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Explaining the Decline in UK Agricultural Productivity Growth

Author

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  • Colin Thirtle
  • Lin Lin Lin
  • Jim Holding
  • Lindie Jenkins
  • Jenifer Piesse

Abstract

This paper reports the results of a study of total factor productivity (TFP) growth in UK agriculture, from 1953‐2000. It shows that prior to 1984 TFP grew at 1.68% per annum and after that date at only 0.26%. International comparisons show that the UK has fallen far behind the leading EU countries. Yield growth declined even more and only labour productivity continues to grow rapidly. In part, the result is due to better data that incorporates more quality adjustment, but the real decline can be explained mainly by cuts in R&D, less patents, less growth in farm size and the demise of public extension. There are other negative factors, which have not been quantified, including asset fixity, convergence and ozone pollution, and a background argument that recent growth rates cannot be sustained.

Suggested Citation

  • Colin Thirtle & Lin Lin Lin & Jim Holding & Lindie Jenkins & Jenifer Piesse, 2004. "Explaining the Decline in UK Agricultural Productivity Growth," Journal of Agricultural Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 55(2), pages 343-366, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:jageco:v:55:y:2004:i:2:p:343-366
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1477-9552.2004.tb00100.x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Alston, Julian M. & Wyatt, T. J. & Pardey, Philip G. & Marra, Michele C. & Chan-Kang, Connie, 2000. "A meta-analysis of rates of return to agricultural R & D: ex pede Herculem?," Research reports 113, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
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    Cited by:

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    2. Konstantakis, Konstantinos N. & Michaelides, Panayotis G., 2017. "Does technology cause business cycles in the USA? A Schumpeter-inspired approach," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 43(C), pages 15-26, December.
    3. Gandidzanwa, Colleta & Liebenberg, Frikkie & Meyer, Ferdi & Conradie, Beatrice, 2019. "Quality adjusting agricultural machinery in South Africa," Agrekon, Agricultural Economics Association of South Africa (AEASA), vol. 58(1), March.
    4. Eldon Ball & David Schimmelpfennig & Sun Ling Wang, 2013. "Is U.S. Agricultural Productivity Growth Slowing?," Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 35(3), pages 435-450.
    5. Yucan Liu & C. Richard Shumway & Robert Rosenman & Virgil Eldon Ball, 2011. "Productivity growth and convergence in US agriculture: new cointegration panel data results," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 43(1), pages 91-102.
    6. Piesse, Jenifer & Thirtle, Colin, 2009. "Three bubbles and a panic: An explanatory review of recent food commodity price events," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 34(2), pages 119-129, April.
    7. repec:ags:ijag24:345073 is not listed on IDEAS
    8. Appau, Samuelson & Awaworyi Churchill, Sefa & Smyth, Russell & Trinh, Trong-Anh, 2021. "The long-term impact of the Vietnam War on agricultural productivity," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 146(C).
    9. Konstantakis, Konstantinos N. & Michaelides, Panayotis G., 2017. "Technology and Business Cycles: A Schumpeterian Investigation for the USA," MPRA Paper 80636, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    10. Barnes, Andrew Peter, 2006. "Technical Efficiency Estimates of Scottish Agriculture: Evidence from the dairy, sheep and cereals sector," Working Papers 45999, Scotland's Rural College (formerly Scottish Agricultural College), Land Economy & Environment Research Group.
    11. Nasir nadeem, Dr. & khalid Mushtaq, Dr., 2010. "Role of Agricultural Research and Extension in Enhancing Agricultural Productivity in Punjab, Pakistan," MPRA Paper 27769, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    12. Yiorgos Gadanakis & Jorge Campos-González & Philip Jones, 2024. "Linking Entrepreneurship to Productivity: Using a Composite Indicator for Farm-Level Innovation in UK Agriculture with Secondary Data," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-23, March.
    13. Fiona Thorne, 2005. "Examining The Competitiveness Of Cereal Production In Selected Eu Countries," Working Papers 0507, Rural Economy and Development Programme,Teagasc.
    14. Thirtle, C., 2013. "Theory, measurement, policy and politics: Agricultural R&D and productivity in three countries," Agrekon, Agricultural Economics Association of South Africa (AEASA), vol. 51(3), February.
    15. Robert G. Chambers & Simone Pieralli & Yu Sheng, 2020. "The Millennium Droughts and Australian Agricultural Productivity Performance: A Nonparametric Analysis," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 102(5), pages 1383-1403, October.
    16. O. V. Dovgal & M. V. Kravchenko & N. I. Demchuk & O. A. Odnoshevnaya & O.Y. Novikov & U. Y. Andrusiv & I. M. Lesik & I. R. Popadynets, 2017. "Methods Of Competitiveness Assessment Of Agricultural Enterprise In Eastern Europe," Regional Science Inquiry, Hellenic Association of Regional Scientists, vol. 0(2), pages 231-242, December.

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