The political economy of agricultural policies: A survey

Swinnen, Jo; Zee, F.A. van der

doi:10.1093/erae/20.3.261

Cited by 56 publications

(26 citation statements)

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“…More complex tools, on the other hand, have often remained black boxes to policy makers rather than transparent analytical tools that could effectively inform policy decisions (De Smedt 2011). Also, political economists have repeatedly argued that specific sectoral interests-particularly in the agricultural sectorhave often been reluctant to develop more effective policies if they could result in a change of status quo (Swimmen and Van der Zee 1993, De Gorter and Swinnen 2002, Rausser and Goodhue 2002, Swinnen 2009, Anderson 2010.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Combining Policy Network and Model-Based Scenario Analyses: An Assessment of Future Ecosystem Goods and Services in Swiss Mountain Regions

Hirschi¹,

Widmer²,

Briner³

et al. 2013

E&S

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ABSTRACT. We argue that the often-proclaimed disregard of ex-ante assessments of the provision of ecosystem goods and services in policy-making processes is not only due to a neglect or a misinterpretation of the results of such assessments in the relevant political processes, but also due to an inaccurate inclusion of political variables into those assessments. To address this weakness, we combine a model-based scenario analysis with a policy network analysis. Analyzing the structure of the policy network and taking into account the policy preferences of the individual network actors allows us to assess the feasibility and likelihood of policy developments as derived from scenario-based modeling assessments. We demonstrate the applicability of our approach in an analysis of potential policy measures aimed at maintaining crucial ecosystem goods and services in Swiss mountain regions, with a specific focus on agriculture, which is arguably one of the most important sectors for various ecosystem goods and services in those regions. Our results show that a production-oriented agricultural policy still has strong political support and, consequently, a status-quo protection scenario is very likely. In contrast, a more environmentally friendly agricultural policy is unlikely if it leads to extensive new regulations for agricultural production. Even with a greening scenario performing best within a set of ex-ante model-based assessments of future policy options, our policy network analysis suggests that changes in agricultural policy would have to reconcile the support of the provision of nonmarketable ecosystem goods and services with market deregulation policies in order to become politically feasible.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Combining Policy Network and Model-Based Scenario Analyses: An Assessment of Future Ecosystem Goods and Services in Swiss Mountain Regions

Hirschi¹,

Widmer²,

Briner³

et al. 2013

E&S

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“…For over five decades from its start in 1962 the program has been the focus of many reviews, evaluations, and econometric models (Swinnen and Van Der Zee 1993;Kleijn et al 2001;Shortall 2002;Potter and Tilzey 2005;Strijker 2005;Lasanta and Marín-Yaseli 2007;Swinbank 2009). The US Farm Bill is another example that has contributed largely to the knowledge base of agricultural subsidies (Harvey 1998;Marshall 2000;Sumner 2003;Lehrer and Becker 2010;Serra et al 2011).…”

Section: Locating the Study In The Knowledge Web Of Subsidiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Much of this discussion has often been trapped in the normative premise of an optimal economic policy, which expects failure only in the lack of knowledge or poor management. The role of the government is presumed to be "an omniscient, benevolent dictator" which would rectify the failures in allocating and distributing resources in an market economy (Swinnen and Van Der Zee 1993). On the other hand, in the developed world the focus of the studies on agricultural subsidies has shifted much into questioning its effectiveness.…”

Section: Locating the Study In The Knowledge Web Of Subsidiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Even when acknowledged the effects of political activity was assumed to be determined by the underlying structural features of the economy (Thies and Porche 2007). In addressing the unresolved issues of the nature and cause of agricultural protection in Europe, scholars found interest in the political economy 2 of the problem (Swinnen and Van Der Zee 1993;Clark et al 1997;Wen and Chang 1999;Lopez 2001;Swinnen et al 2001;Henning and Latacz-Lohmann 2004;Potter and Tilzey 2005;Pokrivcak et al 2006;Swinbank 2009). In contrast to neoclassical economics the political economy approach started questioning the ability of a government to correct market failures in a prefect and costless manner.…”

Section: Locating the Study In The Knowledge Web Of Subsidiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In contrast to neoclassical economics the political economy approach started questioning the ability of a government to correct market failures in a prefect and costless manner. It recognised that the allocating of public resources in the political market is subject to the influence of the self-interests of politicians, bureaucrats, voters, and lobbying groups (Swinnen and Van Der Zee 1993;Murdoch et al 2003;Potter and 2 Political economy can mean different things. In the 18th and 19th centuries and into the 20th century political economy was a mere synonym for what economics connotes today.…”

Section: Locating the Study In The Knowledge Web Of Subsidiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Why is the subsidy on fertilizers for rice in Sri Lanka continued?

Abeygunawardane¹

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This dissertation attempted an answer to the question 'why the subsidy on fertilizers for rice in Sri Lanka is continued amidst a number of sustainability concerns?' There is ample evidence to point out why the long-running subsidy schemes should end; but they continue. This study locates the problem beyond its current definition that largely focuses on the gains and losses of subsidies, to incorporate the roles of stakeholders and their environment in deciding the important causes of subsidies. Using the current rice fertilizer subsidy scheme that started in late 2005 as the case, this study examined the roles of two key stakeholder groups -rice farmers and agricultural bureaucrats and researchers -set in the complex interplay of history, institutions, ideas, leadership, different actors, and external influences in constituting and mediating the rice fertilizer subsidy policy in Sri Lanka.Guided by the foundations of post-positivism, critical realism, and systems thinking, the study used a mixed method approach consisting of both quantitative and qualitative methods. Data was collected from 22 semi-structured interviews with agriculture bureaucrats and researchers, 189 survey responses from rice farmers, and three focus groups involving 24 agriculture bureaucrats and researchers. The data analysis was followed by a critique of the roles of stakeholders and their environment.The key findings of this study suggest that the persistence of the rice fertilizer subsidy in Sri Lanka is best explained by a model of shared food preference. The social, political, and economic conditions in Sri Lanka engendered and accommodated ideals that elaborated the role of rice unparalleled to its economic value. Nurtured by this environment, both farmers and agriculture bureaucrats and researchers have, for different reasons, constituted a support for subsidized fertilizers. At the operational scale, the rice fertilizer subsidy of Sri Lanka has been an experience very similar to those subsidy schemes in other developing countries generating benefits in fertilizer usage and rice production, but falling below its full potential due to limitations in its own operational mechanism and deficiencies in its enabling environment. Constrained by the diminishing soil conditions -perceived to be the most critical among all variables deciding rice yields -farmers found the perceived benefits of the subsidy to be beyond material measure, mediating a strong support for its continuation. The agriculture bureaucrats and researchers' support for the fertilizer subsidy was largely driven by ideals of nationalism, development, and nutrition. To these ideals achieving self-sufficiency in rice was of the highest priority. Science's contribution to policy was severely constrained by this cultural construct of rice and hence the policy choices.Therefore, the study concludes that the reason for continuing the rice fertilizer subsidy scheme in Sri Lanka is its people's intimate preference for rice that is shared across the social spectrum. Being ii...

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The Political Economy of Agriculture in France's Fifth Republic

Adams¹

1999

Explorations in Economic History

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The political economy of agricultural policies: A survey

Cited by 56 publications

References 0 publications

Combining Policy Network and Model-Based Scenario Analyses: An Assessment of Future Ecosystem Goods and Services in Swiss Mountain Regions

Combining Policy Network and Model-Based Scenario Analyses: An Assessment of Future Ecosystem Goods and Services in Swiss Mountain Regions

Why is the subsidy on fertilizers for rice in Sri Lanka continued?

The Political Economy of Agriculture in France's Fifth Republic

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