Agricultural Policy Reform and the Rural Economy in OECD Countries [electronic resource] / Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development

Format:

Book

Government document

Author/Creator:

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

Contributor:

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, Content Provider.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Agriculture and Food.

Agriculture and state--Case studies--OECD countries.

Agriculture and state.

Rural development--Case studies--OECD countries.

Rural development.

OECD countries--Rural conditions--Case studies.

OECD countries.

Local Subjects:

Agriculture and Food.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (316 p. ) ill..

Place of Publication:

Paris : OECD Publishing, 1998.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

The socio-economic development of rural areas has become an important issue for agricultural policy design in many OECD countries. Yet there is still a lack of comprehensive analysis of the inter-linkages between the agro-food sector and the rural economy. What consequences have on-going structural changes in agriculture for rural areas? What is the role of agricultural policies? The report, comprising a main report and case studies on Canada, France, Greece, Japan, New Zealand, Norway and Switzerland, addresses these important questions. A key conclusion of the report is that traditional agricultural support policies are increasingly ineffective in accomplishing rural development objectives. Agricultural policy reform can enhance agro-food's contribution to the viable development of rural economies, although the benefits are not immediate. A coherent, well co-ordinated and targeted policy approach aimed at diversification, promotion of high-quality regional products, provision of information, direct payments and public goods would improve the competitiveness of rural areas. How to strike the right balance between the need for greater economic efficiency, and social and environmental concerns in rural areas is a key challenge facing policy makers.

Contents:

1. MAIN REPORT

Executive summary

I. Background

II. Agricultural structural change and the rural economy

III. Linkages between agricultural policies and the rural economy

IV. Towards a consensus on policy responses

Annex

I. Approach and data

II. Definitions of concepts

Annex: Tables

Bibliography

2. CASE STUDY – CANADA: ANNAPOLIS AND YORKTON REGIONS

I. Introduction

II. The Annapolis region of Nova Scotia

III. The Yorkton region of Eastern Saskatchewan

IV. Major agri-food policies, 1981-95

V. Impact on the agri-food sector, 1981-95

VI. Changing policies and programmes, 1995-97

3. CASE STUDY – FRANCE: BRITTANY AND BURGUNDY

-Executive summary

II. General features of the two regions

III. Agriculture and the agro-food sector in Burgundy and Brittany

IV. Implementation of agricultural policies in Burgundy and Brittany

V. Critical assessment of the role of agricultural policy in rural development in Burgundy and Brittany

VI. Conclusion: future challenges

Annex:

Tables

4. CASE STUDY – GREECE: CRETE

II. Main socio-economic features of Crete

III. Structural features of the Cretan agricultural sector

IV. Use and implementation of agro-structural and other policies

V. An assessment of agro-structural policies

VI. Conclusions

Annex: Graph and Tables

5. CASE STUDY – JAPAN: HILLY AND MOUNTAINOUS AREAS

II. Hilly and mountainous areas

III. Main agricultural policy settings and recent developments

IV. Case study: flat rural villages vs. hilly villages

V. Summary and conclusion: developing a better policy mix

Notes and sources of boxes

Graphs

Measures on ‘‘Tana Da’’ in hilly and mountainous areas

6. CASE STUDY – NORWAY: SOGN OG FJORDANE AND VESTFOLD

II. Agricultural

III. Overview of Norwegian agriculture – Sogn og Fjordane and Vestfold

IV. Assessment of policy efficiency

Annex: Graphs and Table

7. CASE STUDY – NEW ZEALAND

I. Preamble

II. A profile of rural New Zealand

III. Agro-food sector

IV. Agricultural policies

V. Government’s role in rural development

VI. The broader implications of New Zealand’s experience

8. CASE STUDY – SWISS: CANTON URI AND CANTON ZUG

II. The role of direct payments in agricultural reform

III. Ecological objectives and strategies

IV. Organic farming and integrated production

V. Farmer participation in ecological programmes

Annex

Notes:

Bibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph

ISBN:

1-280-02960-9

9786610029600

92-64-16253-4

OCLC:

824540004