The Economics of Subsidising Agriculture

Originally published in 1962, this book was a study of British agricultural policy since the Second World War – during a period which saw the adoption of a comprehensive system of agricultural support which stood in marked contrast to the free trade policy adhered to previously. The policy of support brought a substantial increase in the output of British agriculture, but it imposed a heavy burden on the taxpayer and was the subject of much controversy. The author considers the economic issues involved with this policy and compares the role of agriculture in Britain with the part it played at the time in other countries. The book analyses the main sources of Britain’s food supply in the second half of the 20th century and examines the effect of the European Common Market. The British system of support is contrasted with that used in other European countries.