Adoption of Labor-Saving Technologies in Agriculture

Abstract

Labor-saving technologies in agriculture have been fundamental to the advancement of the agricultural industry, and in general, the economies of nations. This article presents a review of several economic theories that form the basis of the economics of labor-saving technologies, including the theory of induced innovation and subsequent theories developed from it. The review also includes empirical application studies and classifies existing literature into ex ante and ex post analyses of technology adoption. It also presents a thorough review of economic studies on the most successful labor-saving technology adoptions in agriculture, including crops and livestock. Finally, we discuss the future of labor-saving technologies in agriculture and their implications for new societal and economic structures.