Multi-factor agricultural productivity and convergence in Botswana, 1981-96

This paper calculates multi-lateral Malmquist multi-factor productivity (MFP) indices for agriculture in the eighteen regions and the commercial sector of Botswana from 1981 to 1996. The Malmquist is appropriate because prices do really exist for major inputs such as land and labour. The small size of the cross section is overcome by using the sequential version of the Malmquist, which accumulates the annual data, so increasing the stability of the frontier. The regional MFPs are the natural peer group for producing a national MFP, so the problem of choosing peers, in earlier work on international comparisons does not arise. The results show that the national MFP grew at an average rate 1.57% per annum. However, disaggregation by enterprise shows that the livestock MFP declined at a rate of 0.34% per annum while that for crops grew at 3.37% per annum. Decomposition of the Malmquist shows that there was positive technological change combined with decreasing efficiency. Comparisons of the regional results show a very clear pattern whereby the advantaged regions are able to exploit new technologies whereas the resource poor, geographically disadvantaged areas have been stagnant and have thereby fallen further and further behind the best practice frontier.Productivity Analysis,

Is African agriculture converging? Evidence from a panel of crop yields

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THE RATE OF RETURN ON EXPENDITURES OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH COUNCIL (ARC)

All the rate of return estimates, regardless of methodology or the level of aggregation, are entirely consistent and logical. The returns show that the ARC has been extremely successful economically and has followed a sound strategy of exploiting spillovers from foreign R&D systems. However, there must be a strong socio-economic component to the ARC's efforts if it is to reach the disadvantaged.Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies,

African Economic Outlook 2015: Thinking regional to foster Africa's structural transformation

Le document est disponible en ligne : http://agritrop.cirad.fr/576298/7/Losch-Thinking_regional-Art_2015.pdfNational audienceAfrican economies need to liberate the potential of their many regions to foster endogenousgrowth and accelerate structural transformation by adopting regional approaches to development - multi-sectoral, place-based and participative - and building on specific localresources.Structura

Income Inequality Trends in sub-Saharan Africa: Divergence, determinants and consequences: Inequality, Gender and Human Development in Africa

Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has witnessed impressive progress on human development over the past 25 years. Indeed, using the Human Development Index (HDI) as a measure of development, since 2000, SSA has experienced more rapid growth than any other region, growing at 1.68 per cent from 2000 to 2010 and 0.94 per cent from 2010 to 2014 (UNDP, 2015a). The rate of progress in some countries – for example, Rwanda, Ethiopia and Mozambique – has been particularly remarkable

Multi-factor agricultural productivity and convergence in Botswana, 1981-96

This paper calculates multi-lateral Malmquist multi-factor productivity (MFP) indices for agriculture in the eighteen regions and the commercial sector of Botswana from 1981 to 1996. The Malmquist is appropriate because prices do really exist for major inputs such as land and labour. The small size of the cross section is overcome by using the sequential version of the Malmquist, which accumulates the annual data, so increasing the stability of the frontier. The regional MFPs are the natural peer group for producing a national MFP, so the problem of choosing peers, in earlier work on international comparisons does not arise. The results show that the national MFP grew at an average rate 1.57% per annum. However, disaggregation by enterprise shows that the livestock MFP declined at a rate of 0.34% per annum while that for crops grew at 3.37% per annum. Decomposition of the Malmquist shows that there was positive technological change combined with decreasing efficiency. Comparisons of the regional results show a very clear pattern whereby the advantaged regions are able to exploit new technologies whereas the resource poor, geographically disadvantaged areas have been stagnant and have thereby fallen further and further behind the best practice frontier

THE RATE OF RETURN ON EXPENDITURES OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH COUNCIL (ARC)

All the rate of return estimates, regardless of methodology or the level of aggregation, are entirely consistent and logical. The returns show that the ARC has been extremely successful economically and has followed a sound strategy of exploiting spillovers from foreign R&D systems. However, there must be a strong socio-economic component to the ARC's efforts if it is to reach the disadvantaged