Technical Change and Productive Efficiency: Irrigated Rice in the Philippines *

Panel data are used to study the technical efficiency of rice producers in the Philippines. Production efficiency over time is measured using a stochastic frontier regression with error decomposition. Sources of inefficiency are identified and the link between irrigation and productive efficiency is measured. Results suggest that irrigation was associated with higher levels of technical efficiency in the sample. Copyright 2007 The AuthorsJournal compilation 2007 East Asian Economic Association and Blackwell Publishing Ltd .