Organizational skills, technological trajectory and local learning in agriculture: the Prebisch paradox

Abstract

The theme of technological innovation in agriculture is largely treated in the economic literature in the debate on economic development, with an emphasis on the problems of the peripheral countries. To understand the evolution of modern agriculture, a thorough analysis referring to the Prebisch paradox, is required: the agricultural sector is capable of generating technological progress and added value, as well as promoting the development of agro-export regions. Technological innovation involves not only the acquisition of modern inputs, but also the management of tacit and specific knowledge embodied in technologies. The ability to innovate depends on the degree of the productive management of each farmer. The producer invests in order to incorporate new technologies, increase learning and expand the absorptive capacity of knowledge. This study shows the importance of external sources of knowledge, in terms of learning by experience and spillover effects on the business network.

Keywords:
Innovation; Technological trajectory; Learning; Agricultural economics; Development