Two Blades of Grass: The Impact of the Green Revolution

Douglas Gollin (), Casper Hansen and Asger Wingender

No 24744, NBER Working Papers from National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc

Abstract: We examine the economic impact of high-yielding crop varieties (HYVs) in developing countries 1960-2000. We use time variation in the development and diffusion of HYVs of 10 major crops, spatial variation in agro-climatically suitability for growing them, and a differences-in-differences strategy to identify the causal effects of adoption. In a sample of 84 counties, we estimate that a 10 percentage points increase in HYV adoption increases GDP per capita by about 15 percent. This effect is fully accounted for by the direct effect on crop yields, factor adjustment, and structural transformation. We also find that HYV adoption reduced both fertility and mortality.

JEL-codes: N50 O11 O13 O50 Q16 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018-06
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-env and nep-gro
Note: DEV EFG PR
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (20)

Published as Douglas Gollin & Casper Worm Hansen & Asger Mose Wingender, 2021. "Two Blades of Grass: The Impact of the Green Revolution," Journal of Political Economy, vol 129(8), pages 2344-2384.

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Related works:
Journal Article: Two Blades of Grass: The Impact of the Green Revolution (2021)
Working Paper: Two Blades of Grass: The Impact of the Green Revolution (2016)
Working Paper: Two Blades of Grass: The Impact of the Green Revolution (2016)
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