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The Economic Polity Of Farm Policy

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  • Harry de Gorter
  • Johan F. M. Swinnen

Abstract

A review of the ‘new political economy’ of agricultural policies includes models of social income maximising governments, collective action by ‘pressure groups’, and the interaction between politicians and voters. An alternative explanation for Olson's “social by‐product” theory for why farmers received massive subsidies as a large group is also presented. An explanation for various patterns of farm policy interventions is given, including why rich countries subsidise and poor countries tax farmers. Finally, the role of public research expenditures and the interaction with commodity policy is explored.

Suggested Citation

  • Harry de Gorter & Johan F. M. Swinnen, 1994. "The Economic Polity Of Farm Policy," Journal of Agricultural Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 45(3), pages 312-326, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:jageco:v:45:y:1994:i:3:p:312-326
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1477-9552.1994.tb00406.x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Pokrivcak, Jan & Swinnen, Johan F.M., 2002. "Agenda Setting, Influence, And Voting Rules: The Influence Of The European Commission And Status Quo Bias In The Common Agricultural Policy Of The Eu," 2002 Annual meeting, July 28-31, Long Beach, CA 19868, American Agricultural Economics Association (New Name 2008: Agricultural and Applied Economics Association).
    2. Swinnen, Johan F.M., 1997. "The Political Economy of Agricultural Transition," 1997: Economic Transition in Central and East Europe, and the Former Soviet Union: Implications ... Symposium, June 12-14, 1997, Berlin, Germany 50836, International Agricultural Trade Research Consortium.
    3. Phiri, Horace & Edriss, Abdi Khalil, 2013. "Political economy of agricultural producer support in Malawi: An econometric test of determinants of producer protection in the maize sector," MaSSP working papers 2, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    4. repec:oup:erevae:v:44:y:2017:i:4:p:567-589. is not listed on IDEAS
    5. Fertő, Imre, 1998. "Az agrárpolitika politikai gazdaságtana II. Az agrárpolitikák magyarázata [The political economy of agrarian policy. Part II. Explanation of the agrarian policies]," Közgazdasági Szemle (Economic Review - monthly of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences), Közgazdasági Szemle Alapítvány (Economic Review Foundation), vol. 0(4), pages 297-316.
    6. Pokrivcak, Jan, 2002. "Institutions and EU Decisions-Making: the 'Power' of the European Commission," 2002 International Congress, August 28-31, 2002, Zaragoza, Spain 24862, European Association of Agricultural Economists.
    7. Fertő, Imre, 1999. "A Európai Unió közös agrárpolitikájának gazdaságtana II. A CAP politikai gazdaságtana [The economics of the European Union's Common Agricultural Policy, Part II. The political economy of CAP]," Közgazdasági Szemle (Economic Review - monthly of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences), Közgazdasági Szemle Alapítvány (Economic Review Foundation), vol. 0(9), pages 813-822.
    8. Kay, Adrian, 2000. "Towards a Theory of the Reform of the Common Agricultural Policy," European Integration online Papers (EIoP), European Community Studies Association Austria (ECSA-A), vol. 4, July.

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