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Towards a Theory of Structural Change in Agriculture: Just Economics?

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  • Balmann, Alfons
  • Valentinov, Vladislav

Abstract

Though structural change in the agricultural sector has huge merits for economic development, the public opinion on structural change is quite negative. On the one hand, structural change does hardly lead to Pareto superior outcomes. On the other hand, there are concerns that structural change may go along with negative social externalities which may result from more industrialised forms of agriculture. This paper argues that addressing these concerns by agricultural economic research requires a systems perspective which goes far beyond traditional economic and reductionist perspectives. Conceptual approaches can for instance be found in the research on complex systems as well as in Luhmannian systems theory. Therefore, collaboration across disciplines is essential to develop a better theoretical understanding of structural change.

Suggested Citation

  • Balmann, Alfons & Valentinov, Vladislav, 2016. "Towards a Theory of Structural Change in Agriculture: Just Economics?," 149th Seminar, October 27-28, 2016, Rennes, France 246420, European Association of Agricultural Economists.
    • Handle: RePEc:ags:eaa149:246420
    DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.246420
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    7. Ostermeyer, Arlette, 2015. "Milchproduktion zwischen Pfadabhängigkeit und Pfadbrechung: Partizipative Analysen mit Hilfe des agentenbasierten Modells AgriPoliS," Studies on the Agricultural and Food Sector in Transition Economies, Leibniz Institute of Agricultural Development in Transition Economies (IAMO), volume 81, number 81.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Dante A. Urbina & Alberto Ruiz‐Villaverde, 2019. "A Critical Review of Homo Economicus from Five Approaches," American Journal of Economics and Sociology, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 78(1), pages 63-93, January.
    3. Philip Kostov & Sophia Davidova, 2021. "Common Policy but Different Outcomes: Structural Change in Family Farms of Central and East European Countries after Their Accession to the EU," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-18, October.

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    Agricultural and Food Policy;

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