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Modeling technological bias and factor input behavior in China's wheat production sector

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Listed:
  • Zhu, Shu
  • Xu, Xin
  • Ren, Xiaojing
  • Sun, Tianhua
  • Oxley, Les
  • Rae, Allan
  • Ma, Hengyun

Abstract

Over the past three decades, China has implemented reforms in the agricultural sector in an attempt to increase efficiency and food security. However, China now faces a number of environmental degradation problems, in part, caused by her past agricultural reforms. In this paper we estimate, using a provincial-based panel dataset, a third-order translog cost function for China's grain production sector over the period 1990–2011. Results from the estimation, including estimated elasticities of demand for and substitution of factors, suggest that labor and capital are substitutes. This arises because the increasing cost of labor, induced by urbanization and the growth of the manufacturing sector, has lead to a substitution of machinery for labor in the production of wheat. The results are consistent with current government policies to encourage via subsidies and agricultural mechanization, which we show to be technically, a substitute for labor. We further conclude this will create an additional bonus of reducing the amount of fertilizer that is needed to efficiently and securely produce wheat in China, as the new capital is more efficient at fertilizer distribution.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhu, Shu & Xu, Xin & Ren, Xiaojing & Sun, Tianhua & Oxley, Les & Rae, Allan & Ma, Hengyun, 2016. "Modeling technological bias and factor input behavior in China's wheat production sector," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 53(C), pages 245-253.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecmode:v:53:y:2016:i:c:p:245-253
    DOI: 10.1016/j.econmod.2015.11.027
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    Cited by:

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    3. Shuai Zhang & Xiaoman Zhao & Changwei Yuan & Xiu Wang, 2020. "Technological Bias and Its Influencing Factors in Sustainable Development of China’s Transportation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(14), pages 1-26, July.
    4. Chen Cao & Xueyun Chen, 2021. "Can Industrial Integration Improve the Sustainability of Grain Security?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(24), pages 1-17, December.
    5. Ma, Wanglin & Zheng, Hongyun, 2021. "Impacts of Smartphone Use on Agrochemical Use Among Wheat Farmers in China: A Heterogeneous Analysis," 2021 Conference, August 17-31, 2021, Virtual 314991, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
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    7. Chen, You-hua & Chen, Mei-xia & Mishra, Ashok K., 2020. "Subsidies under uncertainty: Modeling of input- and output-oriented policies," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 39-56.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    China; Grain production; Technological and factor biases; Demand and substitution; Agricultural mechanization;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O53 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economywide Country Studies - - - Asia including Middle East
    • Q10 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Agriculture - - - General
    • Q18 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Agriculture - - - Agricultural Policy; Food Policy; Animal Welfare Policy

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