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Economics staff

Dr Doris Laepple

Ph.D, Dipl.-Ing. Agr. (Univ.)

Contact Details

LECTURER ABOVE THE BAR
ECONOMICS
SCHOOL OF BUSINESS &
ECONOMICS
NUI GALWAY
T: Ext. 5325
E: DORIS.LAEPPLE@nuigalway.ie
 
researcher
 

Biography

I am a Lecturer in Economics.

Before joining the Economics Discipline at NUI Galway in 2017, I was an Assistant Professor at the School of Agriculture and Food Science at University College Dublin. I hold an MSc in Agricultural Economics (Dipl.-Ing. Agr. Univ.) from the Technical University Munich-Weihenstephan and a PhD in Economics from NUI Galway.  

I am an agricultural economist and I study how to support sustainable agricultural practices.

Within this context, my research focuses on technology adoption, agricultural extension services, animal welfare, productivity and competitiveness, mainly in the dairy sector. I explore topics such as the role of agricultural extension on dairy sector expansion, productivity and environmental implications, or the role of peers and social learning in and implications of sustainable technology adoption.  

I am programme director of the MSc (Global Environmental Economics) and I teach subjects related to Agricultural Economics and Econometrics, both at undergraduate and postgraduate level.

I am an Associate Editor of Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems and Honorary Secretary of the Agricultural Economics Society of Ireland.

Research Interests

I am an Agricultural Economist, focusing on applied microeconomic topics.

One of my programmes of research focuses on sustainable expansion of the Irish dairy sector. This includes the role and impact of extension services on expansion, productivity and environmental implications, as well as neighbourhood influences in (sustainable) technology adoption.  My research interest in technology adoption began with exploring reasons for the low uptake rate of organic farming in Ireland and has expanded into research on understanding farmer behaviour and learning, as well as social and spatial influences.  For example, one of my current research projects explores learning ability and receptiveness to expert and peer advice through laboratory experiments. Other current projects include economic analyses of animal welfare and biosecurity in Irish agriculture, as well as labour input and constraints on Irish dairy farms.

My research has been funded by national and international organisations, such as the Irish Research Council, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Teagasc and the OECD. A selection of current and recent externally funded projects is provided below and my Google Scholar profile for information on my research outputs can be accessed here.

Research Projects

  Project Start Date End Date
WALSH FELLOWSHIP - MEASURING LABOUR INPUT ON IRISH DAIRY FARMS USING THE TEAGASC NATIONAL FARM SURVEY 07-JAN-19 06-JAN-23
H2020 Proposal Prep Support - Learning and Information Provision in Agriculture 19-FEB-18 18-NOV-22
SURVEILLANCE WELFARE AND BIOSECURITY OF FARMED ANIMALS 01-NOV-18 31-JUL-20
MEASURING THE IMPACT OF EXTENSION SERVICES ON FARM-LEVEL SUSTAINABILITY AND INNOVATION 09-JAN-17 08-JAN-21
AN EXPERIMENTAL ASSESSMANT OF LEARNING AND PEER EFFECTS IN ADOPTION CHOICES 01-FEB-15 25-OCT-18

Peer Reviewed Journals

  Year Publication
(2019) 'Dairy Intensification and Quota Abolition: A Comparative Study of Production in Ireland and the Netherlands'
Läpple, D. and Sirr. G. (2019) 'Dairy Intensification and Quota Abolition: A Comparative Study of Production in Ireland and the Netherlands'. Eurochoices, [Details]
(2019) 'How do Learning Ability, Advice from Experts and Peers Shape Decision Making?'
Läpple, D. and Barham, B. (2019) 'How do Learning Ability, Advice from Experts and Peers Shape Decision Making?'. Journal Of Behavioral And Experimental Economics, [Details]
(2019) 'The role of extension in dynamic economic adjustments: the case of Irish dairy farms'
Läpple, D., Barham, B. and Chavas, J.P. (2019) 'The role of extension in dynamic economic adjustments: the case of Irish dairy farms'. European Review Of Agricultural Economics, [Details]
(2018) 'The Role of Innovation in Farm Economic Sustainability: Generalised Propensity Score Evidence from Irish Dairy Farms'
Läpple, D. and Thorne, F. (2018) 'The Role of Innovation in Farm Economic Sustainability: Generalised Propensity Score Evidence from Irish Dairy Farms'. Journal Of Agricultural Economics, [Details]
(2017) 'Sustainable Technology Adoption: A Spatial Analysis of the Irish Dairy Sector'
Läpple, D., Holloway, G.J., Lacombe, D. and O'Donoghue, C. (2017) 'Sustainable Technology Adoption: A Spatial Analysis of the Irish Dairy Sector'. European Review Of Agricultural Economics, [Details]
(2016) 'The digital divide in farming: a problem of access or engagement'
Hennessy, T., Läpple, D. and Moran, B. (2016) 'The digital divide in farming: a problem of access or engagement'. Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, 38 (3):474-491 [Details]
(2016) 'What drives innovation in the agricultural sector? A spatial analysis of knowledge spillovers'
Läpple, D., Renwick, A., Cullinan, J. and Thorne, F. (2016) 'What drives innovation in the agricultural sector? A spatial analysis of knowledge spillovers'. Land Use Policy, 56 :238-250 [Details]
(2015) 'Assessing the impact of financial incentives in extension programmes: Evidence from Ireland'
Läpple, D. and Hennessy, T. (2015) 'Assessing the impact of financial incentives in extension programmes: Evidence from Ireland'. Journal Of Agricultural Economics, 66 (3):781-795 [Details]
(2015) 'Spatial dependence in the adoption of organic drystock farming in Ireland'
Läpple, D. and Kelley, H. (2015) 'Spatial dependence in the adoption of organic drystock farming in Ireland'. European Review Of Agricultural Economics, 42 (2):315-337 [Details]
(2015) 'Measuring and understanding the drivers of agricultural innovation: Evidence from Ireland'
Läpple, D., Renwick, A. and Thorne, F. (2015) 'Measuring and understanding the drivers of agricultural innovation: Evidence from Ireland'. Food Policy, 51 :1-8 [Details]
(2014) 'Exploring the role of incentives in agricultural extension programs'
Läpple, D. and Hennessy, T. (2014) 'Exploring the role of incentives in agricultural extension programs'. Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, :1-15 [Details]
(2013) 'Quantifying the economic return to participatory extension programmes in Ireland: an endogenous switching regression analysis'
Läpple, D., Hennessy, T. and Newman, C. (2013) 'Quantifying the economic return to participatory extension programmes in Ireland: an endogenous switching regression analysis'. Journal Of Agricultural Economics, 64 (2):467-482 [Details]
(2013) 'Understanding the uptake of organic farming: Accounting for heterogeneities among Irish farmers'
Läpple, D. and Kelley, H. (2013) 'Understanding the uptake of organic farming: Accounting for heterogeneities among Irish farmers'. Ecological Economics, [Details]
(2012) 'Extended grazing: a detailed analysis of Irish dairy farms'
Läpple, D., Hennessy, T. and O’Donovan, M. (2012) 'Extended grazing: a detailed analysis of Irish dairy farms'. Journal Of Dairy Science, [Details]
(2012) 'Organic, former organic and conventional farmers: how do they differ?'
Läpple, D. (2012) 'Organic, former organic and conventional farmers: how do they differ?'. Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems, [Details]
(2012) 'The capacity to expand milk production in Ireland following the removal of milk quotas'
Läpple, D. and Hennessy, T. (2012) 'The capacity to expand milk production in Ireland following the removal of milk quotas'. Irish Journal Of Agricultural And Food Research, [Details]
(2012) 'An economic analysis of the Irish milk quota exchange scheme'
Hennessy, T., Läpple, D., Wallace, M. and Shalloo, L. (2012) 'An economic analysis of the Irish milk quota exchange scheme'. International Journal of Agricultural Management, [Details]
(2012) 'The development and geographic distribution of organic farming in Ireland'
Läpple, D. and Cullinan, J. (2012) 'The development and geographic distribution of organic farming in Ireland'. Irish Geography, [Details]
(2011) 'Adoption of organic farming: are there differences between early and late adopters?'
Läpple, D. and VanRensburg, T. (2011) 'Adoption of organic farming: are there differences between early and late adopters?'. Ecological Economics, [Details]
(2010) 'The adoption and abandonment of organic farming: an empirical investigation of the Irish drystock sector'
Läpple, D. (2010) 'The adoption and abandonment of organic farming: an empirical investigation of the Irish drystock sector'. Journal Of Agricultural Economics, [Details]
(2007) 'Investment decisions in agriculture: an empirical analysis of Bavaria'
Läpple, D. (2007) 'Investment decisions in agriculture: an empirical analysis of Bavaria'. Yearbook of Socioeconomics in Agriculture, [Details]

Published Reports

  Year Publication
(2017) The Competitiveness of Irish Agriculture.
Thorne, F., Gillespie, P.R., Donnellan, T., Hanrahan, K., Kinsella, A. and Läpple, D. (2017) The Competitiveness of Irish Agriculture. Teagasc, Carlow. [Details]
(2015) A Review of the Financial Status of Irish Farms and Future Investment Requirements.
Thorne, F., Dillon, E. Donnellan, T., Hanrahan, K., Hennessy, T. Kinsella, A. Läpple, D. and McKeon, M. (2015) A Review of the Financial Status of Irish Farms and Future Investment Requirements. BOI, Dublin. [Details]
(2014) Innovation in the Irish Agrifood Sector.
Renwick, A., Läpple, D., O’Malley, A. and Thorne, F. (2014) Innovation in the Irish Agrifood Sector. BOI, Dublin. [Details]

Conference Contributions

  Year Publication
(2017) 91st Annual Conference of the Agricultural Economics Society,,
Läpple, D., Sirr, G. and Barham, B. (2017) An Experimental Assessment of Learning Ability, Responsiveness to Advice and Peer Effects in Adoption Choices. [Oral Presentation], 91st Annual Conference of the Agricultural Economics Society,, Dublin, Ireland , 24-APR-17 - 26-APR-17. [Details]
(2016) 89th Annual Conference of the Agricultural Economics Society,,
Läpple, D. and O’Donoghue, C. (2016) Technology adoption in a spatial context. [Oral Presentation], 89th Annual Conference of the Agricultural Economics Society,, Warwick, UK , 14-APR-16 - 16-APR-16. [Details]
(2016) 90th Annual Conference of the Agricultural Economics Society,
Läpple, D., Barham, B. and Chavas, J.P. (2016) The role of extension in dynamic economic adjustments: the case of Irish dairy farms. [Oral Presentation], 90th Annual Conference of the Agricultural Economics Society, Warwick, UK , 04-APR-16 - 06-APR-16. [Details]
(2016) Agricultural Economics Society of Ireland Conference,
Läpple, D., Barham, B. and Chavas, J.P. (2016) The role of extension on structural adjustments in the dairy sector leading up to milk quota abolition. [Oral Presentation], Agricultural Economics Society of Ireland Conference, Dublin, Ireland , 07-JAN-16. [Details]
(2014) European Association of Agricultural Economists Congress,
Läpple, D. and Kelley, H. (2014) Spatial dependence in the adoption of organic drystock farming in Ireland. [Oral Presentation], European Association of Agricultural Economists Congress, Ljubljana, Slovenia , 28-AUG-14. [Details]
(2014) 88th Annual Conference of the Agricultural Economics Society,,
Läpple, D. and Hennessy, T. (2014) Assessing the impact of financial incentives in extension programmes: Evidence from Ireland. [Oral Presentation], 88th Annual Conference of the Agricultural Economics Society,, Paris, France , 11-APR-14. [Details]
(2013) Agricultural Economics Society of Ireland Conference,,
Läpple, D. and Kelley, H. (2013) Spatial dependence in the adoption of organic drystock farming in Ireland. [Oral Presentation], Agricultural Economics Society of Ireland Conference,, Dublin, Ireland , 07-NOV-13. [Details]
(2012) Applied Microeconometrics and Public Policy Conference,
Läpple, D. and Kelley, H. (2012) Neighborhood influence on the adoption of organic farming. [Conference Organising Committee Chairperson], Applied Microeconometrics and Public Policy Conference, Galway, Ireland , 03-JUL-12. [Details]
(2011) Agricultural Research Forum,,
Läpple, D. and Hennessy, T. (2011) Extended grazing: a detailed analysis of NFS farms. [Conference Organising Committee Chairperson], Agricultural Research Forum,, Tullamore, Ireland , 14-MAR-11. [Details]
(2010) Agricultural Economics Society of Ireland Conference,,
Hennessy, T., Läpple, D., Wallace, M. and Shalloo, L. (2010) An economic analysis of the Irish milk quota scheme. [Conference Organising Committee Chairperson], Agricultural Economics Society of Ireland Conference,, Dublin, Ireland , 14-OCT-10. [Details]
(2010) 84th Annual Conference of the Agricultural Economics Society,,
Läpple, D. and Kelley, H. (2010) Understanding farmers’ uptake of organic farming: an application of the theory of planned behavior. [Oral Presentation], 84th Annual Conference of the Agricultural Economics Society,, Edinburgh, UK , 31-MAR-10. [Details]
(2009) 83rd Annual Conference of the Agricultural Economics Society,
Läpple, D. (2009) Adoption and abandonment of organic farming: an empirical investigation of the Irish drystock sector. [Conference Organising Committee Chairperson], 83rd Annual Conference of the Agricultural Economics Society, Dublin, Ireland , 01-APR-09. [Details]
(2009) Irish Rural Studies Symposium,,
Läpple, D. (2009) Adoption and abandonment of organic farming: an empirical investigation of the Irish drystock sector. [Oral Presentation], Irish Rural Studies Symposium,, Athenry, Ireland , 01-SEP-09. [Details]
(2009) European Association of Agricultural Economists PhD Workshop,,
Läpple, D. (2009) Adoption and abandonment of organic farming: an empirical investigation of the Irish drystock sector. [Conference Organising Committee Chairperson], European Association of Agricultural Economists PhD Workshop,, Giessen, Germany , 10-SEP-09. [Details]
(2008) National Organic Conference,,
Läpple, D. and Donnellan, T. (2008) Farmer attitudes towards converting to organic farming. [Invited Oral Presentation], National Organic Conference,, Tullamore, Ireland , 02-DEC-08. [Details]

Honours and Awards

  Year Title Awarding Body
2019 Outstanding Young Researcher Agricultural Economics Society (UK)
2009 Agricultural Economics Society Prize Essay Competition (joint winner) Agricultural Economics Society, UK

Professional Associations

  Association Function From / To
European Association of Agricultural Economists Member 01-JAN-14 /
Agricultural Economics Society of Ireland Honorary Secretary 01-JAN-16 /
Agricultural Economics Society, UK Member 01-JAN-08 /

Other Activities

  Description

Associate Editor, Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems, 2014 to present

Current Postgraduate Students (Research)

  Student Degree Type Type
Lorraine Balaine Doctorate - Structured Ph.D. in the College of Business, Law & Public Policy Supervisor

Modules Taught

  Term/Year Module Title Module Code Subject / Desc
2018/2019 Econometrics EC3105
2017/2018 Environmental Economic Modelling EC5115
2018/2019 Agricultural and Food Economics EC3104
2017/2018 Agricultural Economics and Policy EC5100