THE ECONOMIC POLITY OF FARM POLICY

A review of the ‘new political economy’ of agricultural policies includes models of social income maximising governments, collective action by ‘pressure groups’, and the interaction between politicians and voters. An alternative explanation for Olson's “social by-product” theory for why farmers received massive subsidies as a large group is also presented. An explanation for various patterns of farm policy interventions is given, including why rich countries subsidise and poor countries tax farmers. Finally, the role of public research expenditures and the interaction with commodity policy is explored.     

INPUT-OUTPUT FORECASTING OF REGIONAL AGRICULTURAL POLICY IMPACTS

Input-output coefficients and multipliers based upon them are increasingly being used to evaluate the impact of changes in agricultural policies, yet there are a number of specific difficulties with regard to their use in this context. This paper articulates various criticisms which can be made, and tests their validity by comparing multiplier forecasts with out-turns from a series of eight input-output tables describing the Welsh agricultural sector. The predictive performance deteriorates rapidly as the time between base matrix and forecast year increases; more attention needs to be paid to the forecasting of final demand, spill-over effects into other sectors, and the functional relationship between labour input and gross output.     

强化区划观念是振兴农产品出口的关键

从振兴我国农产品外贸和制约我国农产品的质量因素论及强化农业区划是提高农产品总体质量之本.     

PRODUCTION FUNCTION ANALYSIS AS A GUIDE TO POLICY IN LOW-INCOME FARM AREAS

This paper discusses many of the problems encountered in estimating production functions in a low-income farm area in Saskatchewan. It also ermines the difficulties of interpreting the estimated structural coefficients and their usefulness in policy formulation.
The econometric difficulties discussed in production function estimation are those of function selection and choice and rearmament of variables. Many of the comments are also relevant to other forms of quantitative research.
It is combed that: a great deal of arbitrariness is involved in selecting the appropriate production function model, statistical results often conflict with economic theory, it is impossible to interpret the results in a meaningful manner, and production function research is unable to. provide fruitful information for the type of policy decisions deemed desirable to change the economic structure of low-income farm areas.     

LAND USE PERMITS AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO FERTILISER AND LEACHING TAXES FOR THE CONTROL OF NITRATE POLLUTION

Legislation emanating from the European Community is establishing pressures to take action to reduce the level of nitrates in water, and the principles established towards environmental management indicate an emphasis on prevention rather than treatment. This paper analyses three possible approaches by means of controls on fertilisers, on nitrate leaching and on land use. These are incorporated into a linear programming model of a catchment in Cambridgeshire. The results indicate the superior cost-effectiveness of controls over leaching and the severe impact which taxes would have on farm incomes. A system of permits on land use is found to be relatively cost-effective and to offer an administratively feasible alternative.     

IMPACTS OF THE COMMON AGRICULTURAL POLICY ON INTERNATIONAL WHEAT PRICES

The emergence of the EC as a major exporter of cereals in the 1980s and the escalation of international agricultural trade confrontations emphasize the importance of understanding the effects of EC policy actions. Several important features of the EC wheat market are incorporated in an analytical and empirical model including imperfect substitutability in demand between imports and domestic supplies, the simultaneous import and export of wheat by the EC, the distinct impact of threshold versus intervention policy prices, MCAs, and the imperfect transmission between market and intervention prices. Results indicate that EC policies have a smaller impact on world price than found in previous studies.     

FARM CREDIT POLICY IN THE EARLY STAGES OF AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT*

This paper discusses the farm credit policies pursued by governments in low-income countries. It is argued that, in the early stages of development, peasant attitudes to debt are such that cheap credit is unlikely to be a useful growth stimulus. It is shown that the effectiveness of credit depends on the ability and willingness of the peasants to devote such additional funds to productive uses. The poor performance of many government rural credit programmes in low-income countries is discussed and criteria for a successful programme are presented.     

基于土地利用结构分析的川中传统农区功能分区研究

[目的]川中传统农区地形条件复杂、生态环境脆弱、土地利用破碎而多样,通过定量分析区域土地利用结构特征,合理划定土地利用功能分区,对引导区域土地资源合理配置和精准实施差别化管理具有一定的现实意义。[方法]文章选取四川盆地川中丘陵与川东平行岭谷区交界处的重庆市荣昌区为例,选用土地利用总体组合类型、土地利用程度、地类区位意义等指数定量分析研究区土地利用结构特征,结合区域资源优势划定土地利用功能分区。[结果](1)2017年研究区土地利用组合类型齐全,以种植用地和生态用地为主要用地类型,土地利用程度较高,整体功能较强。各村土地利用受自然条件和经济发展辐射效应的影响,呈现出显著的空间分异特征。研究区中部土地利用类型齐全,以建设用地为主,呈现出多种用地类型相间分布的特点;中西部和西南部土地利用专门化程度较高,种植用地区位意义突出,土地利用程度较高;东北部及南部生态用地区位意义突出,呈现出种植用地、生态用地交错的特征,土地利用程度相对较低。(2)依据土地利用空间异质性规律和研究区资源禀赋差异,研究区土地利用可划分为现代农业发展、城乡农旅综合开发、特色种养发展、生态林果培育四大主导功能区。[结论]针对土地利用条件复杂多样的川中传统农区,通过精准识别区域土地利用结构特征,实现土地利用功能分区,其研究思路和结果,可为新时期川中传统农区开展类似研究提供借鉴。     

稳定发展粮食生产关键在抓大县促大户

该文概况了湖南省产粮大县和大户的总体情况,分析了产粮大县和大户面临的诸多困惑,如粮食大县难改财政穷县的窘迫境地,成本剧增使大户对扩大经营规划望而却步等,提出稳定粮食生产要在抓大县促大户上做文章,即改进粮食补贴方式、健全产粮大县大户激励机制、切实加强农业的基础设施建设、强化农业服务体系建设等。     

EVALUATION OF THE EFFICIENCY OF RESOURCE USE ON FARMS AND THE WELFARE OF FARM PEOPLE

Studies evaluating efficiency of resource use on farms and farmer welfare have commonly failed to specify the precise nature of problems often described in terms such as 'low-income'. Hence superior, alternative welfare and resource use positions, of interest to the policy formulator, are inadequately specified. Additionally, criteria used in these studies have often been invalid or inappropriate. This paper examines the theoretical and operational bases of efficiency and welfare criteria.     

农村宅基地使用制度改革研究进展及展望

我国农村宅基地使用制度改革政策虽然处于初级的探索阶段,但现有宅基地使用制度改革试点区政策对于探索农村土地使用制度改革具有重大意义。在查阅大量文献资料的基础上,文章首先对国外产权界定、市场交易、治理结构以及居民点建设进行阐释,再从我国宅基地使用制度的变迁、制度障碍及改革着力点、宅基地使用制度改革效果3个方面进行详细的归纳总结。结果发现,当前农村宅基地使用制度改革提升了农民生产效率和生活水平,缓解了宅基地闲置、一户多宅和低效利用等问题,但宅基地使用制度改革仍然以政府主导为主,缺乏考虑农民的利益诉求和保障机制。因此,我国农村宅基地使用制度改革政策还应该针对农民的实际诉求,发挥市场的主导作用,建立完善的农民利益保障机制,谨慎推进改革速度。     

CONTROLLING STRAW BURNING: FARM MANAGEMENT MODELLING OF THE POLICY OPTIONS USING LINEAR PROGRAMMING

Autumn-sown cereals place pressure on post-harvest operations, particularly straw disposal. Burning is often a private solution but imposes external costs on others. Policy options to control burning include an outright ban, standard regulations, pollution taxes and transferable discharge rights. The effects of such options on farm income are assessed for an East of England cereals farm using a Linear Programming model. Results are sensitive to assumed straw yields, the market price of straw, and incorporation costs. Transferable discharge rights offer a flexible and efficient instrument to regulate straw burning at a non-zero level.