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Postdoctoral Researcher at Agroscope (Switzerland)
Postdoctoral Researcher at Agroscope (Switzerland)
Working papers
Working papers
Sergei Schaub, Alexander Pfaff, and Petyo Bonev (2025). American Journal of Agricultural Economics. Biodiversity and the Design of Resultbased Payments: Evidence from Germany University of St. Gallen. Discussion Paper no. 2025-02
Sergei Schaub, Alexander Pfaff, and Petyo Bonev (2025). American Journal of Agricultural Economics. Biodiversity and the Design of Resultbased Payments: Evidence from Germany University of St. Gallen. Discussion Paper no. 2025-02
Abstract: Paying farmers for measured outcomes – i.e., results, not actions − is promoted for reducing risk and raising flexibility in addressing agriculture’s environmental damages. One key design choice is how exactly to reward those measured results. ...
Peer-reviewed publications
Peer-reviewed publications
Schaub, Sergei, Tobias Roth, and Petyo Bonev (2025). The effect of result‐based agri‐environmental payments on biodiversity: Evidence from Switzerland. American Journal of Agricultural Economics.
Schaub, Sergei, Tobias Roth, and Petyo Bonev (2025). The effect of result‐based agri‐environmental payments on biodiversity: Evidence from Switzerland. American Journal of Agricultural Economics.
Abstract: We estimate the effects of result-based agri-environmental payments on biodiversity using a unique dataset containing information about plant vegetation. The data include information on surveyed plant species for a large number of randomly selected plots followed over a period of 20 years...
Möhring, N., Muller, A., & Schaub, S. (2024). Farmers’ adoption of organic agriculture—a systematic global literature review. European Review of Agricultural Economics.
Möhring, N., Muller, A., & Schaub, S. (2024). Farmers’ adoption of organic agriculture—a systematic global literature review. European Review of Agricultural Economics.
Abstract: Policymakers worldwide set ambitious targets to increase the share of organic farming. We conduct a global, systematic literature review to synthesise evidence on the adoption of organic farming and support policymakers and food-value chain actors in reaching policy goals. First, we map...
Fabri, C., Vermeulen, S., Van Passel, S., & Schaub, S. (2024). Crop diversification and the effect of weather shocks on Italian farmers' income and income risk. Journal of Agricultural Economics.
Fabri, C., Vermeulen, S., Van Passel, S., & Schaub, S. (2024). Crop diversification and the effect of weather shocks on Italian farmers' income and income risk. Journal of Agricultural Economics.
Abstract: Agriculture is vulnerable to extreme weather shocks. Climate change increases both the frequency and the intensity of such shocks. To safeguard farmers' income and food production, climate adaptation measures are required. ...
Klaus, V. H., Schaub, S., Séchaud, R., Fabian, Y., Jeanneret, P., Lüscher, A., & Huguenin-Elie, O. (2024). Upscaling of ecosystem service and biodiversity indicators from field to farm to inform agri-environmental decision-and policy-making. Ecological Indicators.
Klaus, V. H., Schaub, S., Séchaud, R., Fabian, Y., Jeanneret, P., Lüscher, A., & Huguenin-Elie, O. (2024). Upscaling of ecosystem service and biodiversity indicators from field to farm to inform agri-environmental decision-and policy-making. Ecological Indicators.
Abstract: Ecosystem services and biodiversity are frequently measured by field-scale indicators. Yet, many important agricultural and economic drivers...
Sergei Schaub and Nadja El Benni (2024). How do price (risk) changes influence farmers’ preferences to reduce fertilizer application?. Agricultural Economics.
Sergei Schaub and Nadja El Benni (2024). How do price (risk) changes influence farmers’ preferences to reduce fertilizer application?. Agricultural Economics.
Abstract: The decision of farmers to reduce fertilizer applications and, thus, the achievement of agri-environmental policy goals interacts with market price developments. In this study, we analyze how changes in price levels and volatility over time (i.e., 1991–2006 vs. 2007–2022)...
Ade Sander, Jaboury Ghazoul, Robert Finger, and Sergei Schaub (2024). Participation in individual and collective agri-environmental schemes: A synthesis using the Theory of Planned Behaviour. Journal of Rural Studies.
Ade Sander, Jaboury Ghazoul, Robert Finger, and Sergei Schaub (2024). Participation in individual and collective agri-environmental schemes: A synthesis using the Theory of Planned Behaviour. Journal of Rural Studies.
Abstract: Understanding the behavioural factors that influence farmers' intentions to participate in agri-environmental schemes is crucial for delivering sustainability in agricultural landscapes. Drawing on a qualitative synthesis approach, we seek to...
Yanbing Wang, Sergei Schaub, David Wuepper, and Robert Finger (2023). Culture and agricultural biodiversity conservation. Food Policy, 120, 102482.
Yanbing Wang, Sergei Schaub, David Wuepper, and Robert Finger (2023). Culture and agricultural biodiversity conservation. Food Policy, 120, 102482.
Abstract: Farmers’ behavior towards sustainable agricultural production is key to reducing the environmental footprint of agriculture and conserving biodiversity. We investigate the causal effect of culture on pro-environmental behaviors of farmers, and...
Sergei Schaub et al. (2023). The role of behavioural factors and opportunity costs in farmers' participation in voluntary agri-environmental schemes: A systematic review. Journal of Agricultural Economics.
Sergei Schaub et al. (2023). The role of behavioural factors and opportunity costs in farmers' participation in voluntary agri-environmental schemes: A systematic review. Journal of Agricultural Economics.
Abstract: Agri-environmental schemes (AESs) are increasingly implemented to promote the adoption of environmentally friendly practices by farmers. We use a systematic review...
Noemi Elmiger, Robert Finger, Jaboury Ghazoul, and Sergei Schaub (2023). Biodiversity indicators for result-based agri-environmental schemes – Current state and future prospects. Agricultural Systems, 204, 103538.
Noemi Elmiger, Robert Finger, Jaboury Ghazoul, and Sergei Schaub (2023). Biodiversity indicators for result-based agri-environmental schemes – Current state and future prospects. Agricultural Systems, 204, 103538.
Abstract: Many agricultural policies target the conservation of biodiversity worldwide. Result-based agri-environmental schemes can be more effective and efficient than the more commonly used action-based schemes. ...
Sergei Schaub (2022). Global relationships between time preference and environmental policy performance. Environmental Science & Policy, 128, 102-109.
Sergei Schaub (2022). Global relationships between time preference and environmental policy performance. Environmental Science & Policy, 128, 102-109.
Abstract: How our governments deal with environmental crises can depend on national culture, including time preference (i.e., short- vs. long-term orientation). Here, we follow up on the hypothesis that long-term orientation increases environmental...
Sergei Schaub, Robert Finger, Nina Buchmann, Vera Steiner, Valentin H Klaus (2021). The costs of diversity: higher prices for more diverse grassland seed mixtures. Environmental Research Letters, 16, 094011.
Sergei Schaub, Robert Finger, Nina Buchmann, Vera Steiner, Valentin H Klaus (2021). The costs of diversity: higher prices for more diverse grassland seed mixtures. Environmental Research Letters, 16, 094011.
Abstract: Globally, we face a dramatic biodiversity loss in agricultural systems as well as severe ecosystem degradation. In grasslands, higher biodiversity in terms of plant diversity was shown to increase the diversity...
Sergei Schaub, et al. (2021). Reply to: “Results from a biodiversity experiment fail to represent economic performance of semi-natural grasslands”. Nature Communications, 12, 2124.
Sergei Schaub, et al. (2021). Reply to: “Results from a biodiversity experiment fail to represent economic performance of semi-natural grasslands”. Nature Communications, 12, 2124.
Abstract: In Schaub et al.1, we analyzed plant diversity effects on biomass yield, forage quality, quality-adjusted yield (biomass yield × forage quality) and revenues across different management intensities...
Sergei Schaub, Robert Huber, Robert Finger (2020). Tracking societal concerns on pesticides – a Google Trends analysis. Environmental Research Letters, 15, 084049.
Sergei Schaub, Robert Huber, Robert Finger (2020). Tracking societal concerns on pesticides – a Google Trends analysis. Environmental Research Letters, 15, 084049.
Abstract: We analyze public interest in pesticides and plant protection products over time utilizing Google Trends data for Switzerland from 2011 until 2019. We find that the aggregated public interest...
Sergei Schaub, Robert Finger (2020). Effects of drought on hay and feed grain prices. Environmental Research Letters, 15, 034014.
Sergei Schaub, Robert Finger (2020). Effects of drought on hay and feed grain prices. Environmental Research Letters, 15, 034014.
Abstract: Droughts represent a severe and increasing risk for the livestock sector as they can reduce yields of hay and feed grain. Droughts are predicted to increase in frequency and magnitude under...
Sergei Schaub, Nina Buchmann, Andreas Lüscher, Robert Finger (2020). Economic benefits from plant species diversity in intensively managed grasslands. Ecological Economics, 168, 106488.
Sergei Schaub, Nina Buchmann, Andreas Lüscher, Robert Finger (2020). Economic benefits from plant species diversity in intensively managed grasslands. Ecological Economics, 168, 106488.
Abstract: Grasslands cover a major share of the world’s agricultural area and are important for global food security. Plant species diversity in grasslands...
Sergei Schaub, et al. (2020). Plant diversity effects on forage quality, yield and revenues of semi-natural grasslands. Nature Communications, 11, 1-11.
Sergei Schaub, et al. (2020). Plant diversity effects on forage quality, yield and revenues of semi-natural grasslands. Nature Communications, 11, 1-11.
Abstract: In agricultural settings, plant diversity is often associated with low biomass yield and forage quality, while biodiversity experiments typically find the opposite. We address this controversy by...
Work under review and in preperation
Work under review and in preperation
See my CV for details.
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