IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/p/ags/eptddp/16055.html

Cost Aspects Of African Agricultural Research

Author

Listed:
  • Pardey, Philip G.
  • Roseboom, Johannes
  • Beintema, Nienke M.
  • Chan-Kang, Connie

Abstract

Spending per scientist declined precipitously within African agricultural R&D agencies over the past several decades. In 1991, average cost per researcher across 147 R&D agencies was $119,300 in 1985 international dollars–or US$59,500 when measured in United States rather than international dollars—34 percent below the corresponding 1961 figure. This trend reflects the rapid growth in numbers of scientific staff compared with the slow growth in funds to support them. Comparatively low, and often shrinking, real salaries per scientist are a factor too. African scientists were paid an average of US$5,000 in 1991 (or roughly US$7,500 with fringe benefits included), while comparable average salaries for academic staff working in large public universities in the United States were $58,889 (or $72,667 with fringe benefits included). The new, agency-level data reported in this paper reveal significant variation in the costs per scientist not apparent from the country averages. From the 147 agencies for which we have data, spending per scientist in 1991 ranged from a low of $16,400 for WRRU, Zambia, to $400,000 for ARD, Swaziland (in 1985 international dollars). There were 67 agencies (46 percent) that spent less than $100,000 per scientist per annum. We used some simple econometric procedures applied to a sub-sample of 107 agencies in 21 countries to investigate reason for the large variation in costs per scientist. The intensity of support staff per scientist and the intensity with which expatriate researchers are used are important sources of variation. Larger stations lowered the costs and having more significant influence on its costs. Semipublic agencies typically spent considerably more per scientist than government agencies with 1991 figures of $207,700 for the former, compared with around $104,600 for the latter (in 1985 international dollars). GDP per capita and various other unspecified, country-specific effects also accounted for much of the observed variation in costs per scientist.

Suggested Citation

  • Pardey, Philip G. & Roseboom, Johannes & Beintema, Nienke M. & Chan-Kang, Connie, 1999. "Cost Aspects Of African Agricultural Research," EPTD Discussion Papers 16055, CGIAR, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    • Handle: RePEc:ags:eptddp:16055
    DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.16055
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://ageconsearch.umn.edu/record/16055/files/ept-dp42.pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.22004/ag.econ.16055?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Beintema, Nienke M. & Pardey, Philip G. & Roseboom, Johannes, 1998. "Educating Agricultural Researchers: A Review Of The Role Of African Universities," EPTD Discussion Papers 16046, CGIAR, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    2. Beintema, Nienke M. & Pardey, Philip G. & Roseboom, Johannes, 1998. "The changing organizational basis of African agricultural research:," EPTD discussion papers 37, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    3. Pardey, Philip G. & Roseboom, Johannes & Beintema, Nienke M., 1997. "Investments in african agricultural research," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 25(3), pages 409-423, March.
    4. Dia, M., 1993. "A Governance Approach to Civil Service Reform in Sub- Saharan Africa," Papers 225, World Bank - Technical Papers.
    5. Christian Schiller, 1990. "Government Pay Policies and Structural Adjustment," African Development Review, African Development Bank, vol. 2(1), pages 81-120.
    6. Barbara J. Craig & Philip G. Pardey & Johannes Roseboom, 1997. "International Productivity Patterns: Accounting for Input Quality, Infrastructure, and Research," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 79(4), pages 1064-1076.
    7. Taylor, A. & Boukambou, G. & Dahniya, M. & Ouayogode, B. & Ayling, R. & Noor, M.A. & Toure, M., 1996. "Strengthening National Agricultural Research Systems in the Humid and Sub-Humid Zones of West and Central Africa: A Framework for Action," Papers 318, World Bank - Technical Papers.
    8. Roseboom, Johannes & Pardey, Philip G. & Beintema, Nienke M., 1998. "The changing organizational basis of African agricultural research:," EPTD discussion papers 37, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    9. Nunberg,Barbara, 1988. "Public sector pay and employment reform : a review of World Bank experience," Policy Research Working Paper Series 113, The World Bank.
    10. Roseboom, Johannes & Pardey, Philip G. & Beintema, Nienke M., 1998. "The changing organizational basis of African agricultural research," EPTD Discussion Papers 97515, CGIAR, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    11. Beintema, Nienke M. & Pardey, Philip G. & Roseboom, Johannes, 1998. "Educating agricultural researchers: a review of the role of African universities," EPTD discussion papers 36, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    12. Weijenberg, J. & Dione, J. & Fuchs-Carsch, M. & Lefort, J., 1993. "Revitalizing Agricultural Research in the Sahel, A Proposed Framework for Action," World Bank - Discussion Papers 211, World Bank.
    13. Weijenberg, J. & Dagg, M. & Kampen, J. & Kalunda, M. & Mailu, A.M. & Ketema, S. & avarro, L. & Adi Noor, M., 1995. "Strenghtening National Agricultural Research Systems in Eastern and Central Africa. A Framework for Action," Papers 290, World Bank - Technical Papers.
    14. Robert E. Lucas & Jr., 1967. "Adjustment Costs and the Theory of Supply," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 75(4), pages 321-321.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Walker, Thomas S. & Pitoro, Raul & Tomo, Alda & Sitoe, Isabel & Salencia, Celestino & Mahanzule, Rosalina & Donovan, Cynthia & Mazuze, Feliciano M., 2006. "Priority Setting for Public-Sector Agricultural Research in Mozambique with the National Agricultural Survey Data," Food Security Collaborative Working Papers 56113, Michigan State University, Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics.
    2. Walker, Thomas S. & Pitoro, Raul & Tomo, Alda & Sitoe, Isabel & Salencia, Celestino & Mahanzule, Rosalina & Donovan, Cynthia & Mazuze, Feliciano M., 2006. "Estabelecimento de Prioridades para a Investigação Agrária no Sector Público em Moçambique Baseado nos Dados do Trabalho de Inquérito Agrícola (TIA)," Food Security Collaborative Working Papers 55866, Michigan State University, Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics.
    3. Sumberg, James, 2005. "Systems of innovation theory and the changing architecture of agricultural research in Africa," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 30(1), pages 21-41, February.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Beintema, Nienke M. & Chan-Kang, Connie & Pardey, Philip G. & Roseboom, Johannes, 1999. "Cost aspects of African agricultural research:," EPTD discussion papers 42, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    2. Beintema, Nienke M. & Pardey, Philip G. & Roseboom, Johannes, 1998. "The changing organizational basis of African agricultural research:," EPTD discussion papers 37, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    3. Falck-Zepeda, José & Komen, John & Linacre, Nicholas & MacLaren, Donald, 2006. "Risk assessment and management of genetically modified organisms under Australia's Gene Technology Act:," EPTD discussion papers 157, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    4. Baquero-Haeberlin, Irma & Barreto-Triana, Nancy & Espitia-Malagón, Eduardo & Falck Zepeda, José & Fierro-Guzmán, Humberto & López, Nancy, 2006. "An exploration of the potential benefits of integrated pest management systems and the use of insect resistant potatoes to control the Guatemalan Tuber Moth (Tecia solanivora Povolny) in Ventaquemada, Colombia:," EPTD discussion papers 152, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    5. Walker, Thomas S. & Pitoro, Raul & Tomo, Alda & Sitoe, Isabel & Salencia, Celestino & Mahanzule, Rosalina & Donovan, Cynthia & Mazuze, Feliciano M., 2006. "Estabelecimento de Prioridades para a Investigação Agrária no Sector Público em Moçambique Baseado nos Dados do Trabalho de Inquérito Agrícola (TIA)," Food Security Collaborative Working Papers 55866, Michigan State University, Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics.
    6. Paul J. Block & Kenneth Strzepek & Mark W. Rosegrant & Xinshen Diao, 2008. "Impacts of considering climate variability on investment decisions in Ethiopia," Agricultural Economics, International Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 39(2), pages 171-181, September.
    7. Moshonas, Stylianos & De Herdt, Tom & Titeca, Kristof & Balungwe Shamavu, Paulin, 2024. "Increasingly wageless? The political economy of salary supplements in the Congolese civil service," IOB Working Papers 2024.09, Universiteit Antwerpen, Institute of Development Policy (IOB).
    8. Chavas, Jean-Paul & Di Falco, Salvatore & Smale, Melinda, 2006. "Farmer management of production risk on degraded lands: the role of wheat genetic diversity in Tigray Region, Ethiopia," EPTD discussion papers 153, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    9. Smale, Melinda & Zambrano, Patricia & Falck-Zepeda, Jose Benjamin & Gruere, Guillaume P., 2006. "Parables: applied economics literature about the impact of genetically engineered crop varieties in developing economies," EPTD Discussion Papers 55412, CGIAR, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    10. repec:ags:ijag24:345038 is not listed on IDEAS
    11. Gruere, Guillaume P., 2006. "An analysis of trade related international regulations of genetically modified food and their effects on developing countries," EPTD Discussion Papers 55422, CGIAR, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    12. Liebenberg, Frikkie & Pardey, Philip G., 2011. "South African agricultural R&D: Policies and public institutions, 1880–2007," Agrekon, Agricultural Economics Association of South Africa (AEASA), vol. 50(01), June.
    13. Pardey, Philip G. & Alston, Julian M. & Chan-Kang, Connie & Magalhaes, Eduardo Castelo & Vosti, Stephen A., 2002. "Assessing And Attributing The Benefits From Varietal Improvement Research: Evidence From Embrapa, Brazil," EPTD Discussion Papers 16103, CGIAR, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    14. Gruere, Guillaume P. & Giuliani, Alessandra & Smale, Melinda, 2006. "Marketing underutilized plant species for the benefit of the poor: a conceptual framework," EPTD Discussion Papers 55418, CGIAR, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    15. Walker, Thomas S. & Pitoro, Raul & Tomo, Alda & Sitoe, Isabel & Salencia, Celestino & Mahanzule, Rosalina & Donovan, Cynthia & Mazuze, Feliciano M., 2006. "Priority Setting for Public-Sector Agricultural Research in Mozambique with the National Agricultural Survey Data," Food Security Collaborative Working Papers 56113, Michigan State University, Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics.
    16. Pardey, Philip G. & Roseboom, Johannes & Beintema, Nienke M., 1997. "Investments in african agricultural research," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 25(3), pages 409-423, March.
    17. Sylvain Catherine & Thomas Chaney & Zongbo Huang & David Sraer & David Thesmar, 2022. "Quantifying Reduced‐Form Evidence on Collateral Constraints," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 77(4), pages 2143-2181, August.
    18. Bils, Mark & Chang, Yongsung, 2000. "Understanding how price responds to costs and production," Carnegie-Rochester Conference Series on Public Policy, Elsevier, vol. 52(1), pages 33-77, June.
    19. Rodrigo Pereira, 2015. "Investment and Uncertainty in a Quadratic Adjustment Cost Model: Evidence from Brazil," Discussion Papers 0085, Instituto de Pesquisa Econômica Aplicada - IPEA.
    20. Dale T. Mortensen, 2010. "Dynamic Monopsonistic Competition and Labor Market Equilibrium," 2010 Meeting Papers 164, Society for Economic Dynamics.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:ags:eptddp:16055. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: AgEcon Search (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://edirc.repec.org/data/ifprius.html .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.