Labour absorption in agriculture : theoretical analysis and empirical investigations

Many development economists and policy makers have tended to regard the process of economic development as one of repeating the historical experience of the now developed countries and have thus looked mainly to the non-agricultural sectors to provide productive employment for the growing labour force. It is argued in this book that many poor countries should aim instead to increase both output and employment in their agricultural sectors over the medium term until agriculture has fulfilled its 'historical mission' and is no longer a constraint on the growth of the rest of the economy. To reorient development strategy in this direction, the book describes both international and historical variations in agricultural labour absorption in Asia, and brings together a wide range of analytical models to explain these variations. In the light of these analytical models, the concluding chapter clarifies some of the policy options available to underdeveloped countries.

The book gathers together and surveys a number of theoretical analyses and empirical investigations which have been widely scattered through the literature and should thus be welcomed by both students of development economics and policy-makers in this field, be they economists, anthropologists or sociologists.

Anne Booth is Research Fellow in the Research School of Pacific Studies, Australian National University.

R. M. Sundrum was Director of the Development Studies Program of the World Bank and is now Professorial Fellow in the Research School of Pacific Studies, Australian National University.