AGRICULTURAL POLICY ISSUES AND ECONOMIC ANALYSES

In this paper a number of wide-ranging matters, which provide the background to much of the work of agricultural economists, are surveyed. Apart from their interest to the profession they are also issues attracting widespread public comment. The purpose of this paper, however, is not to add to that comment, but rather to stimulate more detailed analyses and balanced discussion of them. In this way the hope is that a fuller appreciation of the difficulties and the consequences that alternative approaches might involve will emerge.