ACKNOWLEDGMENTS


 To acknowledge all who have assisted in my graduate career would be

an impossible task. I wish to express my appreciation and thanks to my

many unrecognized colleagues.

 My greatest debt of gratitude is to my wife, Keri, whose patience,

support and love carried me through many trying times.

 Fred Prochaska served not only as chairman of the supervisory

committee, but also as a close friend. His insight has enhanced my

ability as an economist. Jim Cato gave freely of his time in providing

an excellent critique of this dissertation which greatly improved the

final draft. I also wish to thank the other members of my supervisory

committee, Tom Spreen, John Reynolds and Bill Seaman, for their many

contributions to this study. To many of my fellow students who provided

help and friendship during my tenure as a graduate student, I wish to

say thanks.

 I also wish to thank Leo Polopolus, Chairman of the Food and

Resource Economics Department of the University of Florida, and George

Maddala, Director of the Center for Econometrics and Decision Sciences,

for providing financial assistance during my graduate career.

 I am also greatly indebted to Leigh Parsons and Janet Eldred for

their help in the seemingly impossible task of typing and putting this

dissertation into its present form.


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