The Common Agricultural Policy And The Less Developed Countries

Economic analysis of the impact of the EC Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) on agriculture, food production and food security in developing countries - examines food production and nutrition in LDCs, and their role in the trade of agricultural products; considers protectionism and trade policies of EC countries, impact on commodity trade, etc.; discusses the food price dilemma, role of export-oriented agribusiness in LDCs, obstacles to food security, and world market stabilization through economic reform of the CAP. Bibliography, graphs.

Over the next three years negotiations will be taking place in the WTO (World Trade Organisation) on agriculture. This report will help participants and analysts to understand the EU's negotiating position.

Prepared under the aegis of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), this text presents a fresh and comprehensive look at agricultural development policy. It provides a clear, systematic review of important classes of policy issues in developing countries and discusses the emerging international consensus on viable approaches to the issues. The text is unique in its coverage and depth and it: Summarises hundreds of references on agricultural development policies Cites policy experiences and applied studies in more than 70 countries Provides guidance for policy makers giving examples of successes and failures Reviews issues related to the formulation of strategies and the requirements for making them successful Develops the conceptual foundations and illustrates policies that have worked, and some that have not, with explanations Topics covered include agriculture’s role in economic development, the objectives and strategies of agricultural policy, linkages between macroeconomic and agricultural policy, policies for the agricultural financial system and agricultural technology development. Upper level undergraduates taking courses in Economic Development and International Development and graduates taking courses in Agricultural Development, International and Economic Development, Natural Resource Management and specialised topics in agriculture will find this text of great interest. It also serves as a reference for professionals and researchers in the field of International Development.

Recoge: 1. Introduction - 2. The common agricultural policy: general evolution - 3.Common market organisation - 4. Structural, rural and environment policies - 5.Compe tition policy and the single market - 6. The United States and other developed market economies - 7. Trade issues - 8. Policy - making - 9. Issues and challenges.

This chapter discusses principles and consequences of the common agricultural policy (CAP) of the European Community (EC). It shows that agricultural pricing policies aimed at supporting farm incomes were already in place in EC member countries before the inception of the CAP; indeed, in the presence of these policies, the CAP was a logical consequence of the extension of the common market to the agricultural sector. Thus, the flaws of the CAP can be traced back to national policies and attitudes toward agriculture. Recognition of the burden of agricultural support on the rest of the economy, as well as the growing budgetary costs, has elicited a greater public interest in the CAP. Equally, the trade frictions caused by export subsidies have underlined the CAP's international implications. For these reasons, the member states appear more determined than hitherto to bring agricultural expenditure under control. Given the wider effects of the CAP both on EC economies and the international community, it is to be hoped that current efforts at reform will be successful.

The book describes the context within which the Common Agricultural Policy of the European Union has been established, the basic mechanisms of the policy for the main sectors of agricultural production and their adaptation over time in line with changes in the broader world economy; the changes in Eastern Europe, the problems of developing countries and the GATT-WTO Agreement in particular. An introduction by Franz Fischler, European Commissioner with responsibility for Agriculture, sets the scene for Community policy beyond 2000.

Recoge: The CAP and food security - Agricultural and prefernetial trade relations with developing countries. The case of ACP countries - Policy coherence for developemnt (PCD) and the CAP - Conclusion.