Agricultural Economist · Purdue University

Binayak
Kunwar

I study how land, capital, and information shape agricultural markets, with a focus on farmland prices, land-use change, agricultural finance, renewable energy, and applied econometrics.

View research Curriculum vitae

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Farmland MarketsAgricultural FinanceLand UseApplied Econometrics

Selected research

Working papers

My research combines causal inference, spatial methods, experimental economics, and econometric identification to study agricultural and land markets.

Working paperEconometric identification · Land use

Identification of Margin-Specific IV Elasticities in Unordered Outcome Models: Evidence from Farmland Conversion to Renewable Energy

with Chad Fiechter and Guy Tchuente

Develops an identification approach for margin-specific elasticities when choices are unordered and applies it to farmland conversion into renewable-energy uses.

Dissertation chapter · Working paperFarmland · Regional development

The Economic Development Premium in Farmland Markets

with Chad Fiechter, Guy Tchuente, and Aaron Shew

Studies how a concentrated state-led land acquisition and regional development shock is capitalized into nearby farmland prices, including spatial spillovers.

Dissertation chapter · Working paperRenewable energy · Expectations

When Solar Projects Fail: Causal Evidence on Farmland Prices

with Chad Fiechter and Aaron Shew

Examines how failed renewable-energy projects and reversals in development expectations affect farmland prices.

Dissertation chapter · Working paperExperimental economics · Market power

Market Structure, Information, and Market Power in Farmland Transactions

with Chad Fiechter and Timothy Cason

Uses laboratory markets to study how market thinness and information shape bargaining, prices, and market power in farmland transactions.

Working paperCommodity marketing · Risk management

Farmer Corn Marketing and Over-the-Counter Derivatives

with Chad Fiechter, Mindy Mallory, and Eugene Faller

Studies U.S. corn producers’ use of structured over-the-counter risk-management products and the market conditions associated with product choice.

Additional working papers

The Impact of ESG Practices on Financial Performance in Agribusinesswith Chad Fiechter
Farm Income Elasticity of Land-Use Change in the United States: Evidence from the Intensive Marginwith Chad Fiechter and Guy Tchuente
Farmland Price Prediction Using Machine Learning Approaches: A Comparative Analysis of Regression and Ensemble ModelsIndependent research
Determinants of Booms and Busts in the U.S. Farmland MarketIndependent research

Publications & manuscripts

Selected output

Revise & Resubmit · Agricultural Finance Review

The Impact of Commercial and Utility-Scale Solar Energy on High-Value Farmland

Master’s thesis · Purdue University, 2024

Impact of Commercial and Utility-Scale Solar Energy on Farmland Price

Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology, 2024

Resource use efficiency of tomato production under plastic house in Pokhara Metropolitan City, Nepal

Food & Agribusiness Management, 2023

Financial feasibility analysis of sweet orange production in Sindhuli, Nepal

Teaching & mentorship

Teaching

Instructor · October 2024

Power BI Data Visualization

Delivered a data-visualization session for MS-MBA students in Purdue Agricultural Economics.

Teaching support · Fall 2022

Introduction to Microeconomics for Food and Agribusiness

Assisted with exam preparation and grading for AGEC 20300.

Research mentorship

Graduate & Undergraduate Research

Served as a Graduate Senior Research Mentor and co-advised master’s and undergraduate research.

About

Research grounded in agricultural markets.

I am a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Agricultural Economics at Purdue University. My work focuses on farmland markets, agricultural finance, land-use change, renewable-energy development, and policy-relevant market outcomes.

I earned an M.S. in Agricultural Economics from Purdue University in 2024 and a B.S. in Agriculture from Agriculture and Forestry University in Nepal in 2021.

Selected honors

Boehlje Agribusiness Management FellowshipAgricultural & Applied Economics Association · 2026
Outstanding Master’s Thesis AwardAgricultural & Applied Economics Association · 2025
Outstanding Master’s Thesis AwardPurdue University · 2025
Butz Supplemental ScholarshipPurdue University · 2024–2028

Media & outreach

Graduate Ag Research SpotlightPurdue University College of Agriculture · 2026
Shining a Light on Solar Energy on FarmlandPurdue Agricultural Economics Podcast · 2025
State-led land acquisition and farmland pricesPurdue Agricultural Economics Report · 2026
2026 farmland and cash rent outlookPurdue Agricultural Economics Report · 2026

Contact

Binayak Kunwar

Department of Agricultural Economics
Purdue University
West Lafayette, Indiana

[email protected]Curriculum vitae