In this study, three indices of efficiency advantage, scale advantage and integrated advantage (as a comprehensive index of comparative advantage) for irrigated crops of Mazandaran province has been examined. Results suggest that production of these crops in towns would have scale advantage, efficiency advantage and integrated advantage in 63.44, 48.38 and 55.91 percent of cases respectively, relative to the average of the province. Mazandaran has scale advantage in paddy, watermelon, soybean and canola and efficiency advantage in wheat, barley, paddy, beans, lentil, cotton, tomato, melon, watermelon, cucumber, alfalfa, maize, clover, soybean and canola production in comparison with the average of the country. There is a high correlation between integrated advantage index and scale advantage in towns and also between province comparative advantage and scale advantage in comparison with the average of the country.
JEL Classification: Q16, Q18, R11 |