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Economic experiments as a tool for agricultural policy evaluation: insights from the European CAP

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  • Liesbeth Colen

    (IPTS - JRC Institute for Prospective Technological Studies - JRC - European Commission - Joint Research Centre [Seville], UCL - Université Catholique de Louvain = Catholic University of Louvain)

  • Sergio Gomez-Y-Paloma

    (IPTS - JRC Institute for Prospective Technological Studies - JRC - European Commission - Joint Research Centre [Seville])

  • Uwe Latacz-Lohmann

    (Department of Agricultural Economics - CAU - Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel = Christian-Albrechts University of Kiel = Université Christian-Albrechts de Kiel, UWA - The University of Western Australia)

  • Marianne Lefebvre

    (UA - Université d'Angers)

  • Raphaële Préget

    (LAMETA - Laboratoire Montpelliérain d'Économie Théorique et Appliquée - UM1 - Université Montpellier 1 - UPVM - Université Paul-Valéry - Montpellier 3 - INRA - Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique - Montpellier SupAgro - Centre international d'études supérieures en sciences agronomiques - UM - Université de Montpellier - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - Montpellier SupAgro - Institut national d’études supérieures agronomiques de Montpellier)

  • Sophie Thoyer

    (LAMETA - Laboratoire Montpelliérain d'Économie Théorique et Appliquée - UM1 - Université Montpellier 1 - UPVM - Université Paul-Valéry - Montpellier 3 - INRA - Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique - Montpellier SupAgro - Centre international d'études supérieures en sciences agronomiques - UM - Université de Montpellier - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - Montpellier SupAgro - Institut national d’études supérieures agronomiques de Montpellier, Montpellier SupAgro - Institut national d’études supérieures agronomiques de Montpellier)

Abstract

This article assesses the potential contribution of economic experiments to evidence-based policy making in the field of agriculture, with a special focus on the EU's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). CAP evaluation mostly relies on standard evaluation tools such as farm and market simulation models, calibrated with EU-wide statistical data, statistical and econometric analysis of survey data, and a range of qualitative methods such as interviews with stakeholders, focus group or internet-based public consultation. Yet, the CAP has changed considerably over the past decades, requiring adaptations of its evaluation toolbox. A detailed review of existing studies using economic experiments for designing and evaluating agricultural policies provides the backbone for a comprehensive assessment of the complementarity of experimental approaches with standard evaluation tools. The article also provides recommendations aiming at facilitating inclusion of economic experiments into the CAP evaluation toolbox based on conclusions drawn from a workshop organized with experts, academics and policy makers of Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development of the European Commission.

Suggested Citation

  • Liesbeth Colen & Sergio Gomez-Y-Paloma & Uwe Latacz-Lohmann & Marianne Lefebvre & Raphaële Préget & Sophie Thoyer, 2015. "Economic experiments as a tool for agricultural policy evaluation: insights from the European CAP," Post-Print hal-02743124, HAL.
  • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:hal-02743124
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://hal.inrae.fr/hal-02743124
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