Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/63433 
Authors: 
Year of Publication: 
2008
Series/Report no.: 
WIDER Research Paper No. 2008/30
Publisher: 
The United Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research (UNU-WIDER), Helsinki
Abstract: 
This paper looks at differences in spatial and temporal variation of rice yields in China and Brazil. We find that rice yields in China have converged over time and that rice production has become more and more homogeneous. In contrast, rice yields in Brazil have diverged over time, primarily due to variations in upland rice yields. Three hypotheses are put forward to explain the different behaviour of rice yields in Brazil and China: (i) differences in production systems (i.e., irrigated in China versus upland in Brazil); (ii) changes in rainfall patterns and (iii) bias in agricultural R&D favouring irrigated rice. Our empirical analysis provides support to the first two hypotheses by establishing that upland rice is subjected to much greater variation in yields than irrigated rice and that changing rainfall patterns affect mostly upland rice. We also provide evidence of the bias towards irrigated systems by looking at the patterns of varietal release.
Subjects: 
rice productivity
spatial convergence
technology spillover
China
Brazil
JEL: 
O33
O57
Q16
R12
ISBN: 
978-92-9230-076-0
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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