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Management And Returns To Farm Size: Results Of A Case Study Using Parametric And Non-Parametric Methodology To Measure Scale Efficiencies

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  • van Schalkwyk, H. D.
  • van Zyl, J.
  • Sartorius von Bach, H. J.

Abstract

Two hypotheses are tested empirically using cross sectional data from Vaalharts: Firstly, it is hypothesized that economies of scale exist and, secondly, that optimal farm size will not be the same for any two managers; the better the manager, the larger the optimum farm size. These hypotheses are tested by means of both parametric and non-parametric methods, respectively. Managerial skill was measured explicitly. The results support both the hypotheses which were tested empirically. There also appears to be no inconsistency between the results obtained with parametric or non-parametric methods. These findings have important implications for structural adjustment of South African agriculture.

Suggested Citation

  • van Schalkwyk, H. D. & van Zyl, J. & Sartorius von Bach, H. J., 1993. "Management And Returns To Farm Size: Results Of A Case Study Using Parametric And Non-Parametric Methodology To Measure Scale Efficiencies," Agrekon, Agricultural Economics Association of South Africa (AEASA), vol. 32(4), December.
    • Handle: RePEc:ags:agreko:267692
    DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.267692
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Philip Garcia & Steven T. Sonka & Man Sik Yoo, 1982. "Farm Size, Tenure, and Economic Efficiency in a Sample of Illinois Grain Farms," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 64(1), pages 119-123.
    2. Seiford, Lawrence M. & Thrall, Robert M., 1990. "Recent developments in DEA : The mathematical programming approach to frontier analysis," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 46(1-2), pages 7-38.
    3. Bruce F. Hall & E. Phillip LeVeen, 1978. "Farm Size and Economic Efficiency: The Case of California," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 60(4), pages 589-600.
    4. Bauer, Paul W., 1990. "Recent developments in the econometric estimation of frontiers," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 46(1-2), pages 39-56.
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    Cited by:

    1. van Zyl, Johan, 1994. "Farm Size Efficiency, Food Security And Market Assisted Rural Land Reform In South Africa," Agrekon, Agricultural Economics Association of South Africa (AEASA), vol. 33(4), December.
    2. van Zyl, Johan & Binswanger, Hans & Thirtle, Colin, 1995. "The relationship between farm size and efficiency in South African agriculture," Policy Research Working Paper Series 1548, The World Bank.
    3. van Zyl, Johan, 1995. "The Farm Size-Efficiency Relationship In South African Commercial Agriculture," Agrekon, Agricultural Economics Association of South Africa (AEASA), vol. 34(4), December.

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    Keywords

    Farm Management; Production Economics;

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