ECON 4925 Autumn 2006 Resource Economics Forestry economics

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ECON 4925 Autumn 2006 Resource Economics Forestry economics Lecturer: Finn R. Førsund Forestry economics

ECON 4925 Autumn 2006 Resource Economics Forestry economics Lecturer: Finn R. Førsund Forestry economics 1

Assumptions n n Perfect capital and land markets All prices known and constant over

Assumptions n n Perfect capital and land markets All prices known and constant over time, including rate of interest, price of timber independent of age of tree The biological growth function known and deterministic Homogenous forest, same age Forestry economics 2

Optimal rotation period n The biological growth function, point input point output q q

Optimal rotation period n The biological growth function, point input point output q q q St+T = volume of timber at time T planted at time t N = inputs during growth period from t to T, thinning, etc. A = area occupied during period t to T Forestry economics 3

Classic forestry rule: Maximum sustainable yield n Gross yield per year: f(T)/T n Cutting

Classic forestry rule: Maximum sustainable yield n Gross yield per year: f(T)/T n Cutting time, Tg, for max gross yield per year is found by equating marginal growth with average timber volume per year Forestry economics 4

Maximum sustainable yield, cont. n Net yield per year: (pf(T) - k) / T,

Maximum sustainable yield, cont. n Net yield per year: (pf(T) - k) / T, k= planting costs, price p net of cutting costs n Cutting time, Tn, for max net yield per year is found by equating marginal growth with average timber volume per year subtracted average wages measured in timber. Forestry economics 5

One rotation period: Jevon’s rule n Cutting time, T 1, for max one period

One rotation period: Jevon’s rule n Cutting time, T 1, for max one period yield is found by equating marginal growth with rate of interest multiplied with total timber volume, i. e. marginal growth equal to the interest on felling timber measured in timber units. Forestry economics 6

Internal rate of return n Definition of internal rate of return n Maximisation of

Internal rate of return n Definition of internal rate of return n Maximisation of internal rate of return Forestry economics 7

Faustmann’s rule n Present value of ongoing timber production, i. e. replanting on the

Faustmann’s rule n Present value of ongoing timber production, i. e. replanting on the same land to infinity n Sum of infinite geometric series Forestry economics 8

Faustmann’s rule, cont. n Maximisation of present value, V, of rotation cycles to infinity

Faustmann’s rule, cont. n Maximisation of present value, V, of rotation cycles to infinity Forestry economics 9

Interpretation of Faustmann’s rule Value of marginal growth equal to interest on value of

Interpretation of Faustmann’s rule Value of marginal growth equal to interest on value of timber plus interest on value of land (i. e. rental land value) Growth rate greater than the rate of interest Forestry economics 10

Comparative static analysis n Connection between rotation periods: Ti < T 1 < Tg

Comparative static analysis n Connection between rotation periods: Ti < T 1 < Tg < Tn n Change in the discount rate, Faustmann’s rule: Differentiate the first order condition n Rotation time decreases (increases) with increasing (decreasing) rate of interest. Forestry economics 11