Le concept et l'application des parites agricoles a la CEE en 1984

International comparisons of real values of final production of agriculture are usually made in Ecu by applying the exchange rate. These comparisons may produce distorted results caused by a difference in price level for the same product in the countries concerned. In all comparisons where results in real values or in volume terms are required, i.e. ignoring differences in price levels, purchasing power parities are necessary. At the Community level, the use of Purchasing Power Standards calculated on the basis of GDP as exchange rates allows the general price level in Member States to be taken into account. To eliminate the specific distortions related to a difference in price level of agricultural products, a specific agricultural parity called Agricultural Parity (AP), i.e. a fictitious exchange rate for the aggregates of the economic accounts of agriculture, has been established. The reference unit in which these new values are expressed is called the Agricultural Standard (AS). The total value of final production of agriculture in the Community in 1984 in Ecu is by definition equal to its value in AS. The AS reflects the real price level of final production of agriculture in each Member State. It differs significantly from the value expressed in Ecu and in PPS. The article presents the calculation of AP for agriculture in the Community in 1984 and analyses the consequences for comparisons in real values of the aggregates of the economic accounts of agriculture available in CRONOS.