Premium
Peasants' Response to Modernization Projects in Minifundia Economies
Author(s) -
Benito Carlos A.
Publication year - 1976
Publication title -
american journal of agricultural economics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.949
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1467-8276
pISSN - 0002-9092
DOI - 10.2307/1238964
Subject(s) - peasant , modernization theory , agriculture , production (economics) , emerging technologies , economics , economic system , business , economic growth , industrial organization , political science , microeconomics , geography , computer science , archaeology , artificial intelligence , law
Different factors are mentioned in explaining peasants' adoption of modern technologies. A model of the peasant household is developed integrating most of these factors, condensed into a stochastic linear programming framework, and applied to the Puebla area in Mexico. Observed low adoption rates and peasants' participation in modernization projects are explained by opportunity costs of time and uncertainty. The view that labor‐using technologies per se will rapidly increase agricultural production is challenged. The generation of less risky technologies and more emphasis on organizational‐communication aspects are also necessary. Further rural development will require intermediate technologies and organizations.