Chair: International Food Economics and Rural Development

Research Area:
Economics of Agricultural Research and Technology

In this research area, the role of agricultural innovation for rural development is analyzed. Studies we are conducting focus on the adoption of new agricultural technologies and institutional problems of technology access in the small farm sector. Technological impacts are analyzed in terms of agricultural productivity, farm incomes, income distribution, poverty, as well as environmental and overall welfare effects. Furthermore, projects scrutinize recent changes in the international agricultural research system – like increasing privatization and the proliferation of intellectual property rights – and their implications for the poor in developing countries. Methodologically, we are refining and using different econometric techniques, partial equilibrium models, and theoretical modeling approaches. Most of the empirical studies are based on comprehensive primary data collected through farm and household surveys.


Concrete Projects: