Reading some interesting discussion about the local foods movement, pro and cons. An article where economists discuss some of the issues with over-doing it, based on well recognized economic principles http://www.econlib.org/library/Columns/y2011/LuskNorwoodlocavore.html
And another study that counters that to some extent. I have not read the book yet but intend to download it. http://www.communityfoodenterprise.org/news/test
What strikes me right away is that the economists in the first model have not included self-sufficiency as an economic factor. What happens to Esther’s food supply if Boston is hit by a tsunami? Therefore, what is the ongoing economic value to Esther of her local (say West of 128 belt) sources that could still provide her with locally grown food when the regional transportation system was crippled. What should she be willing to pay over the cost of comparable food, shipped from a distance. Especially the farm that’s within walking distance. Even more so, when we put a dollar value on the produce from our own gardens or greenhouses, how do we factor this in?
This is fascinating to me because I have to grapple on a daily basis with the fact that we often don’t factor risk into econimic and business decisions. Information system security adds costs, I hear. But not if the worst happens. Then it saves money. Security analysts work with risk assessments that try to factor in the probability and impact of that “worst” to include appropriate costs/spending for prevention or mitigation. It can be a hard sell.
Thank you to the web site http://www.biofortified.org/ for presenting multiple viewpoints on this and other issues related to our food supply.
I can think of at least two reasons for buying locally, neither of which would fall out of a purely economic justification. Buying locally helps to sustain a healthier local farming/gardening culture – if we don’t buy locally, local people aren’t going to grow and sell. The economist would say a dollar doesn’t know or care whether it is exchanged for a local tomato or a Brazilian tomato. But I might. And, if for instance I really want to be able to buy Brandywine tomatoes, I have a much better chance of convincing Steve down the road to grow them than I would Pacific Tomato Growers.
Good points. And some things just don’t take to being shipped.