Optimal intertemporal investment in Australian agriculture: An empirical investigation

This paper empirically investigates optimal intertemporal investment behaviour of farmers in Australia. The dynamic investment model is estimated using pooled crosssectional and time-series farm survey data spanning the period 1979-1993. The model captures intertemporal investment behaviour of farmers, including independent and instantaneous adjustment decisions. Empirical test results indicate that labour, capital, sheep numbers and cattle numbers adjust sluggishly towards their long-run equilibrium levels. Results provide empirical evidence to indicate that adjustment problem is characteristic of production in agricultural zones Australia