Induced Innovation in United States Agriculture, 1880-1990

Induced Innovation in United States Agriculture, 1880-1990
Author: Colin Thirtle
Publisher:
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2015
Genre:
ISBN:

An error correction model (ECM) of induced innovation, based on the two-stage CES production function allows direct tests of the inducement hypothesis, which are applied to U.S. data for 1880-1990. The time series properties of the variables include a structural break in 1920, cointegration is established and an ECM constructed, which allows factor substitution to be separated from technological change. Causality tests show that the factor-price ratios and R&D are Granger-prior to the factor-saving biases of technological change. The inducement hypothesis is corroborated, and identified as one factor in the complex development of U.S. agriculture.

Estimation of Factor Augmenting Technical Change

Estimation of Factor Augmenting Technical Change
Author: Subal C. Kumbhakar
Publisher:
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2015
Genre:
ISBN:

This paper deals with estimation of technical change through changes in input factor efficiency/productivity. The main advantage of this factor augmenting (FA) approach, unlike the generic time trend models of technical change, is that one can measure input-specific productivity, change in input productivity, and the contribution of each input to overall (aggregate) technical change. In general, one can obtain more information about the nature of technical change from the FA approach compared to the popular time trend models. We model FA technical change in both primal and dual setups. In the dual approach we consider both cost and profit functions in the single and multiple output cases. Output efficiency factors are also added in the multiple output FA cost function model. Time series and panel (state level) data from U.S. agriculture are used to estimate several FA cost function models. The standard time trend models are also estimated using both the data sets. A translog cost system is used for all the specifications. Finally, results from alternative models are analyzed.