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Machinery and labour biases of technical change in South African agriculture: A cost function approach

Author

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  • Townsend, Rob F.
  • van Zyl, Johan
  • Thirtle, Colin G.

Abstract

This paper provides an empirical investigation into the long-standing notion of biases of technical change in South African agriculture. The second order cost function is used to derive relative bias measures between labour and machinery. The results suggest that large machinery-using biases in technology have been developed with minimal labour-using biases.

Suggested Citation

  • Townsend, Rob F. & van Zyl, Johan & Thirtle, Colin G., 1997. "Machinery and labour biases of technical change in South African agriculture: A cost function approach," Agrekon, Agricultural Economics Association of South Africa (AEASA), vol. 36(4), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:ags:agreko:54448
    DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.54448
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. J. Stephen Clark & Curtis E. Youngblood, 1992. "Estimating Duality Models with Biased Technical Change: A Time Series Approach," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 74(2), pages 353-360.
    3. Archibald, Sandra O. & Brandt, Loren, 1991. "A flexible model of factor biased technological change An application to Japanese agriculture," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 35(1), pages 127-145, January.
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    5. Stevenson, Rodney, 1980. "Measuring Technological Bias," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 70(1), pages 162-173, March.
    6. Fernando S. Machado, 1995. "Testing The Induced Innovation Hypothesis Using Cointegration Analysis," Journal of Agricultural Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 46(3), pages 349-360, September.
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