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Can human capital variables be technology changing? An empirical test for rural households in Burkina Faso

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  • Fleur Wouterse

Abstract

In this article, we assess the role that human capital indicators play as technology changing variables in smallholder households in Burkina Faso. We use recent nationally representative household level data and regression analysis to empirically assess the role of weight-for-height, formal education and age of adult household members active in agriculture, in smallholder production. Recognizing the endogeneity of weight-for-height and variable inputs, we use instrumental variables regression and model the coefficients in the production function as functions of human capital variables. Our results reveal that human capital indicators can indeed be considered as technology-changing affecting both the slope and the intercept of the production function. Weight-for-height enhances returns to land but negatively affects returns to female labor. Formal education enhances the productivity of male labor but negatively affects returns to land. Differentiating households by landholding quintiles reveals that the technology changing role of human capital variables is much more evident for households with larger landholdings. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media New York 2016

Suggested Citation

  • Fleur Wouterse, 2016. "Can human capital variables be technology changing? An empirical test for rural households in Burkina Faso," Journal of Productivity Analysis, Springer, vol. 45(2), pages 157-172, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jproda:v:45:y:2016:i:2:p:157-172
    DOI: 10.1007/s11123-015-0457-8
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    Cited by:

    1. Nyamekye, Isaac & Fiankor, Dela-Dem Doe & Ntoni, Jonathan Okyere, 2016. "Effect Of Human Capital On Maize Productivity In Ghana: A Quantile Regression Approach," International Journal of Food and Agricultural Economics (IJFAEC), Alanya Alaaddin Keykubat University, Department of Economics and Finance, vol. 4(2), pages 1-11, April.
    2. Guoqun Ma & Minjuan Li & Yuxi Luo & Tuanbiao Jiang, 2023. "Agri-Ecological Policy, Human Capital and Agricultural Green Technology Progress," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-14, April.
    3. Konstantinos Chatzimichael & Margarita Genius & Vangelis Tzouvelekas, 2022. "Pesticide use, health impairments and economic losses under rational farmers behavior," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 104(2), pages 765-790, March.
    4. repec:rim:rimwps:22-06 is not listed on IDEAS
    5. Wouterse, Fleur Stephanie, 2016. "Empowerment and agricultural production: Evidence from rural households in Niger," IFPRI discussion papers 1509, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    6. Bopp, Carlos & Engler, Alejandra & Jara-Rojas, Roberto & Arriagada, Rodrigo, 2020. "Are forest plantation subsidies affecting land use change and off-farm income? A farm-level analysis of Chilean small forest landowners," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 91(C).

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • D13 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Household Production and Intrahouse Allocation
    • I00 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - General - - - General
    • C36 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Multiple or Simultaneous Equation Models; Multiple Variables - - - Instrumental Variables (IV) Estimation

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