Agricultural Economics Department

 

First Advisor

Lilyan E. Fulginiti

Date of this Version

12-2013

Document Type

Thesis

Citation

A thesis presented to the faculty of the Graduate College at the University of Nebraska in partial fulfillment of requirements for the degree of Master of Science

Major: Agricultural Economics

Under the supervision of Professor Lilyan E.Fulginiti

Lincoln, Nebraska, December 2013

Comments

Copyright 2013, Preeti Bharati

Abstract

This thesis applies econometric methods to investigate reported decline in productivity in the countries of Mercosur in Latin America. While non-parametric methods in general claimed thus, more recent studies using parametric approach exhibited mixed results. We show that the results are contingent to the estimation method employed, the dataset used and the degree of diversity in socio-political and economic environment prevailing in the countries analysed. Our results indicate that the region is experiencing 2.24% productivity growth dominated by technical growth (1.97%) and marred by low efficiency (0.24%), the latter being explained primarily by the quality of human capital in agriculture, investments in research and the economic environment of the member country.

Advisor: Lilyan E. Fulginiti

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