Agricultural Economics Department
Date of this Version
12-2013
Citation
Bharati, P. (2013). Agricultural productivity in Mercosur. M.S. thesis, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE.
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
Comments
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.
Copyright (c) 2013 Preeti Bharati