Hostname: page-component-84b7d79bbc-tsvsl Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-27T00:43:09.504Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Agriculture and Rural Economic Growth

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 April 2015

Steven C. Deller ,
Brian W. Gould  and
Bruce Jones
Steven C. Deller
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, University of Wisconsin–Madison, WI
Brian W. Gould
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics and the Wisconsin Center for Dairy Research, University of Wisconsin–Madison, WI
Bruce Jones
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, University of Wisconsin–Madison, WI
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

The role of farm dependency and size on rural economic growth is examined with data from 2,240 nonmetropolitan U.S. counties for the period 1990–1995. A simple neoclassical model of regional economic growth is set forth with a central question relating to the role of agriculture on rural economic convergence. Traditional neoclassical theory predicts that poor rural areas should grow proportionally faster than rich areas. As interpreted in the academic literature and popular press, a preponderance of small family farms should enhance growth. Results suggest that a higher level of local dependence on production agriculture could lower growth rates.

Keywords

economic growthproduction agriculturerural developmentO47O51Q18R11
Type
Articles
Information
Journal of Agricultural and Applied Economics , Volume 35 , Issue 3 , December 2003 , pp. 517 - 527
Copyright
Copyright © Southern Agricultural Economics Association 2003

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Barnes, D., and Blevins, A.. “Farm Structure and the Economic Well-Being of Nonmetropolitan Counties.” Rural Sociology 57, 3(1992):333–346.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Barro, R.J., and Sala.i-Martin, X.. “Converge.” Journal of Political Economy 100, 2(1992):223–251.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Buttel, F.H. “Farm Structure and Rural Development.” Farms in Transition. Brewster, David E., Rasmussen, Wayne D., and Youngberg, Garth, eds. Ames, IA: Iowa State University Press, 1983.Google Scholar
Cass, D. “Optmum Growth in an Aggregate Model of Capital Accumulation.” Review of Economic Studies 32, 3(1965):233–240.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Deller, S.C., and Tsai, T.H.. “An Examination of the Wage Cure: A Research Note.” Journal of Regional Analysis and Policy 2(1999):3–12.Google Scholar
Deller, S.C., Tsai, T.H., Marcouiller, D.W., and English, D.B.K.. “The Role of Amenities and Quality of Life in Rural Economic Growth.” American Journal of Agricultural Economics 83, 2(2001):352–365.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Drabenstott, M. “New Policies for a New Rural America.” International Regional Science Review 24, 1(2001):3–15.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Duffy, N.E. “The Determinants of State Manufacturing Growth Rates: A Two Digit Level Analysis.” Journal of Regional Science 34(1994):137–162.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Flora, C.B., and Flora, J.L.. “Public Policy, Farm Size, and Community Weil-Being in Farming Dependent Counties of the Plains.” Agriculture and Community Change in the US. Swanson, L.E., ed. Boulder, CO: Westview Press, 1988.Google Scholar
Gardner, B.L. “Economic Growth and Low Incomes in Agriculture.” American Journal of Agricultural Economics 82, 5(2000):1059–1074.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gebremedhin, T.G., and Christy, R.D.. “Structural Changes in Agriculture U.S.Implications for Small Farms.” Journal of Agricultural and Applied Economics 28, 1(1996):57–66.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gilles, J., and Dalecki, M.. “Rural Well-Being and Agricultural Change in Two Farming Regions.” Rural Sociology 53(1988):40–55.Google Scholar
Gilles, J., Hirschi, L.D., Campbell, R., and Heffernan, W.. “The Changing Structure of Agriculture on Class Structure, Social Well-Being, and Inequalities.” Paper presented at the Annual Meetings of the Rural Sociology Society, Madison, WI, 1984.Google Scholar
Goldschmidt, W.As You Sow. Glencoe, IL: Free Press, 1947.Google Scholar
Goldschmidt, W.. “Large-scale Farming and the Quality of Life in Rural Communities: Further Specification of the Goldschmidt Hypothesis.” Rural Sociology 43(1978):362–366.Google Scholar
Green, G.P. “Large-Scale Farming and the Quality of Life in Rural Communities: Further Specification of the Goldschmidt Hypothesis.” Rural Sociology 50, 2(1985):262–274.Google Scholar
Harris, C., and Gilbert, J.. “Large-Scale Farming, Rural Income and Goldschmidt's Agrarian Thesis.” Rural Sociology 50(1985):262–274.Google Scholar
Heady, E.O., and Sonka, S.T.. “Farm Size, Rural Community Income and Consumer Welfare.” American Journal of Agricultural Economics 56, 3(1974):534–542.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Henry, M.S., Somwaru, A., Schluter, G., and Edmonson, W.. “Some Effects of Farm Size on the Nonfarm Economy.” Northcentral Journal of Agricultural Economics 9, 1 (1987):1–12.Google Scholar
Ikerd, J.Farming in Harmony. Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Missouri. Internet site: http://www.ssu.missouri.edu/faculty/jikerd/papers/ (Accessed July 2000).Google Scholar
Ikerd, J.. Corporate Agriculture and Family Farms. Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Missouri. Internet site: http://www.ssu.missouri.edu/faculty/jikerd/papers/ (Accessed January 2001).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Johnson, T.G. “The Rural Economy in a New Century.” International Regional Science Review 24, 1(2001):21–37.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Keely, L.C., and Quah, D.. “Technology in Growth.” The Determinants of Economic Growth. Oosterbaan, M.S., van Steveninck, T.D., and van der Windt, N., eds. London: Kluwer Academic Publishers, 2000.Google Scholar
Koopmans, T.C. “On the Concept of Optimal Economic Growth.” The Econometric Approach to Development Planning. Amsterdam: North Holland, 1965.Google Scholar
Kuznets, S. “Economic Growth and Income Inequality.” American Economic Review 45, 1(1955):1–28.Google Scholar
Lobao, L.M.Locality and Inequality: Farm and Industry Structure and Socioeconomic Conditions. Albany, NY: The State University of New York, 1990.Google Scholar
MacCannell, D. “Industrial Agriculture and Rural Community Degradation.” Agriculture and Community Change in the US. Swanson, L.E., ed. Boulder, CO: Westview Press, 1988.Google Scholar
Mankiw, N.G., Romer, D., and Weil, D.N.. “A Contribution to the Empirics of Economic Growth.” The Quarterly Journal of Economics (May 1992):407–437.Google Scholar
National Commission on Small Farms (NCSF). A Time to Act. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture Commission Report. Internet site: http://www.reeusda.gov/agsys/smallfarm/report.htm (Accessed January 1998).Google Scholar
Nijkamp, P., and Poot, J.. “Spatial Perspectives on New Theories of Economic Growth.” Annals of Regional Science 32(1998):7–37.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ramsey, F. “Empirics for Economic Growth and Convergence.” European Economic Review 40(1928):543–559.Google Scholar
Skees, J., and Swanson, L.. “Farm Structure and Local Social Well Being in the South.” The Rural South in Crisis. Beaulieau, L., ed. Boulder, CO: Westview Press, 1988.Google Scholar
Solow, Robert M. “A Contribution to the Theory of Economic Growth.” Quarterly Journal of Economics 70(1956):65–94.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stanton, B.F., Jinkins, J.E., Ahearn, M.C., and Hanson, G.D.. “Perspective on Farm Size and Structure Provided by Value-Added Measures.” Agricultural Economics Research 44, 2(1993):36–44.Google Scholar
United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service (USDA/ERS). Farm Structure Data for 1999. Internet site: http://www.ers.usda.gov/briefing/FarmStructure/Data/Hh_in.99 wk1 (Accessed 2000).Google Scholar
Vail, D.J. “Rural Communities and Small Farms: Exploring the Political-Economic Connections.” Department of Economics, Working Paper. Brunswick, ME: Bowdoin College.Google Scholar
van Es, J.C., Chicoine, D.L., and Flotow, M.A.. “Agricultural Technologies, Farm Structure and Rural Communities in the Corn Belt: Policies and Implications for 2000.” Agriculture and Community Change in the US. Swanson, L.E., ed. Boulder, CO: Westview Press, 1988.Google Scholar
Wagner, J.E., and Deller, S.C.. “Measuring the Effects of Economic Diversity on Growth and Stability.” Land Economics 74, 4(1998):541–556.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Walzer, Norman, and Deller, Steven C.. “Rural Issues and Trends: Role of Visioning Programs.” Community Visioning Programs: Practices and Experiences. Walzer, N., ed. New York: Praeger Press, 1996.Google Scholar