The Economics of Farming

One of the most important aspects of associative economics concerns agriculture (and the environment more generally). Most of the economic and financial challenges facing farming today are due to the 'capture' of economics by an out-dated 19th century industrialisation paradigm, combined with the treatment of land as a commodity.

Beginning with the land as such, when not treated as a 'factor of production' or, worse, collateral for borrowing, how are we to manage land-related resources generally, and agriculture as a specific focus within that wider context?

How can economics support and not undermine or determine the nature of farming? What does a farming-friendly form of economics look like?

Not many economists ask these questions, still less policy-makers, so this page offers a window into that world. (Other material will be mentioned in due course.)

Report of event held in Chicago, USA, March 2023: Seed Corn, the Economics of Farming

Introductory slides: The Economics of Farming (PDF)  / The Economics of Farming (Powerpoint)

A book: Seed Corn, the Economics of Farming (Christopher Houghton Budd)

An actual example: L'Aubier, Neuchatel, Switzerland

A working hypothesis: True Price as a Condition of Sustainability (Xavier Andrillon)