Technological progress classification in agriculture

The substitution of steel ploughs for wooden ploughs represents capital-reducing (or labour-augmenting) technological progress in the narrower sense because it achieves more output with less total input, or improves output per unit of capital/labour investment. However, the most accurate classification is that it is capital-reducing because steel ploughs are more durable and efficient, reducing the capital requirement per unit of agricultural output compared to wooden ploughs. Option (c) is the most precise answer: steel ploughs require less frequent replacement and maintenance than wooden ploughs, reducing capital needs. Labour-augmenting would suggest increased labour productivity with same labour, which is not the primary feature here. > Key Insight: Steel > Wood in durability and efficiency = Capital-reducing (more output per capital unit). Answer: (c).