Degree Type
Dissertation
Date of Award
1980
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy
Department
Economics
Abstract
Factors which affect the number and size of farm firms were identified and analyzed in the context of the micro-economic theory of the firm. Historical changes in the structure of the agriculture industry were analyzed by summarizing changes in farm numbers by size class, tenure arrangement, organizational structure, vertical coordination, and purchased inputs;A detailed discussion of the underlying theory of a Markov process and an outlining of the Markov process model which could be used to study the structure of agriculture industry was presented. The results of the application of both a stationary and nonstationary Markov process model were analyzed. The structure of agriculture is characterized by a nonstationary Markov process.
DOI
https://doi.org/10.31274/rtd-180813-4617
Publisher
Digital Repository @ Iowa State University, http://lib.dr.iastate.edu/
Copyright Owner
Steven E. Zumbach
Copyright Date
1980
Language
en
Proquest ID
AAI8028647
File Format
application/pdf
File Size
241 pages
Recommended Citation
Zumbach, Steven E., "Markov process models: an application to the study of the structure of agriculture " (1980). Retrospective Theses and Dissertations. 6818.
https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/rtd/6818
