The Role of Staple Food Prices in Deforestation: Evidence from Cambodia
研究了主食（大米）价格冲击如何通过多种渠道导致森林砍伐，利用柬埔寨数据和工具变量方法发现大米价格波动解释了该国近期大部分森林砍伐，对理解农业价格与环境的关系有重要意义。
<h3>Abstract</h3> Research on agricultural prices and deforestation has mostly focused on cash crops and export-oriented commodities. We develop a theoretical framework to illustrate how a staple food price shock can lead to deforestation through various channels. We explore our theoretical predictions with data from Cambodia and employ a shift-share instrumental variables strategy. We find that shocks to the price of rice explain most of Cambodia’s recent deforestation. To shed light on mechanisms, we use household data to study land use behavior and welfare. Our findings suggest that staple food prices have a more important role in driving deforestation than previously thought.