Productivity Growth, Technology Progress, and Efficiency Change in Chinese Agricultural Production from 1984 to 1993

Agricultural Economics Report No. 362

40 Pages Posted: 2 Jul 1997

See all articles by Won W. Koo

Won W. Koo

North Dakota State University

Weining Mao

North Dakota State University

Date Written: September 1996

Abstract

This study applies a Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) approach to analyze total factor productivity, technology, and efficiency changes in Chinese agricultural production from 1984 to 1993. Twenty-nine provinces in China were classified into advanced-technology and low-technology categories. The Malmquist productivity measures were decomposed into two components: technical change index and efficiency change index. The results showed that total factor productivity has risen in most provinces for both technology categories. Technical progress has been the most important factor to Chinese agricultural productivity growth since 1984 and will remain crucial to productivity growth in low-technology provinces. Low efficiency in many important agricultural provinces indicates a great potential for China to increase productivity through improving technical efficiency. Continuously expanding market economy and enhancing rural education may also help farmers to improve technical efficiency and productivity in agricultural production.

JEL Classification: Q11, Q16

Suggested Citation

Koo, Won W. and Mao, Weining, Productivity Growth, Technology Progress, and Efficiency Change in Chinese Agricultural Production from 1984 to 1993 (September 1996). Agricultural Economics Report No. 362, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=15076 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.15076

Won W. Koo (Contact Author)

North Dakota State University ( email )

Morrill 209B
Fargo, ND 58105
United States
701-231-7448 (Phone)
701-231-7400 (Fax)

Weining Mao

North Dakota State University ( email )

Fargo, ND 58105
United States