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Why Farm Support Persists: An Explanation Grounded in Congressional Political Economy

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  • Freshwater, David
  • Leising, Jordan D.

Abstract

n the paper we provide an explanation of the persistence of the commodity titles in US farm bills that is grounded in core theories of the policy process from the political science literature. The political science literature explains policy continuity and policy change from a number of different perspectives and we use these to explain why the commodity titles of farm bills have persisted in the face of considerable opposition and how in response the Agriculture Committees have introduced incremental change to the content of farm bills to facilitate each bill’s passage. Unlike the standard approach of agricultural economists which focuses on the broader national economic efficiency impacts of farm programs, we concentrate on, narrower local political forces that affect individual Members of the Congress, and on the legislative process that created each farm bill.

Suggested Citation

  • Freshwater, David & Leising, Jordan D., 2015. "Why Farm Support Persists: An Explanation Grounded in Congressional Political Economy," Staff Papers 198782, University of Kentucky, Department of Agricultural Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:ags:ukysps:198782
    DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.198782
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    1. Hurwitz, Mark S. & Moiles, Roger J. & Rohde, David W., 2001. "Distributive and Partisan Issues in Agriculture Policy in the 104th House," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 95(4), pages 911-922, December.
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    3. Banks, Jeffrey S. & Duggan, John, 2008. "A Dynamic Model of Democratic Elections in Multidimensional Policy Spaces," Quarterly Journal of Political Science, now publishers, vol. 3(3), pages 269-299, October.
    4. Robert Paarlberg & Davis Orden, 1996. "Explaining U.S. Farm Policy in 1996 and Beyond: Changes in Party Control and Changing Market Conditions," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 78(5), pages 1305-1313.
    5. Gawande, Kishore & Hoekman, Bernard, 2006. "Lobbying and Agricultural Trade Policy in the United States," International Organization, Cambridge University Press, vol. 60(3), pages 527-561, July.
    6. University of Western Australia, 1964. "Farm Policy," Farm Policy, University of Western Australia, Department of Agricultural Economics, vol. 4(3).
    7. Hurwitz, Mark S. & Moiles, Roger J. & Rohde, David W., 2001. "Distributive and Partisan Issues in Agriculture Policy in the 104th House," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 95(4), pages 923-937, December.
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