Abstract

This article provides a short overview of the principal models that can be used to estimate the effects of climate change on agriculture. The models are classified in relation to the following criteria: the specific impacts they aim to assess, their ability to measure production and/or economic losses, and the adoption of social indicators of the effects and responses. The weaknesses and strengths of the models are also identified and discussed. The most relevant factors for the choice of the most appropriate model are analysed. Through a comparative analysis of the literature, an easily adoptable scheme for selecting the most appropriate method to estimate the effects of climate change according to the characteristics of the case study is identified. The adopted classification scheme demonstrates that one model is capable of simultaneously considering many aspects related to climate change and classifying these in different class.

Key words: Climate change, impacts, agriculture, models.

Abbreviation

JEL Classification: C50, Q15, Q51.