RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 “Land Sparing” in a von Thünen Framework: Theory and Evidence from Brazil
JF Land Economics
JO Land Econ
FD University of Wisconsin Press
SP 556
OP 576
DO 10.3368/le.94.4.556
VO 94
IS 4
A1 Fontes, Francisco
A1 Palmer, Charles
YR 2018
UL http://le.uwpress.org/content/94/4/556.abstract
AB This paper evaluates microscale evidence for “land sparing” in a von Thünen framework. A panel dataset of household lots in Rondônia, Brazil is used to test the hypothesis that the closer a household is to market the more likely it will adopt land-sparing patterns of cattle production in response to rising demand for beef and milk. Results from a fixed effects model suggest that, consistent with theory, pasture area declines and forest is spared in lots located closer to market. Other results differ, however, depending on forest type and commodity. Greater initial endowments of forest are associated with more deforestation. (JEL Q15, Q24)