A Regional and Industry Analysis of the Complexity of the Regulatory Environment Affecting Agricultural Producers in California

Sean P. Hurley, California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo
Jay E. Noel, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo

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Copyright © 2006 by Sean P. Hurley and Jay E. Noel. All rights reserved. Readers may make verbatim copies of this document for non commercial purposes by any means, provided that this copyright notice appears on all such copies.

Abstract

Regulations have been studied from many different vantage points in the past. Carter, Chalfont, and Goodhue (2002) have studied how a particular regulation will affect a particular crop, while Antle (2000) and Cash and Swoboda (2003) have investigated the effect of a regulation on an industry. Kaplan, Johansson, and Peters (2004) have investigated the marginal costs and benefits of regulations. Attempts have been made by the federal government to obtain the total cost of the regulatory environment (Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, 1997), while Hurley and Noel (2006) have attempted to develop a baseline cost of regulations for California agricultural producers. Quite a few studies have examined how regulations have affected productivity (Bynoe, 2004, Hazilla and Kopp, 1990; Christiansen and Haveman, 1981; Gray, 1987). Crain and Hopkins (2001) have examined which businesses bear the heaviest burden of a regulation. There are studies that have taken into consideration the issue of how regulatory policy affects competitiveness (Colyer, 2004; Metcalfe, 2002; Palmer, Oates, and Portney, 1995; Porter and van der Linde, 1995). Some studies have examined producers’ perceptions and attitudes towards regulations (Coppock, 1996; Esseks, Kraft, and McSpadden, 1998).