A TU M N 2 0 1 4 THIS EDITION OF THE CSAE NEWSLETTER PRESENTS research being undertaken as part of the Improving Institutions for Pro-poor Growth (IIG) research programme, funded by the UK Department for International Development. The current phase of the iiG studies the means by which firms and markets can foster growth and development. The programme is organized around a range of empirical re...

In northern Europe, replacing winter barley with winter wheat as the preceding crop for winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.; WOSR) often results in a delayed WOSR sowing and poor autumn growth. Based on data from a field experiment running in 2009/2010, 2010/2011, and 2012/2013, this study aims (i) to investigate how a delayed sowing method affects seed yield, N offtake with the seeds, and a...

Hamilton and Brown suggested that bright autumn coloration in trees is an energetically expensive and therefore honest (handicap) signal of defensive commitment against insects. If this is so, one should expect that the intensity of the proposed signal should depend strongly on tree health. However, to the best of our knowledge, the link between vigour and autumn colour has never been tested. W...