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Agricultural Policies In Oecd Countries: What Can We Learn From Political Economy Models?

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  • Jonathan Brooks

Abstract

The ability of the political economy literature to explain agricultural policies in OECD countries is reviewed, with a view to discerning how positive theories of protection can inform normative policy analysis. Recognition of the endogeneity of agricultural policy is seen to serve three important functions. First, it lays bare the fundamental constraints under which policymakers operate. Second, it implies a revision of the traditional calculus of welfare effects. Third, it may help reduce Downsian “rational ignorance” with respect to both policy causes and policy consequences. Whilst the literature suffers from practical limitations, political economy insights may form the basis for interdisciplinary research into the effects of procedural reform.

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  • Jonathan Brooks, 1996. "Agricultural Policies In Oecd Countries: What Can We Learn From Political Economy Models?," Journal of Agricultural Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 47(1‐4), pages 366-389, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:jageco:v:47:y:1996:i:1-4:p:366-389
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1477-9552.1996.tb00699.x
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    1. > Agricultural Economics > Agricultural Policy

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    2. repec:wsr:wpaper:y:2017:i:176 is not listed on IDEAS
    3. Cornelius Hirsch & Harald Oberhofer, 2017. "Bilateral Trade Agreements and Trade Distortions in Agricultural Markets?," WIFO Working Papers 531, WIFO.
    4. Jonathan Brooks, 2009. "Why is Agricultural Trade Policy Always So Difficult to Reform? Warum gestaltet sich die Reform der Agrarhandelspolitik jedes Mal so schwierig? Pourquoi la politique commerciale agricole est‐elle touj," EuroChoices, The Agricultural Economics Society, vol. 8(2), pages 38-43, August.
    5. 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.
    6. 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.
    7. repec:bla:eurcho:v:8:y:2009:i:specialissuechina:p:38-43 is not listed on IDEAS
    8. David S. Bullock & Klaus Salhofer & Jukka Kola, 1999. "The Normative Analysis of Agricultural Policy: A General Framework and Review," Journal of Agricultural Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 50(3), pages 512-535, September.

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