---
entity_slug: agricultural_price_volatility
evaluator: null
evaluated_at: '2026-02-23T00:30:45.056374'
overall_score: 4.0
scores:
- name: definition_precision
  value: 4.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: The definition clearly captures the concept of price fluctuations in
    agricultural markets and identifies specific causal factors (supply, demand, weather,
    production changes). It avoids circularity and distinguishes this from general
    price movements by focusing on the volatility aspect.
- name: source_grounding
  value: 4.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: Smith does extensively discuss agricultural price fluctuations in Book
    I, Chapter 11, examining how corn prices vary with harvests and market conditions.
    The entity accurately reflects his analysis of both short-term disruptions and
    long-term price trends in agricultural markets.
- name: domain_placement
  value: 5.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: '"Exchange" is the correct domain placement since agricultural price
    volatility is fundamentally about how prices fluctuate in market transactions.
    This belongs squarely within exchange mechanisms rather than production, distribution,
    or consumption domains.'
- name: vsm_relevance
  value: 3.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: This entity has moderate VSM relevance, primarily mapping to S2 (coordination/anti-oscillation)
    as price volatility represents oscillatory behavior that markets must manage.
    It also touches on S4 (environmental adaptation) as markets respond to external
    shocks like weather.
- name: explanatory_value
  value: 4.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: The entity provides good explanatory value by illuminating how agricultural
    markets function differently from other markets due to production uncertainties
    and seasonal factors. It helps explain market dynamics and the challenges of economic
    planning in agriculture.
---

# Evaluation: Agricultural Price Volatility

## definition_precision — 4.0 / 5.0

The definition clearly captures the concept of price fluctuations in agricultural markets and identifies specific causal factors (supply, demand, weather, production changes). It avoids circularity and distinguishes this from general price movements by focusing on the volatility aspect.

## source_grounding — 4.0 / 5.0

Smith does extensively discuss agricultural price fluctuations in Book I, Chapter 11, examining how corn prices vary with harvests and market conditions. The entity accurately reflects his analysis of both short-term disruptions and long-term price trends in agricultural markets.

## domain_placement — 5.0 / 5.0

"Exchange" is the correct domain placement since agricultural price volatility is fundamentally about how prices fluctuate in market transactions. This belongs squarely within exchange mechanisms rather than production, distribution, or consumption domains.

## vsm_relevance — 3.0 / 5.0

This entity has moderate VSM relevance, primarily mapping to S2 (coordination/anti-oscillation) as price volatility represents oscillatory behavior that markets must manage. It also touches on S4 (environmental adaptation) as markets respond to external shocks like weather.

## explanatory_value — 4.0 / 5.0

The entity provides good explanatory value by illuminating how agricultural markets function differently from other markets due to production uncertainties and seasonal factors. It helps explain market dynamics and the challenges of economic planning in agriculture.
