Barbara J. Craig

International Productivity Patterns: Accounting for Input Quality, Infrastructure, and Research

In this paper, we present measures of land and labor productivity for a group of ninety-eight developed and developing countries using an entirely new data set with annual observations spanning the past three decades. The substantial cross-country and intertemporal variation in productivity in our sample is linked to both natural and economic factors. We extend previous work by dealing with multiple sources of systematic measurement error in conventional agricultural inputs. The mix of conventional inputs, indicators of quality of agricultural inputs, and the amount of publicly provided infrastructure are all significant in explaining observed cross-sectional differences in productivity patterns. Copyright 1997, Oxford University Press.

Causal Relationships between Public Sector Agricultural Research Expenditures and Output

Allocative decisions concerning public sector agricultural research appear to be driven by both supply and politically mediated demand forces. In-sample Granger tests, along with post-sample predictive tests, suggest that simultaneity issues should not be ignored when modeling the research expenditure-output relationship. The results also provide strong evidence that the impact of research expenditures on agricultural output may persist for as long as thirty years. These lags are substantially longer than those commonly used for agricultural research to date. The lagged effect of output on research appears to be shorter, though still between ten and twelve years.

Prior absenteeism, supervisory style, job satisfaction, and personal characteristics: An investigation of some mediated and moderated linkages to work absenteeism☆

Abstract The present study answers calls for tests of prominent absence models. Previous studies of absenteeism have either examined only bivariate associations between antecedents and absenteeism or were concerned primarily with the relative contributions particular variables made to the prediction of absenteeism. The hypotheses of this study were drawn from the Steers and Rhodes (1978) process model of work attendance. Specifically, we investigated (1) if supervisory behaviors mediated the effects of prior absence on work attitudes; (2) if work attitudes mediated the effects of supervisory style on absenteeism; and (3) if family size and gender affected the satisfaction-absence relationship. The data, collected from chemical manufacturing workers and analyzed using both ordinary least squares and tobit regression models, indicated that (1) supervisory consideration accounted for a large part of the total association between prior absenteeism and job satisfaction; (2) while supervisory style affected job satisfaction, it was not significantly associated with subsequent absenteeism; and (3) as family size increased, satisfaction was less related to absence frequency. Gender had only a significant direct association with subsequent absenteeism. Thus, using tests of mediation, this study provides support for process models of work absenteeism.

U.S. AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH DEFLATORS: 1890-1985

Abstract Using newly developed time series on U.S. public sector agricultural research expenditures, two new deflators for agricultural research are constructed. These deflators differ from others currently used in the literature in that factor level price indices are weighted with time varying weights which capture the shifting factor mix of research spending by the state agricultural experiment station (SAES). The substantial differences in measuring real resource allocation to agricultural research using these deflators and alternatives found in the literature, including that used by the National Science Foundation to report official R&D statistics, are demonstrated. In addition, the factor level expenditure series are used to contrast measurement of resource allocation in agricultural research from 1890 to the present using real research service flows as opposed to real research expenditures.

Heterogeneity and intertemporal trade: finding support for international credit contracts

Abstract This paper examines the role heterogeneity plays in supporting intertemporal trades between countries when no legal contracts bind sovereign debtors. In a dynamic general equilibrium model, countries smooth consumption over time by choosing optimal investment and bond sales or purchases. Countries which follow efficient investment plans and borrow with the intention of repaying debts may nevertheless find default to be in their best interest. Credit ceilings which eliminate default eliminate some if not all intertemporal trades. Positive credit ceilings arise only when there is sufficient intertemporal heterogeneity to insure that a countrys future includes foreign and domestic investment. (JEL F10, F30).