IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/bla/eurcho/v6y2007i3p6-12.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Multifunctional Agriculture ‐ Real Concerns, or Just an Excuse? La multifonctionnalité de l'agriculture ‐ Une préoccupation réelle ou une simple excuse? Multifunktionale Landwirtschaft ‐ echte Belange oder nur eine Ausrede?

Author

Listed:
  • Terje Riis Johansen

Abstract

Multifunctional Excuse? Agriculture ‐ Real Concerns, or Just an Excuse? Economic trade theories show that rational governments would not subsidize their farmers but would support free trade and ensure that comparative advantages were exploited. Despite this, governments all over the world choose to subsidize their agricultural sector. We must recognize that agricultural food production is different from other types of production. No country can afford to put an end to the environmental, cultural and national identity issues associated with domestic food production. International systems for trade and economic cooperation must take into account that conditions vary greatly between countries, and room must therefore be left for domestic adjustments that suit nationally defined goals, values and conditions. Norway has particularly challenging conditions for agricultural production with a harsh climate and low population density Still the multifunctional values of agricultural production are goals in themselves and in certain cases these values cannot be produced without agricultural production itself. Theorists must take this into account in developing useful theoretical models that will help us politicians develop good policies. This is also true for values and costs that future environmental challenges, like climate change, will offer. Economic researchers are faced with the challenge of including both non‐tradable values as well as environmental concerns when shaping future economic models. Les théories économiques sur le commerce montrent que les pouvoirs publics guidés par un esprit rationnel ne subventionneraient pas leur agriculture mais soutiendraient le libre‐échange et feraient en sorte que les avantages comparatifs soient exploités. En dépit de cela, partout dans le monde, les pouvoirs publics choisissent de subventionner leur secteur agricole. Nous devons reconnaître que la production agricole alimentaire est différentes des autres types de production. Aucun pays ne peut se permettre de sacrifi er les questions d'identité nationale, de culture et d'environnement associées à la production agricole alimentaire. Les systèmes de coopération internationale commerciale et économique doivent tenir compte de la grande diversité des situations nationales et doivent laisser aux pays une certaine fl exibilité qui respecte leurs objectifs internes, leurs valeurs et leur situation. La Norvège, avec son rude climat et sa faible densité de population, a des conditions particulièrement difficiles pour la production agricole. Pourtant, les valeurs multifonctionnelles qu'apporte la production agricole sont des buts en soi et dans certains cas, elles ne peuvent être conservées en l'absence de production agricole. Les théoriciens doivent en tenir compte lorsqu'ils développent des modèles théoriques qui pourront aider les décideurs de l'action publique à développer des politiques appropriées. Cela concerne aussi les coûts et avantages que poseront les défi s environnementaux futurs comme le changement climatique. Les chercheurs en économie sont confrontés à la diffi culté de prendre en compte à la fois des valeurs non échangeables et des préoccupations environnementales lorsqu'ils conçoivent les modèles économiques du futur. Ökonomische Handelstheorien zeigen, dass rationale Regierungen ihre Landwirte fi nanziell nicht unterstützen, sondern den freien Handel fördern sowie sicherstellen würden, dass komparative Vorteile genutzt werden. Ungeachtet dessen entscheiden sich weltweit Regierungen dafür, den Agrarsektor zu subventionieren. Wir müssen zur Kenntnis nehmen, dass sich die landwirtschaftliche Nahrungsmittelproduktion von anderen Produktionsarten unterscheidet. Kein Land kann es sich leisten, die mit der inländischen Nahrungsmittelproduktion verbundenen Bereiche von Umwelt, Kultur und nationaler Identität außer acht zu lassen. Internationale Systeme für den Handel und die wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit müssen berücksichtigen, dass die Situation von Land zu Land sehr unterschiedlich ist und daher Platz gelassen werden muss, um im Inland Anpassungen vornehmen zu können, welche den auf nationaler Ebene gesetzten Zielen, Werten und Bedingungen Rechnung tragen. Im Hinblick auf die landwirtschaftliche Produktion stellt die Situation in Norwegen aufgrund des rauen Klimas und der geringen Bevölkerungsdichte eine besondere Herausforderung dar. Dennoch handelt es sich bei den multifunktionalen Werten der landwirtschaftlichen Produktion um Ziele, welche einen intrinsischen Wert besitzen, und in bestimmten Fällen können diese Werte nicht ohne die landwirtschaftliche Produktion selbst erreicht werden. Theoretiker müssen dies bei der Entwicklung von brauchbaren theoretischen Modellen berücksichtigen, welche uns Politikern bei der Entwicklung guter Politikmaßnahmen hilfreich sind. Dies gilt ebenfalls für Werte und Kosten, welche zukünftige ökologische Herausforderungen wie z.B. der Klimawandel nach sich ziehen werden. Wrtschaftsforscher stehen der Herausforderung gegenüber, bei der Ausgestaltung zukünftiger Wirtschaftsmodelle sowohl nicht handelbaren Werten als auch ökologischen Belangen Rechnung zu tragen.

Suggested Citation

  • Terje Riis Johansen, 2007. "Multifunctional Agriculture ‐ Real Concerns, or Just an Excuse? La multifonctionnalité de l'agriculture ‐ Une préoccupation réelle ou une simple excuse? Multifunktionale Landwirtschaft ‐ echte Belange," EuroChoices, The Agricultural Economics Society, vol. 6(3), pages 6-12, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:bla:eurcho:v:6:y:2007:i:3:p:6-12
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1746-692X.2007.00069.x
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1746-692X.2007.00069.x
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1111/j.1746-692X.2007.00069.x?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Arild Vatn, 2002. "Multifunctional agriculture: some consequences for international trade regimes," European Review of Agricultural Economics, Oxford University Press and the European Agricultural and Applied Economics Publications Foundation, vol. 29(3), pages 309-327, July.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Chen Qiuzhen & Sumelius John & Arovuori Kyösti, 2009. "The evolution of policies for multifunctional agriculture and rural areas in China and Finland," European Countryside, Sciendo, vol. 1(4), pages 202-209, January.
    2. Arovuori, Kyösti & Kola, Jukka, 2005. "Multifunctional Policy Measures for Multifunctional Agriculture," 2005 International Congress, August 23-27, 2005, Copenhagen, Denmark 24771, European Association of Agricultural Economists.
    3. Rizov, Marian & Davidova, Sophia & Bailey, Alastair, 2019. "Employment effects of CAP payments in the UK non-farm economy," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, pages 147-161.
    4. Yann Desjeux & Pierre Dupraz & Francois Bonnieux & David Baldock & Laura Kröger & John Finn & Davide Viaggi & Volker Beckmann & . Itaes Project, 2006. "ITAES Workshop, Brussels September 13th 2005, Proceedings," Post-Print hal-02818880, HAL.
    5. Tristan Le Cotty & Anthony Aumand & Tancrêde Voituriez, 2003. "Multifonctionnalité et coopération multilatérale Une analyse du coût de fourniture de biens publics par l'agriculture," Économie rurale, Programme National Persée, vol. 273(1), pages 91-102.
    6. Jan & Zawadka & Agata & Balinska & Piotr & Gabryjonczyk, 2021. "Agritourism as a Form of Free Time Activity Among Families with Kids in Poland," European Research Studies Journal, European Research Studies Journal, vol. 0(Special 4), pages 571-582.
    7. Lankoski, Jussi E. & Lichtenberg, Erik & Ollikainen, Markku, 2008. "Agri-environmental program compliance under heterogeneous conditions," 2008 International Congress, August 26-29, 2008, Ghent, Belgium 44381, European Association of Agricultural Economists.
    8. Schmid, Erwin & Sinabell, Franz, 2004. "Multifunctionality of Agriculture: Political Concepts, Analytical Challenges and an Empirical Case Study," Discussion Papers DP-08-2004, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Department of Economics and Social Sciences, Institute for Sustainable Economic Development.
    9. Heringa, Pieter W. & van der Heide, Martijn M. & Heijman, Wim J.M., 2012. "The economic impact of multifunctional agriculture in The Netherlands:," 2012 Conference, August 18-24, 2012, Foz do Iguacu, Brazil 125593, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    10. Brown, Jason P. & Goetz, Stephan J. & Fleming, David A., 2012. "Multifunctional Agriculture and Farm Viability in the United States," 2012 Annual Meeting, August 12-14, 2012, Seattle, Washington 126929, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    11. Fabio Gaetano Santeramo & Emilia Lamonaca, 2019. "The Effects of Non‐tariff Measures on Agri‐food Trade: A Review and Meta‐analysis of Empirical Evidence," Journal of Agricultural Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 70(3), pages 595-617, September.
    12. Qiuzhen Chen & Timo Sipiläinen & John Sumelius, 2014. "Assessment of Agri-Environmental Externalities at Regional Levels in Finland," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 6(6), pages 1-21, May.
    13. Abler, David G., 2004. "Multifunctionality, Agricultural Policy, and Environmental Policy," Agricultural and Resource Economics Review, Northeastern Agricultural and Resource Economics Association, vol. 33(1), pages 1-10, April.
    14. Alison Burrell, 2003. "Multifonctionnalité, considérations non commerciales au Cycle de Doha," Économie rurale, Programme National Persée, vol. 273(1), pages 13-29.
    15. Romstad, Eirik, 2009. "Ambiguous jointness and multifunctionality," 2009 Conference, August 16-22, 2009, Beijing, China 51539, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    16. Lehtonen, Heikki & Lankoski, Jussi E. & Niemi, Jyrki S. & Ollikainen, Markku, 2005. "The Impacts of Alternative Policy Scenarios on Multifunctionality," 2005 International Congress, August 23-27, 2005, Copenhagen, Denmark 24459, European Association of Agricultural Economists.
    17. Moon, Wanki & Koo, Won W. & Kim, Chang-Gil, 2011. "New Global Governance For Agriculture, Climate Change, Sustainability, And Food Security," Journal of Rural Development/Nongchon-Gyeongje, Korea Rural Economic Institute, vol. 34(2), pages 1-29, June.
    18. Weber, Gerald, 2003. "Internationaler Handel und multifunktionale Landwirtschaft : Ein Agrarsektormodell zur Analyse Politischer Optionen und Entscheidungsunterstutzung," Working Paper Series 18824, Humboldt University Berlin, Department of Agricultural Economics.
    19. Peter Howley & Trevor Donnellan & Kevin Hanrahan, 2009. "The 2003 CAP reform: Do decoupled payments affect agricultural production?," Working Papers 0901, Rural Economy and Development Programme,Teagasc.
    20. Kimsanova, Barchynai & Herzfeld, Thomas, 2022. "Policy analysis with Melitz-type gravity model: Evidence from Kyrgyzstan," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 80(C).

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:bla:eurcho:v:6:y:2007:i:3:p:6-12. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Wiley Content Delivery (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://edirc.repec.org/data/eaaeeea.html .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.