Papers

Paper Detail

Farm size and the determinants of productive efficiency in the Brazilian Center-West

Steven M. Helfand

Helfand, Steven M. "Farm Size and the Determinants of Productive Efficiency in the Brazilian Center-West." Paper presented at the 25th International Conference of the International Association of Agricultural Economist, Durban, South Africa, August 2003.

Abstract: 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.