AGRICULTURAL POLICY RESEARCH: SOME THOUGHTS CONCERNING METHODOLOGY AND TECHNOLOGY / Landboubeleidsnavorsing: Sekere gedagtes oor metodologie en tegnologie

Abstract

The demand for scientific economic analysis has led to a research emphasis of using empirical procedures on historic phenomena. More rigorous economic analyses are required on the present and emerging problems of society. The challenges facing agricultural economists in South Africa are daunting and more scholarly papers are required on these issues. The rigour of economic discipline, coupled with the refereeing process in scholarly journals, will promote research ethics based on objectivity and the search for truth. These are especially relevant where policy issues are politicized. The availability of sophisticated computer programmes has led to the repetitive application of research technology. The MOTAD technique, for example, now appears to be going out of fashion. More theoretical insight and better research tools are required.

Uittreksel

Die vraag na wetenskaplike ekonomiese ontleding het gelei tot die beklemtoning van empiriese navorsingsprosedures gebaseer op his-toriese gegewens. Meer gevorderde ekonomiese navorsing word benodig met betrekking tot die huidige en toekomsprobleme van die samelewing. Die uitdagings aan die landbou-ekonoom in Suid Afrika is besonder groat in hierdie tydvak en meer navorsing van uit-nemende gehalte word benodig. Die dissipline van die ekonomiese wetenskap, gepaardgaande met beoordeling en keuring deur referente bevorder navorsingsetiek gebaseer op objektiwiteit en die soeke na waarheid, wat veral belangrik is in Suid Afrika waar aangeleenthede op beleidsvlak gepolitiseerd kan wees. Die beskikbaarheid van gesofistikeerde rekenaarprogramme het gelei tot die herhaalde gebruik van navorsingstegnologie wat in die mode is, soos bv, die MOTAD tegniek wat nou weer besig is om uit die mode te raak. Verskerpte teoretiese insig en verbeterde navorsingstegnologie word benodig.