A Nonparametric Analysis of Cost Minimization and Profit Maximization Behavior for a Sample of Kansas Farms

This study investigates nonparametrically the optimizing behavior of a sample of 289 Kansas farms under profit-maximizing and cost-minimizing hypotheses. The results do not support strict adherence to either optimization hypothesis. However, evidence against cost-minimizing behavior seems to be far less substantial than that against profit-maximizing behavior.