Long-Run Structural and Productivity Change in U.S. Agriculture: Effects of Prices and Policies

R.E. Evenson and W.B. Huffman

Working Papers from Yale - Economic Growth Center

Abstract: This paper presents (1) a conceptual framework for structural change when farms may be multiproduct or specialized and (2) an econometrics of causes of structural and total factor productivity (TFP) change for U.S. agriculture. Farm size, farm specialization, and part-time farming are the structural dimension emphasized, and they become potential channels to TFP change. Using state aggregate data starting in 1950, we conclude that input prices, public and private research, public extension, and government commodity programs have directly and indirectly caused change in U.S. farm structure and TFP. Our results suggest that changes in farm size, however, have been dominated by input price changes rather than by technology or government programs.

Keywords: FARMS; PRODUCTIVITY; AGRICULTURE; TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGE (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q11 Q13 Q16 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 37 pages
Date: 1997
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:fth:yalegr:773

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