Title: Production and agricultural productivity in the western world (XIV-XXth centuries)

Contact Information: Jean-Michel Chevet, INRA-CORELA, 65 Boulevard de Brandebourg, 94205 Ivry Cedex, France. Ph: (33) 01 49 59 69 22. Fax: (33) 01 49 59 69 90. Email: chevet@ivry.inra.fr

Other Organizers: Gérard Béaur (CNRS-CRH); Maria-Theresa Perez-Picazo (Université de Murcie, Espagne) (Fourth organizer not confirmed)

Description: First, a return on the concept of productivity and its various measures seems to be indispensable to better grasp the problem in its complexity. Il is, indeed, difficult not to begin with a distinction between the three diffyrent forrns of productivity, land, labor and capital. It is impossible to escape certain questions about the significance of the measures and on the use made of them. From there, we will reflect on the legitimacy of such calculations in historical or geographical contexts where economic calculations seem appropriate, on the compatibility of the various measures, the convergence or the divergence, on the pertinence of a comparison between productivities calculated for different periods and / or different places, on the range of factors that determine productivity, and on the various models of productivity that we can construct. Second, we will analyze situations, processes, trends. We will endeavour to discern through the different models the mechanisms that sustain or impede growth. We will analyze the role of agricultural conversions, technical innovations, intensification and external stimulants of growth, either from markets or from external conjonctures. We will seek to define the performances for each type of productivity, scrutinize dynarnics and brakes that order results and movements. We will finally wonder about the choices and stratygies, about the roles of constraints and obligations in encouraging or deterring farmers, investors or workers.

Participants: Jean-Michel Chevet (France); Antoine A. (France); Brassley P. (UK); Bruegel M. (France); Campbell B. M. S. (UK); Conicet-Uncihusa B.B. (Argentina); Dessureault Ch. (Canada); Dijck (Van) M. (Belgium); Franaszek P. (Poland); Garnier B. (France); Goy J. (France); Henriksen I. (Denmark);
Jover Avella G. (Spain); Lana Berasain J. M. (Spain); Lemeunier G. (France); Macias Hernandez A. M. (Spain); Nuez Yanez J. S. (Spain); Perez Picazo M. T. (Spain); Pujol Andreu J. (Spain); Reguera A. (Argentina); Robledo Hermandez R. (Spain); Sarasua C. (Spain); Servais P. (Belgium); Zambrana Pineda J. F. (Spain); Bargelli Cl. (Italy).