An Agent-Based Simulation Model of Structural Change in Canadian Prairie Agriculture, 1960-2000

作者：Freeman Tyler^*; Nolan James; Schoney Richard

来源：Canadian Journal of Agricultural Economics, 2009, 57(4): 537-554.

DOI：10.1111/j.1744-7976.2009.01169.x

Agent-based simulation modeling (or ABM) is used to examine the evolution of farm size and financial structure in Canadian prairie agriculture over the period 1960-2000. Individual farm agent interaction and dynamics in this model occur through land ownership and leasing markets. A base scenario is developed and the model is validated against actual data from a typical Saskatchewan farm region. Subsequently, we simulate counterfactual policy scenarios applicable to farms in this region. Overall, we view the contribution of this paper as twofold-first, it represents a "proof of concept" of ABM's ability to simulate farming on a medium to large scale. Second, the model allows us to examine the contributions of entrepreneurship, factor endowment, and historical government agricultural support payments on the evolution of Canadian prairie farm structure.

• 出版日期2009-12