Thesis
The economic impact of potato production and processing in Washington State
Master of Arts (MA), Washington State University
2005
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/326
Abstract
The potato industry is a large part of the agricultural base in Washington State and the Columbia Basin area of Oregon. Potato production and processing activities purchase some of their inputs from other local industries. The employees of potato farms and processing plants spend part of their income on local goods and services. These purchases magnify the total economic impact of potatoes on the regional economy. The goal of this thesis is to accurately estimate the potato’s economic impacts on the Washington economy. Using IMPLAN Input-Output software, a customized model of the WashingtonCB area’s economy is constructed for the year 2003. The model focuses on the potato industry in more detail than possible with an ordinary IMPLAN model. Instructions for IMPLAN modification are included to explain the customization process. Data from the model show that the 2003 Washington-CB potato crop, worth $577 million, is manufactured into $1,626 million of potato products. The potato producing and processing industry employs 9,114 people in the study area, with 5,907 of them employed in the frozen potato sector. Results from the impact analysis show that the Washington-CB area exports $1,402 million worth of potatoes and potato products in 2003. The regional effects of these foreign and domestic exports are measured in terms of Output (Sales) at $3,480 million in sales; Value Added at $1,374 million; and Employment at 20,703 jobs. The largest non-potato benefactor from exports is Motor Freight and Transportation at $286 million in sales and 2,359 in jobs.
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Details
- Title
- The economic impact of potato production and processing in Washington State
- Creators
- Nick John Beleiciks
- Contributors
- David Holland (Degree Supervisor)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Economic Sciences, School of
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Arts (MA), Washington State University
- Identifiers
- 99900525011001842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Thesis