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Property Rights, Labor Mobility and Collectivization: The Impact of Institutional Changes on China’s Agriculture in 1950-1978

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  • Sun, Shengmin
  • Lopez, Rigoberto A.
  • Liu, Xiaoou

Abstract

This paper evaluates the impact of property rights, labor mobility barriers and degrees of collectivization on China’s agricultural growth in 1950-1978. Using a semi-Bayesian stochastic frontier analysis, we find that collective production with free labor mobility and private property rights was the most efficient institutional setting. Although deviations from the two institutions resulted in a decline in agricultural production, the loss in agricultural production from labor mobility barriers was up to five times greater than loss from depriving farmers of private property rights.

Suggested Citation

  • Sun, Shengmin & Lopez, Rigoberto A. & Liu, Xiaoou, 2016. "Property Rights, Labor Mobility and Collectivization: The Impact of Institutional Changes on China’s Agriculture in 1950-1978," Working Paper series 290121, University of Connecticut, Charles J. Zwick Center for Food and Resource Policy.
    • Handle: RePEc:ags:ucozwp:290121
    DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.290121
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Labor and Human Capital; Public Economics;

    JEL classification:

    • O2 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Development Planning and Policy
    • O4 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity
    • Q18 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Agriculture - - - Agricultural Policy; Food Policy; Animal Welfare Policy
    • N55 - Economic History - - Agriculture, Natural Resources, Environment and Extractive Industries - - - Asia including Middle East

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