Speaker: Karen Macours is an Associate Professor at the Paris School of Economics. More »

Overview: Karen Macours of the Paris School of Economics will present the results of an experiment aimed at improving the measurement of farmers’ skills through the design of measurement tools that are usable in field conditions. The skills tested include cognitive functioning, non-cognitive functioning (e.g. openness-to-change, personality, self-control, aspirations), and technical agricultural skills. By testing and comparing several methods, the study aims to contribute to the design of more efficient ways of measuring skills relevant for understanding agricultural productivity. The extent to which the measured skills predict economic decisions related to the adoption of advanced agricultural practices is also explored. This study aims to identify the potential gains related to incorporating well-designed skills modules into household surveys such as the LSMS. Recommendations are provided on the skills that matter the most for agriculture and how they can be cost-effectively measured.

Last Updated: Apr 23, 2015