Geography and Agricultural Productivity: Cross-Country Evidence from Micro Plot-Level Data

Abstract We quantify the role of geography and land quality for agricultural productivity differences across countries using high-resolution micro-geography data a spatial accounting framework. The rich provide each cell covering entire globe, potential yield 18 crops, which measures maximum attainable crop output given soil quality, climate conditions, terrain topography, level cultivation inputs. While there is considerable heterogeneity in space, even within narrow geographic regions, we find that low not due to unfavourable endowments. If produced current crops according yields, rich-poor gap would virtually disappear, from 214% 5%. also evidence additional aggregate gains through reallocation changes production.