Restructuring grain production in China: regional heterogeneity and its causality

Xuyuan Zheng, Weiping Liu, Zhigang Xu, Ruiyao Ying and Chunhui Ye

China Agricultural Economic Review, 2018, vol. 10, issue 4, 647-665

Abstract: Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to analyze the heterogeneity of regional grain production distribution in China, by examining the regional heterogeneity of absolute and relative changes in grain planting acreage, and explain it in terms of increasing labor costs and difficulties in agricultural inputs adjustment. Design/methodology/approach - The study uses data from official statistical yearbooks and the satellite remote sensing image data of Landsat TM 30 m. Multivariate analysis is conducted to examine the effect of labor cost, difficulty in replacing agricultural input factors and other factors underpinning changes in grain acreage and grain structure adjustment. Findings - The heterogeneity of changes in grain acreage and proportion of arable area for grain production are mainly determined using the labor cost and difficulties in the replacement of agricultural input factors. Originality/value - To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to systematically analyze the heterogeneity in restructuring grain production at provincial level and its causes. The results not only provide evidence of grain production restructuring at regional level, but also contribute to the understanding of the law of structural change in agricultural production.

Keywords: Labour cost; Factor substitution; Grain production restructuring; Regional heterogeneity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eme:caerpp:caer-01-2017-0008

DOI: 10.1108/CAER-01-2017-0008

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