文章基本信息

标题：FARM SIZE AND THE DETERMINANTS OF PRODUCTIVE EFFICIENCY IN THE BRAZILIAN CENTER-WEST
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作者：Helfand, Steven M.
期刊名称：Journal of Agribusiness
印刷版ISSN：0738-8950
出版年度：2003
期号：suppl
出版社：Journal of Agribusiness
摘要：This paper explores the determinants of technical efficiency, and the relationship between farm size and efficiency, in the Center-West of Brazil. This is the region where agricultural production and total factor productivity have grown the fastest since 1970. It is also a region characterized by unusually large farms. Technical efficiency is studied with Data Envelopment Analysis and county level data disaggregated by farm size and type of land tenure. The efficiency measure is regressed on a set of explanatory variables which includes farm size, type of land tenure, composition of output, access to institutions, and indicators of technology and input usage. The relationship between farm size and efficiency is found to be non-linear, with productivity first falling and then rising with size. Access to institutions, credit, and modern inputs are found to be important determinants of the differences in efficiency across farms. Improved access could strengthen the efficiency advantage of small and medium farms.