Bayesian Herders: Asymmetric Updating of Rainfall Beliefs in Response to External Forecasts

Cornell University Applied Economics & Management Working Paper No. 2003-17

31 Pages Posted: 10 Sep 2003

See all articles by Travis J. Lybbert

Travis J. Lybbert

University of California, Davis

Christopher B. Barrett

Cornell University - Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics & Management

John G. McPeak

Syracuse University - Department of Economics

Winnie Luseno

RTI International

Date Written: July 2004

Abstract

Temporal climate risk weighs heavily on many of the world's poor. Model-based climate forecasts could benefit such populations, provided recipients use forecast information to update climate expectations. We test whether pastoralists in southern Ethiopia and northern Kenya update their expectations in response to forecast information and find that they indeed do, albeit with a systematic bias towards optimism. In their systematic optimism, these pastoralists are remarkably like Wall Street's financial analysts and stockbrokers. If climate forecasts have limited value to these pastoralists, it is due to the flexibility of their livelihood rather than an inability to process forecast information.

JEL Classification: O1, D1, Q12

Suggested Citation

Lybbert, Travis J. and Barrett, Christopher B. and McPeak, John G. and Luseno, Winnie, Bayesian Herders: Asymmetric Updating of Rainfall Beliefs in Response to External Forecasts (July 2004). Cornell University Applied Economics & Management Working Paper No. 2003-17, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=431241 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.431241

Travis J. Lybbert

University of California, Davis ( email )

Christopher B. Barrett (Contact Author)

Cornell University - Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics & Management ( email )

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John G. McPeak

Syracuse University - Department of Economics ( email )

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Winnie Luseno

RTI International ( email )

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