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Are small farms really more productive than large farms?

Author

Listed:
  • Fernando M. Aragón

    (Institute for Fiscal Studies)

  • Diego Restuccia

    (Institute for Fiscal Studies)

  • Juan Pablo Rud

    (Institute for Fiscal Studies and Royal Holloway, University of London)

Abstract

This paper shows that using yields may not be informative of the relationship between farm size and productivity in the context of small-scale farming. This occurs because, in addition to productivity, yields pick up size-dependent market distortions and decreasing returns to scale. As a result, a positive relationship between farm productivity and land size may turn negative when using yields. We illustrate the empirical relevance of this issue with microdata from Uganda and show similar findings for Peru, Tanzania, and Bangladesh. In addition, we show that the dispersion in both measures of productivity across farms of similar size is so large that it renders farm size an ine?ective indicator for policy targeting. Our findings stress the need to revisit the empirical evidence on the farm size-productivity relationship and its policy implications.

Suggested Citation

  • Fernando M. Aragón & Diego Restuccia & Juan Pablo Rud, 2021. "Are small farms really more productive than large farms?," IFS Working Papers W21/35, Institute for Fiscal Studies.
    • Handle: RePEc:ifs:ifsewp:21/35
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    JEL classification:

    • O12 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Microeconomic Analyses of Economic Development
    • O13 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Agriculture; Natural Resources; Environment; Other Primary Products
    • Q12 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Agriculture - - - Micro Analysis of Farm Firms, Farm Households, and Farm Input Markets
    • Q15 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Agriculture - - - Land Ownership and Tenure; Land Reform; Land Use; Irrigation; Agriculture and Environment

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