Farm Size and Productivity - Lessons from Recent Literature

Farm size is at the heart of current policy debates over issues such as land grabbing, land reform and the role smallholders play in the fight against hunger and malnutrition. It is also closely linked to equity and poverty issues. In his recent paper, Douglas Gollin (Professor of Development Economics in the Department of International Development at Oxford University and ex-ISPC member and SPIA Chair) explores the issues of farm size and productivity and how these reflect policies and markets. To what extent should development strategies prioritize smallholder agriculture?