Bargaining Coalitions in the Agricultural Negotiations of the Doha Round: Similarity of Interests or Strategic Choices? An Empirical Assessment

The paper aims at understanding the structural features of the bargaining coalitions in the Doha Round of the WTO. We provide an empirical assessment of the preferences of each negotiating actor looking at general economics indicators, development levels, structure of the agricultural sectors, and trade policies for agricultural products. Bargaining coalitions are analyzed by grouping countries through a cluster analysis procedure. The clusters are compared with existing coalitions, in order to assess their degree of internal homogeneity as well as their common interests. Such a comparison allows the detection of possible “defectors”, i.e. countries that according to their economic conditions and policies seem to be relatively less committed to the positions of the coalition they join.Agricultural trade negotiations, Bargaining coalitions, WTO, Cluster analysis

Agricultural Expenditure in the Future European Union Budget

Agricultural and Food Policy, Agricultural Finance,

In tandem for cohesion?: synergies and conflicts between regional and agricultural policies of the European Union

Crescenzi, R., De Filippis, F. and Pierangeli, F. In tandem for cohesion? Synergies and conflicts between regional and agricultural policies of the European Union, Regional Studies. The paper analyses the financial allocations from the regional, rural development and agricultural policies of the European Union in order to assess their territorial coordination and synergies with the objective of territorial cohesion. Regression analysis is used to uncover the link between funds and territorial disadvantage for the 1994–2013 period. The analysis reveals that both coordination and compatibility with territorial cohesion have not always improved in response to major policy reforms. The territorial ‘vocation’ of overall community spending is weakly linked to its distribution among different policies, but it crucially depends upon appropriate ‘place-based’ allocation mechanisms

Synergies and conflicts between EU policies and the objective of territorial cohesion

The paper looks at the overall structure of the European Union’s regional, agricultural and rural development policies in order to assess their coordination and synergies at the territorial level and their degree of compatibility with the objective of territorial cohesion. The regression analysis - covering the 20-year period 1994-2013, and approximately 90% of total Community expenditure - reveals that the compatibility of the various areas of Community policy in terms of the objectives of territorial cohesion has not progressed in a linear fashion over time. Shifting resources in the Community budget from one policy area to another does not, by itself, appear capable of guaranteeing virtuous paths in terms of territorial cohesion. The increase in the territorial ‘vocation’ of overall Community spending will, therefore, crucially depend upon the definition of appropriate allocative mechanisms and interventions, based upon the characteristics of each region and its ‘local’ needsRegional Policy, Regional Development, Rural Development, European Union

Bargaining Coalitions in the Agricultural Negotiations of the Doha Round: Similarity of Interests or Strategic Choices? An Empirical Assessment

The paper aims at understanding the structural features of the bargaining coalitions in the Doha Round of the WTO. We provide an empirical assessment of the preferences of each negotiating actor looking at general economics indicators, development levels, structure of the agricultural sectors, and trade policies for agricultural products. Bargaining coalitions are analyzed by grouping countries through a cluster analysis procedure. The clusters are compared with existing coalitions, in order to assess their degree of internal homogeneity as well as their common interests. Such a comparison allows the detection of possible defectors, i.e. countries that according to their economic conditions and policies seem to be relatively less committed to the positions of the coalition they join

How the EU’s Geographical Indications scheme helps foster economic development in rural areas

Products associated with specific locations in Europe, such as Roquefort and Parma ham, are protected under the EU’s ‘Geographical Indications’ scheme. This ensures these products can only be legally sold if they are produced in specified areas. As Riccardo Crescenzi, Fabrizio De Filippis, Mara Giua and Cristina Vaquero-Piñeiro write, Geographical Indications play a vital role for local development in rural areas with limited public expenditure. They provide protection against reproduction elsewhere, facilitate an upward effect on pricing and quality reputation, and improve demographic trends and sectoral re-composition

Geographical Indications and local development: the strength of territorial embeddedness

Can Geographical Indications (GIs) promote local economic development in rural areas? This paper explores the impact of GIs that identify and endorse agri-food products which are strictly embedded within the territory from which they originate. Examining Italian wine protected by GIs through an innovative dataset and by means of propensity score matching and difference-in-differences models make it possible to compare the local economic development trajectories of rural municipalities afforded GIs with the correspondent dynamics of a counterfactual group of similar municipalities without GI status since 1951. Rural municipalities with GIs experience population growth and economic reorganization towards non-farming sectors, which frequently involve higher value-added activities

Le politiche di sviluppo rurale nell´unione europea: un secondo pilastro tutto da inventare

This paper provides an analysis of the evolution of EU common rural development policy together with an assessment of the state of the art in the implementation of such policy in Italy during 2000-2006 programming period. Within this framework financing agriculture and farmers is still at the centre of the intervention, but the more general support to the rural areas is of increasing importance. The last objective is pursued through the implementation of traditional measures as well as of “bottom up” programmes (that is the Leader initiative). This paper gives an overview on the main measures aimed at these objectives, focusing both on the underlying EC regulation and on the main specificities and problems linked to their implementation. A further objective of the paper is drawing lessons and policy recommendations for future experiences, which need for a coordinated approach at European, national and regional level. In this framework, the definition of new institutional arrangements really capable of delivering rural policies where they are needed is crucial. Participative approaches like Leader can help the design and the delivery of strategies fitting specific territorial needs.Governance, Agricultural policy, Rural areas