Abstract: Transaction Cost Economics (TCE) is one of the most applied economic theories to studies of agrifood chains, especially for presenting approaches that analyze the role of institutions in the relationship between organizations, making it completely adherent to the concept of Coordination, vital in chain management. Agro-industrial chains have continuously experienced mechanisms to reduce information asymmetry between producer and final consumer, one of these mechanisms being Geographical Indications (GIs), certifications of origin based on geographic location. This work aims to identify the state-of-the-art of TCE in studies related to GIs, identifying how the topics related to theory are approached and whether or not there are literature gaps in this regard. A systematic literature review was made in two substantial scientific databases using Methodi Ordinatio. The results demonstrate a certain homogeneity of studies, which focuses on Coordination and Governance, as well as a low synergy between the themes. Future studies could enrich the academic literature by contemplating an opposite path to this homogeneousness, either by a) exploring how TCE can explain the development of GIs; b) investigating the opportunism between producers and association members; or c) studying the limited rationality of the links downstream the chain.

Abstract Forests and farms are often replaced by counter-urbanization, in which people move from urban to rural areas, causing the progressive growth of rural areas beyond cities. This article delves into the counterurbanization process in the peri-urban forest of Guadalajara, Mexico known as “Bosque La Primavera'' (BLP), discussing three key elements: (1) the absence of a forest buffer zone, (2) the shift from agricultural to industrial and tertiary activities, and (3) green tourism and neo-ruralism moving to the countryside. A mixed methodological approach based on the Theory of Change (ToC) was used. Data was collected from an organization implementing a forest conservation program in 2020 and 2021. Twelve interviews were conducted with brigade members and academics. From the counterurbanization perspective, this study illustrates how unregulated urbanization, land use changes, and green tourism have all contributed to the progressive degradation of forest reserves in the BLP. Due to the growing links between urban and rural areas, rural economies in peri-urban forests are gradually being replaced by industrial and tertiary practices, whereas tourist amenities require new services that alter rural living patterns.