Contribution to Book
Accounting for the Impact of Local and Spill-in Public Research, Extension and Roads on US Regional Agricultural Productivity, 1980-2004.
Productivity Growth in Agriculture: An International Perspective
(2012)
Abstract
This chapter uses 1980-2004 state panel data to assess the impact of local public goods (public agricultural R&D, extension and road infrastructure) on US agricultural productivity growth. It finds that the impact of own-state R&D was greatly enhanced by R&D investments in other states and regions through knowledge spill-ins. Returns to local R&D were also higher when it was coupled with greater local extension activity and road infrastructure. The internal rate of return to public R&D is taken as a measure of the contribution of research expenditures to productivity growth. The estimated local rate of return (taking into account only in-state benefits) was around 13% per year. The social rate of return (which takes into account not only benefits to the state where the R&D was conducted but also benefits of spillovers to other states) was found to be around 45%. Moreover, the levels of R&D spill-ins, extension and road infrastructure were found to play a significant role in explaining the differences in productivity growth rates among the states and regions.
Disciplines
Publication Date
2012
Editor
Fuglie, K. O., Wang, S. L., Ball, V. E
Publisher
CAB International
ISBN
9781845939212
DOI
10.1079/9781845939212.0013
Publisher Statement
Works produced by employees of the U.S. Government as part of their official duties are not copyrighted within the U.S. The content of this document is not copyrighted.
Citation Information
Sun Ling Wang, V. Eldon Ball, Lilyan E. Fulginiti and Alejandro Plastina. "Accounting for the Impact of Local and Spill-in Public Research, Extension and Roads on US Regional Agricultural Productivity, 1980-2004." Productivity Growth in Agriculture: An International Perspective Vol. 2 (2012) p. 13 - 32 Available at: http://works.bepress.com/alejandro-plastina/11/