How Distorted Have Agricultural Incentives Become in Europe's Transition Economies?
Date
2010-01
Authors
Swinnen, Johan
Anderson, Kym
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Taylor & Francis (Routledge)
Abstract
Over the past two decades, earnings from farming in the
former communist countries of Eastern Europe and Central Asia have been
altered hugely by government sectoral and trade policy reforms. This paper
summarizes evidence on the changing extent of distortions to markets for
farm products since the transition away from planned prices began. In particular,
it examines the extent to which, following initial shocks, there has
been a gradual improvement in farmer incentives. This new evidence is not
inconsistent with the past pattern of earlier-developing countries, but the
speed of assistance increase is relatively rapid and is linked with actual or
desired accession to the European Union. The final section focuses on future
prospects, particularly what might be done to prevent agricultural protection
levels from becoming excessive.
Description
Keywords
earnings, farming, Eastern Europe, Central Asia, government, sectoral, trade, policy, reforms, distortions, markets, farm, products
Citation
Collections
Source
Eastern European Economics
Type
Journal article
Book Title
Entity type
Access Statement
Open Access