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Measuring the Quality of Imported Tobacco

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 April 2015

George C. Davis
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural Economics, Texas A&M University
William J. Hewitt
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology, the University of Tennessee

Abstract

Domestic tobacco producers have faced increasing competition from imported tobacco since the late 1970s. Much of the debate has centered on the unknown quality of imported tobacco. This study provides a discussion and clarification of the concept of quality, and demonstrates a method of measuring the average quality of imported tobacco. The results show that since 1977, imported tobacco has been steadily decreasing in average quality and moving toward lower quality producing countries and types of tobacco. The reasons for this decline are discussed along with the policy implications.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Southern Agricultural Economics Association 1996

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