Focuses on economic growth in the agricultural sectors of Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand. The agricultural sectors of these economies have diverged considerably over the last 40 years. The volume investigates the ways in which policy, institutions, investments and resource constraints have driven this divergence.

Understanding economic growth is central to the study of development. Rural economic growth is an important aspect of economic growth. Historically, rural agriculture has employed most people in most countries, and continues to do so today. Nevertheless, the casual relationship between economic growth and growth in agriculture remain poorly understood. This volume focuses on economic growth in the agriculture sectors of Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand. Starting from similar positions, the agriculture sectors of these economies have diverged considerably over the last 40 years. This volume investigates the ways in which policy, institutions, investments, resource constraints and the reallocation of agricultural labor have driven this divergence. It volume documents the interplay of endowments, technology, the accumulation of productive factors, policy, and advocacy in the rural sectors of these three countries. It contributes in its own ways to an explanation of the past. Good policy rests on an understanding of successes and failures in the past. This book is a critical contribution to such an understanding.

The introduction of new high-yielding varieties of cereals in the 1960s, know as the green revolution, changed dramatically the food supply in Asia as well as in other countries. Mundlak, Larson, and Butzer examine over an extended period the growth consequences for agriculture in Indonesia, the Philippines, and Thailand. Despite geographic proximity, similar climate, and other shared characteristics, gains in productivity and income differed significantly among the countries. The authors quantify these differences and examine their determinants. Mundlak, Larson, and Butzer find that the new technology changed the returns to fertilizers, irrigated land, and capital, all of which proved scarce to varying degrees. Complementing technology-related changes in factor use were investments--public and private--driven in part by policy. The authors find that factor accumulation played an important role in output growth and that accumulations from policy-driven investments in human capital and public infrastructure were important sources of productivity gains. They conclude that policies that ease constraints on factor markets and promote public investment in people and infrastructure provide the best opportunities for agricultural growth. This paper--a product of Rural Development, Development Research Group--is part of a larger effort in the group to understand appropriate policies that promote rural development. The study was funded by the Bank's Research Support Budget under the research project "Dynamism of Rural Sector Development" (RPO 683-06). The authors may be contacted at [email protected], [email protected], or [email protected].

The introduction of new high-yielding varieties of cereals in the 1960s, know as the green revolution, changed dramatically the food supply in Asia as well as in other countries. Mundlak, Larson, and Butzer examine over an extended period the growth consequences for agriculture in Indonesia, the Philippines, and Thailand. Despite geographic proximity, similar climate, and other shared characteristics, gains in productivity and income differed significantly among the countries. The authors quantify these differences and examine their determinants.Mundlak, Larson, and Butzer find that the new technology changed the returns to fertilizers, irrigated land, and capital, all of which proved scarce to varying degrees. Complementing technology-related changes in factor use were investments - public and private - driven in part by policy. The authors find that factor accumulation played an important role in output growth and that accumulations from policy-driven investments in human capital and public infrastructure were important sources of productivity gains. They conclude that policies that ease constraints on factor markets and promote public investment in people and infrastructure provide the best opportunities for agricultural growth.This paper - a product of Rural Development, Development Research Group - is part of a larger effort in the group to understand appropriate policies that promote rural development. The study was funded by the Bank's Research Support Budget under the research project quot;Dynamism of Rural Sector Developmentquot; (RPO 683-06). The authors may be contacted at [email protected], [email protected], or [email protected].

How location, natural resources, and different policies toward the elite's preemption of unused land shaped the historical development of different agrarian structures across Southeast Asia, conditioning agricultural growth performance until today.

Composite work examining rural development in 9 developing countries of Asia and contribution of agriculture to economic development - covers land tenure systems, government policy, economic aid, irrigation schemes, new cultivation techniques, the impact of technological change, the marketing of agricultural products, etc. Diagrams, maps and references.