During the ninety years until 1970, land-labor ratios increased in all countries, especially after 1950. These increases reflect the rapid declines in agricultural labor forces as people moved to industry and off the land. The United States, however, had an increase in agricultural land as well as a reduction in the agricultural labor force, so that differences in land-labor ratios between it and other countries increased.
Until the 1950s mechanization played only a minor role. The emphasis on biological technology was supported by conscious government choice: in the late nineteenth century Japan imported machinery from the United States, but did not find it useful. It then hired biologists from Germany to assist in developing its biological research program, which was successful. The United States, however, emphasized mechanical technology even before 1880. Although publicly funded biological research was initiated in the 1870s, it did not produce big increases in yields until about 1930, well after the major land frontiers had been closed and mechanization was far advanced.

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During the ninety years until 1970, land-labor ratios increased in all countries, especially after 1950. These increases reflect the rapid declines in agricultural labor forces as people moved to industry and off the land. The United States, however, had an increase in agricultural land as well as a reduction in the agricultural labor force, so that differences in land-labor ratios between it and other countries increased.
Until the 1950s mechanization played only a minor role. The emphasis on biological technology was supported by conscious government choice: in the late nineteenth century Japan imported machinery from the United States, but did not find it useful. It then hired biologists from Germany to assist in developing its biological research program, which was successful. The United States, however, emphasized mechanical technology even before 1880. Although publicly funded biological research was initiated in the 1870s, it did not produce big increases in yields until about 1930, well after the major land frontiers had been closed and mechanization was far advanced.

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