The structure of production in Greek agriculture : elasticities of substitution and derived factor price elasticities

Part of : Σπουδαί : journal of economics and business ; Vol.59, No.3-4, 2009, pages 32-48

Issue:
Pages:
32-48
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Abstract:
The objective of this paper is to measure the own price, the cross price elasticities of derived input demand and the Allen-Uzawa elasticities of substitution among input pairs for the Greek agricultural sector. A restricted cost function is used to approximate agricultural technology and two quasi-fixed inputs are included, which are capital and a detrimental or ‘non-productive’ input, namely nitrate pollution. The system which consists of the translog cost function, factor share equations and a revenue share equation is estimated by the method of Seemingly Unrelated Regressions. Findings indicate that demand is price inelastic for the three variable inputs. Labour is found to be a substitute for land and for intermediate inputs. Land and intermediate inputs are complements.
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Keywords:
restricted cost function, translog, derived factor demand price elasticity, agriculture, elasticity of substitution
Notes:
Περιέχει παράρτημα πινάκων-γραφημάτων και βιβλιογραφία