Economic efficiency in agriculture - the individual and national viewpoints

Abstract

This paper has a two-fold aim:- (a) To define and discuss some aspects of the concept of economic efficiency in agriculture at the national level and at the farm level. (b) To make a critical appraisal of some of the current methods of measuring efficiency on farms. Since our Conference is discussing efficiency as a broad theme it seemed to me appropriate to explore some of the fundamental economic principles underlying the idea of efficiency and its measurements. I must warn you that because it deals with principles this paper is theoretical but for this I make no excuse because as I believe that a better understanding of these principles may assist us in devising better methods of measuring and comparing efficiency between farms.