The Behavioral Revolution in Agricultural and Resource Economics: A Perspective on the Past and the Future
Date
2025-12-15
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics (JARE)
Abstract
This paper traces the past 50 years of evolution of behavioral economics within agricultural and resource economics, documenting how applied economistsÕ empirical observations of farmer behavior, environmental valuation anomalies, and food choice patterns contributed foundational insights to behavioral theory. The fieldÕs practical orientation led to early identification of key anomalies, including the endowment effect, adoption patterns, peer effects, other-regarding behavior and stigma effects. Through analysis of publication trends across five leading journals, we demonstrate steady growth in behavioral research. Finally, we examine institutional developments, including specialized research centers and policy applications, while acknowledging ongoing challenges regarding replication, external validity, and the limitations of nudge interventions, which provides fertile grounds for future research.
Description
This article was originally published in Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics. The version of record is available at: https://doi.org/10.22004/ag.econ.369144
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Keywords
experimental economics, food choice, publication trends, technology adoption
Citation
Just, David R.; Messer, Kent D., The Behavioral Revolution in Agricultural and Resource Economics: A Perspective on the Past and the Future, Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Volume 50, Issue 4, December 2025, Pages 804-829 https://doi.org/10.22004/ag.econ.369144