摘要：This study provides estimates of the growth and relative levels of agriculturalproductivity for the 48 contiguous States for the period 1960 to 1996. For the full1960-96 period, every State exhibits a positive and generally substantial averageannual rate of productivity growth. There is considerable variance, however. Thewide disparity in growth rates resulted in substantial changes in the ranking orderof States by productivity. For each year, we calculate the coefficient of variationof productivity levels. We use these coefficients to show that the range of levelsof productivity has narrowed over time, although the pattern of convergence wasfar from uniform. The fact that in some States, productivity grew faster than oth-ers and yet the cross-section dispersion decreased, implies that the States whoseproductivity grew most rapidly were those with lower initial levels of productivi-ty. This result is consistent with Gerschenkron's notion of the advantage of rela-tive backwardness. The States that were particularly far behind the productivityleaders had the most to gain from the diffusion of technical knowledge and pro-ceeded to grow most rapidly. We also observe a positive relation between capitalaccumulation and productivity growth, implying embodiment of technology incapital.
关键词：Production accounts; multilateral index numbers; total factor produc-;tivity.
