MDPI - Publisher of Open Access Journals

14 pages, 1740 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Deep Learning Pricing of Processing Firms in Agricultural Markets

by Hamed Khalili

Agriculture 2024, 14(5), 712; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14050712 - 30 Apr 2024

Viewed by 1567

The pricing behavior of agricultural processing firms in input markets has large impacts on farmers’ and processors’ prosperity as well as the overall market structure. Despite analytical approaches to food processors’ pricing in agricultural input markets, the need for models to represent complex market features is urgent. Agent-based models (ABMs) serve as computational laboratories to understand complex markets emerging from autonomously interacting agents. Yet, individual agents within ABMs must be equipped with intelligent learning algorithms. In this paper, we propose supervised and unsupervised learning agents to simulate the pricing behavior of firms in agricultural markets’ ABMs. Supervised learning firms are pre-trained to accurately best respond to their competitors and are deemed to result in the market Nash equilibria. Unsupervised learning firms play a course of pricing interaction with their competitors without any pre-knowledge but based on deep reinforcement learning. The simulation results show that unsupervised deep learning firms are capable of approximating the pricing equilibria obtained by the supervised firms in different spatial market settings. Optimal discriminatory and uniform delivery pricing emerges in agricultural input markets with the high and intermediary importance placed on space. Free on board pricing emerges in agricultural input markets with small importance placed on space. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Markets and Agrifood Supply Chains)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 3903 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Competitive Conditions in Global Value Chain Networks: An Assessment Using Entropy and Network Analysis

by Georgios Angelidis, Evangelos Ioannidis, Georgios Makris, Ioannis Antoniou and Nikos Varsakelis

Entropy 2020, 22(10), 1068; https://doi.org/10.3390/e22101068 - 23 Sep 2020

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 4573

Abstract

We investigated competitive conditions in global value chains (GVCs) for a period of fifteen years (2000–2014), focusing on sector structure, countries’ dominance and diversification. For this purpose, we used data from the World Input–Output Database (WIOD) and examined GVCs as weighted directed networks, where countries are the nodes and value added flows are the edges. We compared the in-and out-weighted degree centralization of the sectoral GVC networks in order to detect the most centralized, on the import or export side, respectively (oligopsonies and oligopolies). Moreover, we examined the in- and out-weighted degree centrality and the in- and out-weight entropy in order to determine whether dominant countries are also diversified. The empirical results reveal that diversification (entropy) and dominance (degree) are not correlated. Dominant countries (rich) become more dominant (richer). Diversification is not conditioned by competitiveness. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Information Theory and Economic Network)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

22 pages, 279 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Detecting Market Power Along Food Supply Chains: Evidence and Methodological Insights from the Fluid Milk Sector in Italy

by Daniele Cavicchioli

Agriculture 2018, 8(12), 191; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture8120191 - 5 Dec 2018

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 4315

Abstract

Concerns about the functioning of food supply chains have been raised by the European Commission over past years, calling for more effective and coordinated action by National Competition Authorities (NCAs). To fill this knowledge gap, an equilibrium displacement model is used to screen conduct along the supply chain, combining the advantages of asymmetric price transmission (APT) studies and structural models. The test was carried out on the Italian fluid milk supply chain following market monitoring action by the NCA. Three periods (1996–2003; 2000–2008 and 1996–2008) have been examined, finding imperfect competition over 1996–2008 and 2000–2008, while no conclusions may be drawn over the time span 1996–2003. In the testing process, the model’s peculiarities and certain limitations emerged, and related suggestions for its improvement are discussed. This approach may be used as a preliminary “fast” test for competition policy screening, as a complement to other methodologies. However, further theoretical and empirical model validation is necessary. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Relation between Agriculture, Environment Impact and Environmental Policies)

Search Results (3)

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI

Saved Queries

Search Filter Reset All

Years

Feature Papers

Subjects

Journals

Article Types

Countries / Regions

Search Results (3)

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI