3155+Food+policy


 * Pol Sci 3155 Business & Public Policy Fall 2008 (Dr. Howard)**
 * Seminar on food policy 1, December 1**


 * Debating agricultural protection in the US**

//All students should read:// CQ Researcher: Farm Subsidies: Do they favor large farming operations? By David Hosansky May 17, 2002 • Volume 12, Issue 19

This seminar is structured as a debate. Please select a side and coordinate with your fellow participants to present your arguments.
 * The debate**

“America’s agricultural protectionism and domestic farm support programs should be terminated in order to create a free market for farm products.”

One side should gather arguments for ending protectionism and the other for retaining it, or for modernizing it while protecting farmers. Remember that there are good arguments on both sides; each side would do well to consider the others’ likely positions and be ready to counter them during the debate. Arguments may focus on domestic economic or political factors, or on international considerations (including the ways increased food imports might benefit developing nations).

Each side should talk for 10 minutes to summarize (concisely!) their position before a round of 5 minute rebuttals.

· Academic Search Premier indexes (sometimes with full text) a range of relevant publications, including those of the farming industry, which generally support subsidies. The Economist and Financial Times favor free trade and so are critical of farm supports. You may want to search on the following terms: o Farm support o Subsidy o Protectionism o Agricultural policy o Farm bill o Trade policy · CRS reports are also useful as they provide summaries of the issues involved to Congress. They are available online at various sites. Search terms: o Farm economy o Agricultural support o Subsidies o Trade · Trade association and development advocacy groups also offer briefings.
 * Resources**