About CID
About CID
CID People
CID People
CID Events
CID Events
Research
Research
Student Programs
Student Programs
Publications
Publications
Research Datasets
Research Datasets
Resources
Resources
CID Home
CID Home
About CID
About CID
Contact Information
Contact Information
Supporting CID
Supporting CID
CID Flyers & Brochure
CID Flyers & Brochure
CID In the News
CID In the News
Stay Informed
Stay Informed
Visitor Information
Visitor Information
CID Site Map
CID Site Map
CID Director
CID Director
CID Executive Director
CID Executive Director
Steering Committee
Steering Committee
Executive Committee
Executive Committee
Faculty Associates
Faculty Associates
Research Fellows & Associates
Research Fellows & Associates
CID Staff
CID Staff
KSG Directory
KSG Directory
Event Calendar
Event Calendar
CID Seminar Series
CID Seminar Series
Past Events
Past Events
Stay Informed
Stay Informed
Explore CID Research
Explore CID Research
Growth Lab
Growth Lab
Mexico Program
Mexico Program
Micro-Development
Micro-Development
Political Economy of Religion
Political Economy of Religion
Remittances & Migration
Remittances & Migration
Sustainability Science
Sustainability Science
Student Research Projects
Student Research Projects
Research Archive
Research Archive
Student Programs
Student Programs
Graduate Students
Graduate Students
Undergraduate Students
Undergraduate Students
ID Study Guide
ID Study Guide
Funding Opportunities
Funding Opportunities
MPA/ID Program
MPA/ID Program
Working Papers Series
Working Papers Series
Annual Brochure & Flyers
Annual Brochure
Affiliated Publications
Affiliated Publications
Publication Archive
Publication Archive
CID Datasets
CID Datasets
Online Datasets
Online Datasets
Data Products
Data Products
International Statistical Sites
International Statistical Sites
National Statistical Offices
National Statistical Offices
Other Internet Data Resources
Other Internet Data Resources
Useful Resources
Useful Resources
Global Trade Negotiations
Global Trade Negotiations
Bureau for Research and Economic Analysis of Development (BREAD)
Bureau for Research and Economic Analysis of Development (BREAD)
Quadir Prize
Quadir Prize
RISE-Pakistan
RISE-Pakistan
Job Opportunities at CID
About CID
About CID
About CID
CID Site Map
CID Site Map
Return to CID Home
Return to CID Home

CID Working Paper No. 096, October 2002

Small Producer Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon: Integrating Household Structure and Economic Circumstance in Behavioral Explanation

Marcellus Caldas, Robert Walker, and Stephen Perz

Abstract

This study examines the impact household structure and economic circumstances on deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon. It presents the results of an analysis conducted at property level, using both survey data and information derived from remote sensing. Regression analyses and spatial autocorrelation tests are given, following a theoretical development integrating notions of the household economy with von Thünen. The results from the empirical model indicate that social and demographic characteristics of households, as well as institutional and market factors, affect land use decisions. Thus, aggregate studies and spatially explicit models that do not include household information may be subject to specification bias.

Keywords: Brazilian Amazon, deforestation, remote sensing, behavioral modeling

JEL codes: C21, C31, D1, Q12, Q24

Download the paper in PDF format

_______________________________________________________________

Back to CID Working Papers page


Direct site comments or questions to CID's Webmaster.
Copyright © 2008 by the President and Fellows of Harvard College.