@article{Thirtle:54228,
      recid = {54228},
      author = {Thirtle, Colin G. and Lusigi, Angela and Piesse, Jenifer  and Suhariyanto, Kecuk},
      title = {Multi-factor agricultural productivity and convergence in  Botswana, 1981-96},
      journal = {Agrekon},
      address = {2000-12},
      number = {346-2016-15860},
      pages = {13},
      year = {2000},
      abstract = {This paper calculates multi-lateral Malmquist multi-factor  productivity (MFP) indices for
agriculture in the eighteen  regions and the commercial sector of Botswana from 1981 to  1996.
The Malmquist is appropriate because prices do really  exist for major inputs such as land and
labour. The small  size of the cross section is overcome by using the  sequential version of the
Malmquist, which accumulates the  annual data, so increasing the stability of the  frontier.
The regional MFPs are the natural peer group for  producing a national MFP, so the problem
of choosing peers,  in earlier work on international comparisons does not  arise. The results
show that the national MFP grew at an  average rate 1.57% per annum. However,
disaggregation by  enterprise shows that the livestock MFP declined at a rate  of 0.34% per
annum while that for crops grew at 3.37% per  annum. Decomposition of the Malmquist
shows that there was  positive technological change combined with decreasing  efficiency.
Comparisons of the regional results show a very  clear pattern whereby the advantaged
regions are able to  exploit new technologies whereas the resource poor,  geographically
disadvantaged areas have been stagnant and  have thereby fallen further and further behind
the best  practice frontier.},
      url = {http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/record/54228},
      doi = {https://doi.org/10.22004/ag.econ.54228},
}