The impact of age structure on technical efficiency in Thai agriculture

Authors

  • Pakapon Saiyut Doctoral Program in Agricultural and Resource Economics, Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Faculty of Economics, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand / Center for Advanced Studies for Agriculture and Food, Kasetsart University Institute for Advanced Studies, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
  • Isriya Bunyasiri Center for Advanced Studies for Agriculture and Food, Kasetsart University Institute for Advanced Studies, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand / Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Faculty of Economics, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
  • Prapinwadee Sirisupluxana Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Faculty of Economics, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
  • Itthipong Mahathanaseth Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Faculty of Economics, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand

Keywords:

age structure, technical efficiency, Thai agriculture, translog stochastic frontier

Abstract

The purpose of this paper was to estimate the age structure effect of agricultural labor on technical efficiency by using stochastic frontier analysis. The translog stochastic frontier production function with the technical inefficiency model was estimated simultaneously using maximum likelihood methods. Panel data of agricultural production at the provincial level from 76 provinces for 2009-2013 were used for estimating the model. The estimated results of the technical inefficiency model identified that the labor force aged 60 years and over increased the technical inefficiency, while the labor force aged 15-59 years reduced the technical inefficiency in Thai agricultural production. Therefore, the public sector should be determined in establishing policy options to encourage young people to become young, smart farmers. The use of agricultural mechanization that is easily used by older farmers should also be promoted, along with financial support to enable them to increase production efficiency.

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Published

01-02-2018

How to Cite

Saiyut, P., Bunyasiri, I., Sirisupluxana, P., & Mahathanaseth, I. (2018). The impact of age structure on technical efficiency in Thai agriculture. Kasetsart Journal of Social Sciences, 40(3), 539–545. Retrieved from https://so04.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/kjss/article/view/242220

Issue

Section

Research articles