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The Role of Agriculture and Human Capital in Economic Growth: Farmers, Schooling, and Health

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  • Huffman, Wallace E.
  • Orazem, Peter
Abstract
This survey reviews the existing literature, identifying the contribution of agriculture, schooling, and nutrition to economic growth and development over time and across countries. Particular attention is paid to the roles of improvements in agricultural technology and of the human capital of farmers and farm people. Macroeconomic and microeconomic evidence related to the interactions between human capital, productivity and real income per capita have occurred over the past 250 years. We show that for most countries, development is a process of conversion from primarily agrarian economies to urban industrial and service economies. The evidence is that positive technology shocks to agriculture have played a key role in igniting a transition from traditional to modern agriculture and to long-term economic growth in almost all countries. Improvements in agricultural technologies improve labor productivity and create surplus agricultural labor that can provide workers for the growing urban areas. In some cases, improved nutrition helps raise labor productivity and allows individuals to work for longer hours, which makes human capital investments more attractive. The induced improvements in the skill level of a population have major implications for raising living standards, improving health standards, and altering time allocation decisions. In most currently poor and middle income countries, improved schooling has been more important than improved nutrition or caloric intake in explaining recent economic growth. Nevertheless, the poorest countries of the world continue to have a large share of their labor force in agriculture, and growth cannot occur until they experience their own agricultural transformation.

Suggested Citation

  • Huffman, Wallace E. & Orazem, Peter, 2007. "The Role of Agriculture and Human Capital in Economic Growth: Farmers, Schooling, and Health," Staff General Research Papers Archive 12003, Iowa State University, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:isu:genres:12003
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    1. Abdulla, Majd, 2004. "The impact of improved nutrition on labor productivity and GDP growth rate in low- and middle-income countries," ISU General Staff Papers 2004010108000017649, Iowa State University, Department of Economics.
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    3. Magdalena Kozera-Kowalska, 2020. "Intellectual Capital: ISVA, the Alternative Way of Calculating Creating Value in Agricultural Entities—Case of Poland," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-19, March.
    4. Thomas Soseco & Isnawati Hidayah & Nila Cahayati & Fajar Try Leksono, 2024. "Access to Technology to Increase Food Resilience in Rural Households in Indonesia," Economia agro-alimentare, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2024(1), pages 109-135.
    5. Jing Ren & Fuduo Li & Changbin Yin & Jiudong Zhang, 2022. "Uncovering the Deviation of Farmers’ Green Manure Planting Willingness and Behavior," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-19, November.
    6. Bazyli Czyżewski & Agnieszka Poczta-Wajda & Piotr Kułyk & Jolanta Drozdz, 2023. "Small farm as sustainable nexus of contracts: understanding the role of human capital and policy based on evidence from Poland," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 25(9), pages 10239-10260, September.
    7. Ashfield, Austen & Mullan, Conall & Jack, Claire, 2020. "Encouraging farmer participation in agricultural education and training: A Northern Ireland perspective," International Journal of Agricultural Management, Institute of Agricultural Management, vol. 9, November.
    8. Wallace, Michael T. & Jack, Claire G., 2011. "On‐Farm and Off‐Farm Returns to Education among Farm Operators in Northern Ireland," 85th Annual Conference, April 18-20, 2011, Warwick University, Coventry, UK 108786, Agricultural Economics Society.
    9. Artz, Georgeanne M. & Hoque, Maniul & Orazem, Peter F. & Shah, Urja, 2016. "Urban-Rural Wage Gaps, Inefficient Labor Allocations, and GDP per Capita," ISU General Staff Papers 201609140700001006, Iowa State University, Department of Economics.

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