Much of the theory of the firm in product space is not nearly as well developed as the theory of the firm in factor space. For example, both general and agricultura1 economists have devoted considerable effort to developing functional forms representing production processes in factor space, but...

Supplemental class materials links for the Debertin books available through ageconsearch.

Low soil fertility is a major concern in agricultural productivity and development policy discourse in sub-saharan Africa. The problem is exacerbated by government withdrawal from fertilizer input markets and the inability of private sector operators to fill the gap. This warranted a search for...

An econometric analysis of productivity convergence in Norwegian salmon aquaculture is undertaken. We also test for the effects of learning and external industry infrastructure capital. Empirical evidence for reduction in productivity differentials is found, but the estimated models also provide...

This paper proposes and applies an innovative estimation approach for farm group programming models using Generalised Maximum Entropy. The proposed set-up simultaneously determines calibrating cost function parameters and input allocations to production activities. The methodology is applied to...

This paper investigates some applications of high-resolution, three­ dimensional PC-based computer graphics to research and education in agricultural production economics. Examples illustrate issues in the identification of stages of production for the multifactor case; special cases in which...

This article explores the similarities, differences, and implications from the 1970s–1980s experience for the macroeconomic dynamic that may arise from the 2008 price spike and subsequent recession. Role of monetary policy (deviations from Taylor rule) is assessed. This is an argument that has...

The interconnections of agriculture and energy markets have increased through the rise in the new biofuel agribusinesses and the oil–ethanol–corn linkages. The question is whether these linkages have a causal structure by which oil prices affect commodity prices and through these links,...

This study investigates the optimal agricultural land use allocation and nitrogen application to arepresentative Japanese farm. The site-specific nature of numerous agri-environmental issues necessitates analysis ata disaggregated level in order to capture the underlying heterogeneity of...

Nitrate pollution from agriculture is an important environmental problem, caused bythe excessive use of inorganic fertilizers. The internalization of this externality, via a tax onmineral nitrogen, could lead to a second best solution, reducing nitrate emissions. Severalauthors suggest that a...