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Measuring Agricultural Productivity: A New Look

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  • Ball, V. Eldon

Abstract

This paper presents revised procedures for calculating total factor productivity and measuring productivity growth in U.S. agriculture over the postwar years. Our estimates reflect (1) a disaggregated treatment of outputs and inputs and (2) indexing / procedures that do not im ose a priori restrictions on the structure of production. We find that productivity grew at the average annual rate of 1. 5 percent during the 1948-79 period, compared with the 1.70 percent per year estimated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The similar estimates of productivity growth overshadow some important differences in measurement of individual inputs.

Suggested Citation

  • Ball, V. Eldon, 1984. "Measuring Agricultural Productivity: A New Look," Staff Reports 277585, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.
    • Handle: RePEc:ags:uerssr:277585
    DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.277585
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Trueblood, Michael A. & Ruttan, Vernon W., 1992. "A Comparison Of Multifactor Productivity Calculations Of The U.S. Agricultural Sector," Staff Papers 14165, University of Minnesota, Department of Applied Economics.
    2. Trueblood, Michael A., 1994. "An Annotated Bibliography Of Selected Productivity Literature," Staff Papers 13580, University of Minnesota, Department of Applied Economics.
    3. Reed, Michael & Salvacruz, Joseph, 1995. "Technological Progress and International Trade: The Case of the Less Developed ASEAN Countries," 1994 Conference, August 22-29, 1994, Harare, Zimbabwe 183397, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    4. Arnade, Carlos Anthony, 1994. "Testing two trade models in Latin American agriculture," Agricultural Economics, Blackwell, vol. 10(1), pages 49-59, January.
    5. Arnade, Carlos A., 1992. "Productivity of Brazilian Agriculture: Measurement and Uses," Staff Reports 278673, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.
    6. Bottomley, Paul & Ozanne, Adam & Thirtle, Colin, 1988. "A Total Factor Productivity Index for U.K. Agriculture 1967-87," Manchester Working Papers in Agricultural Economics 232799, University of Manchester, School of Economics, Agricultural Economics Department.
    7. Unknown, 1994. "Evaluating Agricultural Research And Productivity In An Era Of Resource Scarcity," Staff Papers 14039, University of Minnesota, Department of Applied Economics.
    8. LeBlanc, Michael & Yanagida, John F. & Conway, Roger K., 1985. "The Derived Demand For Real Cash Balances In Agricultural Production," Staff Reports 277838, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.

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