In this paper recent developments in the estimation of frontier functions and the measurement of efficiency are surveyed, and the potential applicability of these methods in agricultural economics is discussed. Frontier production, cost and profit functions are discussed, along with the...

While the combination of several or more models is often found to improve forecasts (Brandt and Bessler, Min and Zellner, Norwood and Schroeder), hypothesis tests are typically conducted using a single model approach 1 . Hypothesis tests and forecasts have similar goals; they seek to define a...

Model selection is often conducted by ranking models by their out-of-sample forecast error. Such criteria only incorporate information about the expected value, whereas models usually describe the entire probability distribution. Hence, researchers may desire a criteria evaluating the...

This paper describes two problems when testing the efficiency of intra-household allocations. First, using Monte Carlo simulations I show that the test proposed for efficiency in consumption has a high type-II error, leading to a false acceptance of the hypothesis. Second, I show it is possible...

The Induced Innovation Hypothesis (IIH) is tested for Western US agriculture by means of a cointegration test. An ECM model is used to separate the short-run and long-run effects of relative price changes. A difference in the elasticities of factor substitution along the isoquant curve and the...

Consistent aggregation of production data across commodities and states was tested using Lewbel's generalized composite commodity theorem (GCCT). This was the first empirical GCCT test for consistent geographic aggregation and was applied to two groups of states. Consistent commodity aggregation...

The sensitivity of WTP is tested in terms of the present value and the implied discount rates are derived by varying the length of benefit and the temporal payment schedules. Results show that holding the length of the project constant, the present value of willingness to pay does not vary...

This paper provides an overview of the main research contributions of the past decade using general equilibrium models to analyse agricultural issues in South Africa. The methodological developments since the change to democracy ten years ago are viewed in the context of developments in this...

North Dakota's input-output model has become an integral part of many economic research activities involving state issues. Since its development to analyze the economic impacts associated with irrigation development in the 1960s, the model has been updated and used to analyze the effects of a...