Training Foreign Graduate Students in Agricultural Economics

Training in agricultural economics for graduate students from traditional countries poses special problems for American teachers, chiefly because of the very different habits of thought and social philosophies of such students. These habits and philosophies are typical of the leadership of traditional countries and hinder the agricultural development of these countries in various ways, often leading to the adoption of unwise national agricultural policies. To transform traditional scholars into scientists who can and will analyze the policies and programs of their own country objectively and constructively, teachers in each area of specialization in agricultural economics should put more stress on practical measurement, the derivation of principles, and their application, and should draw upon examples from many parts of the world. The same kind of teaching is essential for American graduate students if they are to understand and cope with world agricultural economic problems.