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Technological Change and the Productivity Slowdown in Field Crops: United States, 1939-78

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  • Thirtle, Colin G.

Abstract

In the past four decades, productivity in United States field crops has been transformed by the mechanical and fertilizer revolutions. Since input data are typically not available by crop, most investigations of productivity have been at the aggregate level. This paper develops a simultaneous equation, partial adjustment model of the demand for inputs, which generates estimates of the technical change parameters for wheat, corn, soybeans, and cotton. These estimates allow comparisons of the factor saving biases in technical change, leading to a novel test of the induced innovation hypothesis and the suggestion that the productivity slowdown may yet affect agriculture in the United States.

Suggested Citation

  • Thirtle, Colin G., 1985. "Technological Change and the Productivity Slowdown in Field Crops: United States, 1939-78," Journal of Agricultural and Applied Economics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 17(2), pages 33-42, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:jagaec:v:17:y:1985:i:02:p:33-42_02
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    1. Cooke, Stephen C. & Sundquist, W. Burt, 1990. "Scale Economies, Technical Change, And Competitive Advantage In U.S. Soybean Production," 1990 Conference, January 6-9, Albuquerque, New Mexico 260182, Regional Research Committe NC-181: Determinants of Farm Size and Structure.
    2. Cooke, Stephen C., 1991. "The Impact Of Conservation Tillage Technology On U.S. Wheat Productivity Growth And Regional Competitive Advantage," A.E. Research Series 305077, University of Idaho, Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology.
    3. Caracciolo, Francesco & Gotor, Elisabetta & Holloway, Garth J. & Watts, Jamie, 2008. "The Origin, Development And Structure Of Demand For Plant Genetic Resources. The Impact Of The In Trust Agreements To The CGIAR Collections Availability," 82nd Annual Conference, March 31 - April 2, 2008, Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester, UK 36773, Agricultural Economics Society.
    4. Frisvold, George B. & Sullivan, John & Raneses, Anton, 2003. "Genetic improvements in major US crops: the size and distribution of benefits," Agricultural Economics, Blackwell, vol. 28(2), pages 109-119, March.
    5. Cooke, Stephen C., 1991. "The Impact Of Conservation Tillage Technology On U.S. Wheat Productivity Growth And Regional Competitive Advantage," A.E. Research Series 140527, University of Idaho, Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology.
    6. Fuglie, Keith & Ballenger, Nicole & Rubenstein, Kelly Day & Klotz, Cassandra & Ollinger, Michael & Reilly, John & Vasavada, Utpal & Yee, Jet, 1996. "Agricultural Research and Development: Public and Private Investments Under Alternative Markets and Institutions," Agricultural Economic Reports 262031, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.
    7. Frisvold, George B. & Condon, Peter T., 1998. "The convention on biological diversity and agriculture: Implications and unresolved debates1," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 26(4), pages 551-570, April.
    8. Cooke, Stephen C. & Sundquist, W. Burt, 1991. "Measuring And Explaining The Decline In U.S. Cotton Productivity Growth," Southern Journal of Agricultural Economics, Southern Agricultural Economics Association, vol. 23(1), pages 1-16, July.
    9. Cooke, Stephen C. & Sundquist, W. Burt, 1991. "Measuring And Explaining The Decline In U.S. Cotton Productivity Growth," A.E. Research Series 305076, University of Idaho, Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology.
    10. Cooke, Stephen C., 1991. "Cost Efficiency In U.S. Corn, Soybean, Wheat, and Cotton Production," A.E. Research Series 140529, University of Idaho, Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology.
    11. Nolan, Elizabeth & Santos, Paulo & Shi, Guanming, 2012. "Market concentration and productivity in the United States corn sector: 2002-2009," 2012 Annual Meeting, August 12-14, 2012, Seattle, Washington 125941, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    12. Cooke, Stephen C., 1991. "Cost Efficiency In U.S. Corn, Soybean, Wheat, And Cotton Production," A.E. Research Series 305080, University of Idaho, Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology.

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