Microeconomic analysis of opportunities for increasing beef production: the Pampean area, Argentina

Abstract

Argentina is the world's largest beef exporter and third largest producer. During the 1948-69 period production increased 1.5 percent a year and Argentina's share of world trade declined to one-half the 1938-47 level. Little economic analysis has been done at the ranch level of causes of the slow production increases and opportunities for increasing production. Because of Argentina's importance and resource base the possibility for increasing beef production will have an important on world beef trade and prices. A basic hypothesis guiding this study was that at expected higher price levels in the 1970's, beef producers would have the incentive to expand beef output substantially. An economic evaluation at the ranch level of opportunities for increasing beef production form increased prices and through adoption of production increasing technology and management practices in forage and beef production was the purpose of this study. Inferences were drawn from microeconomic analysis to potentials for increasing aggregate beef production and exports. ...