PRODUCTION ANALYSIS - A NONPARAMETRIC TIME-SERIES APPLICATION TO US AGRICULTURE

The paper investigates production analysis using non-parametric method s. When all data are not consistent with profit maximisation, we propo se a method relying on the concept of 'effective inputs and outputs' t o evaluate technology and economic behaviour. The approach is illustra ted in a time series application to US agriculture. The results provid e empirical measures of productivity growth. They also generate useful information on the 'bias in technical change' in US agriculture.