Disarray in World Food Markets
A Quantitative Assessment

This book addresses the nature and causes of the crisis in international trade policy with regard to protectionist agricultural policies.

Rod Tyers (Author), Kym Anderson (Author)

9780521172318, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 17 February 2011

472 pages
21.6 x 14 x 2.7 cm, 0.6 kg

"Tyers and Anderson are in the forefront of studies on the international economics of agriculture, and this work is a powerful amalgam of their individual and joint contributions over the past ten years." Asian-Pacific Economic Literature

This book was first published in 1992. In the late twentieth century, the crisis in world agriculture had become increasingly evident as the protectionist agricultural policies of various countries distort the international market. Why had agricultural policies become more inward-looking as the world becomes increasingly interdependent economically? Disarray in World Food Markets addresses the nature and causes of this crisis in international trade policy. Its analysis of the effects of these food policies is complemented by a quantitative review of the long-term trends in world food markets. The study also extensively examines the reasons why governments choose to implement distortionary policies. This ambitious book, based on a dynamic, multi-commodity model of world food markets, will be an important reference work for all with an interest in trade policy, particularly in countries active in the trade negotiations.

List of figures
List of tables
Preface
Acknowledgements
Abbreviations and glossary
Symbols
Introduction and Summary
Part I. World Food Markets and their Behaviour: 1. Changing patterns of world food prices, production and trade
2. Distortionary policies affecting food markets
3. Reasons for the pattern of food price distortions
Part II. Effects of Food Market Distortions: 4. The theory of food market distortions: a graphical approach
5. A model of world food market behaviour
6. Effects of existing policies
Part III. Food Policy Reform: 7. Effects of gradual liberalization of OECD food markets
8. Economic reform in the centrally planned economies: the great enigma
9. Policy implications and prospects for reform
Appendices
Bibliography
Index.

Subject Areas: Agriculture & related industries [KNAC], International trade [KCLT], Central government policies [JPQB]