Agricultural Support Policies in Transition Economies

In the pre-reform period, agriculture was heavily subsidized in most Central and Eastern European countries (CEECs). Around 1989, most CEECs began to open up their markets, liberalize prices, and reduce subsidies. At the same time, the level of support provided to agriculture declined drastically. Since 1996, however, this trend has been reversed in most CEECs.

To analyze the agricultural sector in CEECs, this report begins with a synthesis of the multi-country investigation. It presents estimates of various agricultural support indicators and an analysis of the impact of trade and price policy interventions. It also asks to what extent those adjustments provided for a more internationally competitive agricultural sector. The second part of the book presents individual country studies, including Bulgaria, Poland, Romania, Russia, and Ukraine. Germany and Turkey are included for comparison.

This report will be of interest to agricultural policymakers and other government officials in the countries involved, EU officials, World Bank and FAO staff, and others interested in agricultural reform in Europe and Central Asia.