The Impacts of Agricultural Research and Development Expenditures on Agricultural Total Factor Productivity: Evidence from Selected Latin American Countries

Abstract

The aim of the study is to investigate the impacts of agricultural research and development expenditures on agricultural total factor productivity by using annual panel data set covering 5 selected Latin American countries from 1981 to 2013. In doing so, we use the panel cointegration analysis under cross-section dependence and panel fully modified ordinary least squares (FMOLS) method. At the end of the analysis; there is a cointegration relationship between research and development and total factor productivity in agriculture sector for these selected countries. Also, the elasticity coefficient of agricultural research and development expenditures is 0.58.