The political economy of the agricultural policy of industrial countries

The agricultural policies of industrial countries bring financial strain to their economic welfare. This paper argues that the problem results from the conflict between social attitudes which abhor change and an economic system and agricultural technology which is constantly changing. Within the boundaries defined by these forces, agricultural pressure groups, bureaucrats and politicians have considerable freedom to manoeuvre, and their interaction typically leads to increasing amounts and complexity of farm support. This outcome results not just from equilibrium in the political market-place, but also from the `process¿ by which decisions on agriculture (and other issues) are taken.