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From guesstimates to GPStimates : land area measurement and implications for agricultural analysis

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  • Carletto,Calogero
  • Gourlay,Sydney
  • Winters,Paul Conal
  • Carletto,Calogero
  • Gourlay,Sydney
  • Winters,Paul Conal

Abstract

Land area measurement is a fundamental component of agricultural statistics and analysis. Yet, commonly employed self-reported land area measures used in most analysis are not only potentially measured with error, but these errors may be correlated with agricultural outcomes. Measures employing Global Positioning Systems, on the other hand, while not perfect especially on smaller plots, are likely to provide more precise measures and errors less correlated with agricultural outcomes. This paper uses data from four African countries to compare the use of self-reported and Global Positioning Systems land measures to (1) examine the differences between the measures, (2) identify the sources of the differences, and (3) assess the implications of the different measures on agricultural analysis focusing on the inverse productivity relationship. The results indicate that self-reported land areas systematically differ from Global Positioning Systems land measures and that this difference leads to potentially biased estimates of the relationship between land and productivity.

Suggested Citation

  • Carletto,Calogero & Gourlay,Sydney & Winters,Paul Conal & Carletto,Calogero & Gourlay,Sydney & Winters,Paul Conal, 2013. "From guesstimates to GPStimates : land area measurement and implications for agricultural analysis," Policy Research Working Paper Series 6550, The World Bank.
    • Handle: RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:6550
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    6. Gelli, Aulo & Hawkes, Corinna & Donovan, Jason & Harris, Jody & Allen, Summer L. & de Brauw, Alan & Henson, Spencer & Johnson, Nancy L. & Garrett, James & Ryckembusch, David, 2015. "Value chains and nutrition: A framework to support the identification, design, and evaluation of interventions:," IFPRI discussion papers 1413, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    7. Maue, Casey C. & Burke, Marshall & Emerick, Kyle, 2020. "Productivity dispersion and persistence among the world's most numerous firms," 2020 Annual Meeting, July 26-28, Kansas City, Missouri 304287, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    8. Beddow, Jason M. & Hurley, Terrance M. & Pardey, Philip G. & Alston, Julian M., 2015. "Rethinking yield gaps," Staff Papers 201093, University of Minnesota, Department of Applied Economics.

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