An empirical analysis of oil price fluctuation on agricultural productivity in an oil-exporting economy: A case study of Mexico.

Format:

Book

Thesis/Dissertation

Author/Creator:

Haling, Daniel Luke.

Contributor:

Bernstein, Mark A., advisor.

University of Pennsylvania.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Political science.

Agriculture--Economic aspects.

Agriculture.

Economics.

0501.

0503.

0615.

Penn dissertations--Energy management and policy.

Energy management and policy--Penn dissertations.

Local Subjects:

Penn dissertations--Energy management and policy.

Energy management and policy--Penn dissertations.

0501.

0503.

0615.

Physical Description:

233 pages

Contained In:

Dissertation Abstracts International 53-05A.

System Details:

Mode of access: World Wide Web.

text file

Summary:

The objective of this study is to analyze the agricultural production process in an oil-exporting economy and to determine whether increases in petroleum revenues during the 1970's and 1980's obstructed productivity growth for small-scale agricultural producers. Numerous academic studies have addressed the issue of a decline in the manufacturing and agricultural sectors of a resource exporting country during a resource boom; however, these studies have employed sectorial output as a measure of welfare which does not consider the normal adjustments in an open economy to changes in the country's competitive advantage. By employing productivity of individual producers a much clearer understanding of the effects of a resource boom can be established.

The focus of this study is Mexican small-scale agricultural producers located in the central state of Puebla. The empirical analysis employs a dual methodology of measuring productivity growth, an econometric methodology utilizing the translog cost function, and a growth accounting methodology utilizing the Tornqvist-Theil index. The results of the analysis indicate that productivity decreased for small-scale agricultural producers during the resource boom attributed to a reduction in the scale of production and reduction in the technology employed in the production process. Because the technology employed by small-scale agricultural producers is based on an annual investment in fertilizers, insecticides and improved seed, a reduction in technology is observed from the increase in the marginal products of inputs and a constant output price.

A decline in productivity of agricultural producers indicates that resources are not being used to their potential during a resource boom; therefore, government policy is warranted to counter the productivity decline of small-scale producers.

Notes:

Thesis (Ph.D. in Energy Management and Policy) -- Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, 1992.

Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 53-05, Section: A, page: 1596.

Supervisor: Mark A. Bernstein.

Local Notes:

School code: 0175.

Access Restriction:

Restricted for use by site license.