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Economic Evaluation of Agricultural Research

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  • David N. Bengston

    (University of Minnesota)

Abstract

Many evaluations of the economic impacts of investment in agricultural research have been carried out over the past three decades. This article reviews certain aspects of this literature. Instead of focusing on details of the evaluation approaches or findings of individual studies, the extent of the coverage of agricultural research is assessed. It is found that the work in this area is limited in several ways: Agricultural research evaluations have been mostly ex post in nature, evaluations have focused on production oriented research, and a single measure of worth related to economic efficiency is the end product of most evaluations. Implications for the use of research evaluations in research decision making are discussed in a concluding section.

Suggested Citation

  • David N. Bengston, 1985. "Economic Evaluation of Agricultural Research," Evaluation Review, , vol. 9(3), pages 243-262, June.
  • Handle: RePEc:sae:evarev:v:9:y:1985:i:3:p:243-262
    DOI: 10.1177/0193841X8500900301
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Davis, Jeffrey S., 1981. "The Relationship Between the Economic Surplus and Production Function Approaches for Estimating Ex-Post Returns to Agricultural Research," Review of Marketing and Agricultural Economics, Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society, vol. 49(02), pages 1-11, August.
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    4. Ellingson, Dennis & Peterson, Willis L., 1981. "The Allocation Of Research Personnel: Administrators' Response To Expected Rates To Return," Staff Papers 14093, University of Minnesota, Department of Applied Economics.
    5. Norton, George W. & Schuh, G. Edward, 1981. "Evaluating Returns to Social Science Research: Issues and Possible Methods," Evaluation of Agricultural Research, Proceedings of a Workshop, Minneapolis, MN, May 12-13, 1980, Miscellaneous Publication 8 49076, University of Minnesota, Agricultural Experiment Station.
    6. Norton, George W. & Davis, Jeffrey S., 1979. "Review Of Methods Used To Evaluate Returns To Agricultural Research," Staff Papers 13520, University of Minnesota, Department of Applied Economics.
    7. Hayami, Yujiro & Peterson, Willis, 1972. "Social Returns to Public Information Services: Statistical Reporting of U. S. Farm Commodities," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 62(1), pages 119-130, March.
    8. E. Boyd Wennergren & Morris D. Whitaker, 1977. "Social Return to U.S. Technical Assistance in Bolivian Agriculture: The Case of Sheep and Wheat," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 59(3), pages 565-569.
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