A comparative analysis on productivity and efficiency of agricultural production of the EU and Turkey

The aim of this study was to measure total factor productivity, technical change, and efficiency change of agricultural production in the EU, the new member countries and Turkey. Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) and Malmquist Productivity Index were used as an approach in this research. Total agricultural production value was considered as output; agricultural land, agricultural labor, tractors, nitrogenous, potash and phosphate fertilizers and live animal stocks were considered as inputs in this paper. First of all, total factor productivity, technical change, and efficiency change of agricultural production were analyzed in EU (15) for 1963-2001 period. Secondly, total factor productivity, technical change, and efficiency change of agricultural production were analyzed related to two different groups concerning 15 EU and 12 new member countries and Turkey just as candidate country for 1993-2001 period. Subsequently, in order to compare EU (15), new member (12) countries and Turkey, total factor productivity, technical change, and efficiency change of agricultural production were analyzed for all countries (28) for 1993-2001 period. As a result total factor productivity increased 2.1% in 1963-2001 period for EU (15). This increase occurred as a technical change. Total factor productivity increased 1.4% in 1993-2001 period for EU (15). This increase occurred as a technical change, too. Total factor productivity decreased 5.2% in 1993-2001 period for new member countries and Turkey. This decrease occurred mostly due to lack of technical change. Considering the all 28 countries total factor productivity decreased 1.9% in 1993-2001 period for the EU, the new nember countries and Turkey. This decrease again occurred mostly due to lack of technical change. Consequently, it is noticeable that compared to other countries, new member countries had a better performance in achieving high levels of productivity and efficiency in agricultural production.