Description
Book SynopsisAgricultural Policy in the United States: Evolution and Economics traces U.S. agricultural policy from its colonial roots to the present, using economic concepts to analyze and interpret political and economic consequences. It also examines the processes by which agricultural policies are developed, and the government structure which supports the implementation of legislation passed by Congress. The book includes arguments for and against common tools of U.S. agricultural policy, without influencing the reader in a particular direction. Each chapter contains questions and exercises to support studentsâ learning, and technical economic material is contained in optional appendices. This second edition examines the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 and sets the scene for future policy developments. Additionally, it looks at trade wars and the impact of Black Swan events like the COVID-19 pandemic on agricultural resilience.
Table of Contents1. Introduction: What is Agricultural Policy and Why Does it Exist? 2. Economic Concepts Applied to Agricultural and Food Policy. 3. Who Makes Agricultural Policy and How is it Made? 4. A Brief History of Agricultural Policy. 5. Early 20th Century Agricultural Legislation. 6. McNary-Haugens and the Permanent Legislation to the 1950’s. 7. The 1960s to Mid-1980s: Transition and Farm Crises. 8. Planting Flexibility and Direct Payments, 1985-1996. 9. 21st Century Agricultural Legislation. 10. International Trade - Is it the Future of U.S. Agricultural Policy? 11. Agricultural Policy Since 2014. 12. The Future of Agricultural Policy
