Group Behavior and Development: A Comparison of Farmers' Organisations in South Korea and Taiwan

42 Pages Posted: 10 Jul 2001

See all articles by Gustav Ranis

Gustav Ranis

Yale University - Department of Economics (Deceased)

Larry Burmeister

University of Kentucky - Department of Sociology

Michael Wang

University of Oxford - Department of Economics

Date Written: May 2001

Abstract

This study presents a comparative analysis of farmers' organisations in Korea and Taiwan during 1950-80 in order to help us understand the role of group behavior in affecting development outcomes. It highlights the linkages between group behavior, parastatal organisational structures and economic performance. The paper examines the historical and political economy contexts that led to the creation of both countries' farmers' organisations and highlights the institutional characteristics that impacted their operational effectiveness. The study discusses elements in internal and external policies that affected group motivation and traces the implications of such differences in group behavior for bottom line performance. Though there existed many similarities in both organisational structure and operations, it is argued that differential intra-group behavioral dynamics led to differences in agricultural performance. Although, with the declining importance of agriculture, the relative importance of such organisations has declined in recent years, the study is relevant for developing countries at every stage of development.

Keywords: Farmers' Organizations, Korea, Taiwan, Group Behavior

JEL Classification: O17

Suggested Citation

Ranis, Gustav and Burmeister, Larry and Wang, Michael, Group Behavior and Development: A Comparison of Farmers' Organisations in South Korea and Taiwan (May 2001). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=275298

Gustav Ranis

Yale University - Department of Economics (Deceased)

United States

Larry Burmeister (Contact Author)

University of Kentucky - Department of Sociology ( email )

500 Garrigus Building
Lexington, KY 40546
United States
859-257-7588 (Phone)

Michael Wang

University of Oxford - Department of Economics

Manor Road Building
Manor Road
Oxford, OX1 3BJ
United Kingdom

Do you have a job opening that you would like to promote on SSRN?

Paper statistics

Downloads
313
Abstract Views
3,568
Rank
161,585
PlumX Metrics