Suchergebnisse

AbstractLessons are presented from a career in evaluating impacts of agricultural technologies and institutions, with a major focus on pest management in developing countries. Agricultural productivity growth is fundamental to economic transformation and development, driven largely by technological and institutional changes. The latter are induced by changes in relative prices and are affected by transactions costs and collective action with implications for efficiency and poverty. Agricultural development leads to changes in farm structure and to many of the most educated existing rural communities. Institutional changes are needed to encourage rural investment and compensate those caught in place‐based poverty. Poverty is exacerbated by effects of climate change and pest problems with significant implications for the agenda of agricultural economists.

AbstractAgricultural extension programs have changed significantly over the past four decades. What has changed and why? Have these changes affected adoption of innovations by farmers? What if anything should policy makers and extension agencies do differently, particularly in developing countries? Structural changes in agriculture, new types of agricultural technologies, tight public budgets, efforts to decentralize government, and emerging information and communication technologies (ICT) have led to pluralistic and, in some cases, lower‐cost extension and advisory services that combine public and private mechanisms for financing and implementing extension activities. Farmer groups and virtual networks play a growing role in technology diffusion, and extension services can exploit these networks using the latest ICT approaches.

Agricultural Productivity: Measurement and Sources of Growth addresses measurement issues and techniques in agricultural productivity analysis, applying those techniques to recently published data sets for American agriculture. The data sets are used to estimate and explain state level productivity and efficiency differences, and to test different approaches to productivity measurement. The rise in agricultural productivity is the single most important source of economic growth in the U.S. farm sector, and the rate of productivity growth is estimated to be higher in agriculture than in the non-farm sector. It is important to understand productivity sources and to measure its growth properly, including the effects of environmental externalities. Both the methods and the data can be accessed by economists at the state level to conduct analyses for their own states. In a sense, although not explicitly, the book provides a guide to using the productivity data available on the website of the U.S. Department of Agriculture/Economic Research Service. It should be of interest to a broad spectrum of professionals in academia, the government, and the private sector

Economists provide sometimes contradictory information about economic systems that contribute to policy design. How does one value this type of knowledge? A political‐economic game is presented that allows for reinforcing and contradictory research messages. Policy makers are assumed to follow a Bayesian decision theory process and the model is tested with quantitative estimates of the value of research on the degree of bias in the Consumer Price Index. Most economists agree that a bias exists, but published estimates vary widely. A blue‐ribbon panel of economists recommended revisions to how the index is calculated, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics subsequently made revisions that differed from their original plans, but how much influence did the panel really have on the revisions? (JEL Z00)

"Economics of Agricultural Development examines the causes, severity, and effects of poverty, population growth, and malnutrition in developing countries. It discusses potential solutions to these problems, progress made in many countries in recent years, and the implications of globalization for agriculture, poverty, and the environment. Topics covered in the book include: Means for utilizing agricultural surpluses to further overall economic development. The sustainability of the natural resource environment. Gender issues in relation to agriculture and resource use. The contribution of improved technologies to agricultural development. The importance of agricultural policies and institutions to development and trade. Actions to encourage more rapid agricultural and economic development This new edition reflects the following developments: Growth in environmental challenges due to climate change. Continued progress in agricultural and economic development in many low-income countries while other countries and regions are being left behind. Continued growth in demand for higher-valued farm products This book is essential reading for undergraduate students seeking to understand the economics of agricultural development and the world food system, including environmental and human consequences, international trade, and capital flows. It contains a wealth of real-world case studies and is accompanied by a website."

El cambio tecnologico en la produccion nacional de maiz duro ha sido significativo como fruto del esfuerzo mancomunado de investigadores nacionales, la cooperacion tecnica internacional, y la empresa privada. La evaluacion economica de las inversiones en investigacion y transferencia de tecnologia en ese cereal arroja rentabilidades del 54 al 89 por ciento. Este estudio basado en conservadores supuestos, constituye el mejor justificativo para asignar recursos adicionales a las actividades de generacion, transferencia y adopcion de tecnologias apropiadas a la realidad agropecuaria. (Ecuador Debate/DÜI)