farm production program.

AbstractLonger life expectancy and declining birth rates have contributed to an aging population in many countries. This paper addresses the relationship between mental health and employment status among the elderly in Taiwan. A simultaneous equation system is developed that accommodates the discrete and censored nature of the two endogenous variables. Using data from a nationwide survey of the elderly in Taiwan, we find that older adults with mental illness are less likely to work, while those currently working are less prone to mental illness compared to their unemployed cohort.

Direct marketing from farm producers to consumers has been seen as a viable business option to increase farm income. This study investigates the factors that determine a farm's direct marketing decisions; special attention is paid to understanding the correlation between farm couples' off‐farm labor participation and the farm's adoption of direct marketing strategies. A nationally representative dataset of 3,670 married family farm couples in Taiwan is used as an illustration. A multiple choice treatment effect model is estimated to cope with endogeneity bias. The results indicate a significant association between farm couples' off‐farm labor decisions and the farm's adoption of direct marketing strategies. Moreover, gender difference is evident: farm husband's (wife's) off‐farm work is positively (negatively) associated with the farm's direct marketing decision.

Childhood obesity is rising in Taiwan and is becoming a major public health issue. This article examines the effect of children's TV viewing and fast‐food consumption on childhood obesity. Using a nationwide survey data in Taiwan and a two‐step estimation procedure, our results show that TV viewing hours and fast‐food consumption are correlated. After controlling for the endogeneity, we find these two activities positively contribute to children's body weight and the increased risk of being overweight. Results suggest that public health/childhood obesity programs should educate parents of the critical influence of TV viewing and fast‐food consumption on childhood obesity. The government can also encourage the fast‐food industry to develop and sell healthier foods for children and provide point of sale nutritional information of these products. (JEL I12, I18)