A case study of the relationship between agricultural productivity and the political and social history of Argentina from 1960 to 2000

In my dissertation I investigate the relationship between changes in total factor productivity in the agricultural sector and the political and social policies implemented by governments in Argentina between 1960 and 2000.; My hypothesis is that there exists a set of economic and social policies and a political position towards the constitution that is common to most of the governments that are associated with positive changes in agricultural total factor productivity. If my hypothesis is not false I should be able to find this set.; I found the set. I concluded that time periods exhibiting positive changes in total factor productivity in the agricultural sector of Argentina were correlated to governments that had the following characteristics in common: (1) The government was willing to implement social policies to improve the welfare of the population. (2) The government was willing to intervene, instead of leaving it up to the markets, in the economy to achieve its economic objectives. (3) The government had some respect for the Constitution. (4) The government was elected or at least not military.; Hence, the hypothesis is not false. The caveats regarding the data and model used in this study are acknowledged.; The study has three distinct and fundamental components: (1) A mathematical modeling technique to measure changes in total factor productivity where I explain in plain language how to interpret my results and what are the limitations of the methodology; the modeling technique applied to this question is an original contribution to the literature. (2) A chapter where I analyze the political and social policies implemented by various regimes in Argentina. I correlate my findings to a mathematical index that measures changes in total factor productivity in the agricultural sector; this is also an original contribution to the literature. (3) A mathematical and econometrics appendix to support my methodology in greater detail than shown in the main body of the thesis including all the necessary references to guide the reader into this area of research.