Optimal soil conservation and the reform of agricultural pricing policies
Discussion paper
, 28 pages
PDF (470.01 KB)
Language:
English
Published: January 1989
Env. Economics Discussion Paper
Product code:8010IIED
Soil degradation is often blamed for the poor performance of agricultural economics in developing countries; so too are the policies which keep the prices of both outputs and inputs artificially low. Some economists have argued that pricing reforms will encourage soil depletion; others say it will encourage soil conservation. To evaluate these claims, this paper develops models of the optimal control of soil erosion and soil fertility. It is shown that the effect could go either way but that there are strong reasons for suspecting that pricing reforms will not affect soil conservation dramatically.
Cite this publication
Barrett, S.
(1989).
Optimal soil conservation and the reform of agricultural pricing policies.
.
Available at https://www.iied.org/8010iied
Available at https://www.iied.org/8010iied