Networks, Power and Dependency in the Agrifood Industry

Department of Agricultural & Applied Economics Working Paper

38 Pages Posted: 13 Feb 2012 Last revised: 26 Sep 2013

See all articles by Harvey S. James, Jr.

Harvey S. James, Jr.

University of Missouri at Columbia - Division of Applied Social Sciences

Mary Hendrickson

University of Missouri at Columbia - Division of Applied Social Sciences

Philip H. Howard

Michigan State University

Date Written: February 1, 2012

Abstract

We review research on power, dependency and the concentration of agrifood industries and report updated concentration figures for selected agrifood sectors. We then utilize network exchange theory to identify principles of dependency and network relations and describe network relationships within the broiler, beef and commodity crop sectors. We argue that this study demonstrates that network analysis can inform on the nature, source and extent of differential dependencies and asymmetric power relationships within the agrifood sector.

Keywords: Network exchange theory, power, dependency, agrifood industry

JEL Classification: Q13, L66

Suggested Citation

James, Harvey S. and Hendrickson, Mary and Howard, Philip H., Networks, Power and Dependency in the Agrifood Industry (February 1, 2012). Department of Agricultural & Applied Economics Working Paper , Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2004496 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2004496

Harvey S. James (Contact Author)

University of Missouri at Columbia - Division of Applied Social Sciences ( email )

Columbia, MO
United States
573-884-9682 (Phone)

HOME PAGE: http://https://hsjames2.wordpress.com

Mary Hendrickson

University of Missouri at Columbia - Division of Applied Social Sciences ( email )

322 Mumford Hall
Columbia, MO 65211
United States
573-882-7463 (Phone)

HOME PAGE: http://maryhendrickson.wordpress.com

Philip H. Howard

Michigan State University ( email )

316 Natural Resources
East Lansing, MI 48824
United States

HOME PAGE: http://www.msu.edu/~howardp

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