A review of data linkages for policy-informing research in food and agricultural economics
Persistent URL
Author(s)
Chenarides, Lauren
Hanks, Andrew S.
Berard, Jake
Carlson, Andrea C.
Davis, George
Finaret, Amelia B.
Allegheny College
Date Issued
November 19, 2025
Abstract
Researchers commonly use linked data as an empirical tool because information relevant to answer policy questions is often dispersed across multiple sources. To understand how linked data are used in food and agricultural economics research, we conducted a systematic review of 104 peer-reviewed articles, published between 2000 and 2020, in which authors combine data sources to conduct their intended analyses. With our sample of papers, we classify types of data used, describe linkage methods, and summarize empirical approaches. Results show that most studies use public data, and many apply causal methods to examine food policy questions. These patterns highlight the value of public data and the role of linked datasets in food and agricultural economics research. Continued investment in data access, infrastructure, and shared practices for managing and analyzing integrated datasets can strengthen and expand the use of linked data in future research.
Journal
Food Policy
Citation
Chenarides, Lauren, Andrew S. Hanks, Jake Berard, Andrea C. Carlson, George Davis, and Amelia B. Finaret, "A Review of Data Linkages for Policy-Informing Research in Food and Agricultural Economics," Food Policy 137,(2025), doi:10.1016/j.foodpol.2025.102996. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306919225002015.
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Version of Article
Version of Record
DOI
10.1016/j.foodpol.2025.102996
ISSN
0306-9192
1873-5657
Rights
© 2025 Elsevier Ltd. All rights are reserved, including those for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies
Type of Publication
Journal article
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2025_Finaret_Reviewof.pdf
Size
1.92 MB
Format
Adobe PDF
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