Political Economy of Agricultural Pricing Policy: Trade, Exchange Rate, and Agricultural Pricing Policies in Zambia

摘要

Zambia's agricultural potential is great. Less than a quarter of its available agricultural land is now being used for farming, and rainfall in most years is substantial. Nonetheless, the government of Zambia has shown little inclination to strengthen the country's agricultural sector by eliminating panterritorial pricing, reducing food-cost subsidies to urban consumers, or establishing incentives for agricultural exports. The report includes: An overview of the Zambian economy and Zambia's agricultural sector; The history of pricing policies in Zambia; Measures of intervention; Effects of price intervention; Effect of intervention on the government budget; Administrative impact of intervention; The income distribution effect of price intervention; and Policy reform efforts.