The paper proposes a theory of technology development for semi-arid regions. It then evaluates the theory by reviewing the characteristics of technologies successfully introduced into the regions and, with modeling, identifying some constraints to further technology introduction of the type...

The purpose of the paper is to explain the determinants of technological adoption and demonstrate the importance of technological change in rice yield growth during China's reform period. Using a unique data set on the nation's rice economy, in the first part of a two stage econometric model,...

Under irrigated conditions agricultural producers are expected to adjust their crop patterns, irrigation systems, and production practices as ground water tables decline and irrigation costs increase. This study provides insight into the efficient path of irrigation technology adoption and the...

Chinese agricultural reforms have consisted of two transitional stages; initially decollectivization in the late 1970s followed by market liberalization in the mid 1980s. While much research has been conducted on the initial stage of increasing the incentives for farmers in collective...

This paper reviews the features and uses of some recent biophysical and bioeconomic simulation models in agricultural economics research. Problems associated with earlier models are discussed and the extent to which recent simulators have addressed these concerns is appraised. Some salient...

This study estimates frontier production functions with cross-section data for the Spanish agrofood industry by using deterministic and stochastic parametric approaches. We compute the individual technical efficiency for each firm, compare the results and explain the relationship between...