An economic framework for evaluating agricultural policy and the sustainability of production systems

Abstract

Rhetorical definitions of agricultural sustainability abound. However, definitions that can be put to operational use in economic analysis have not been adequately developed. An economic definition of sustainability using natural resource accounting techniques is put forward. Two case studies are examined and physical and economic measures of natural resource impacts are developed. Five policy scenarios are tested to determine the public and private gains possible from different approaches to agricultural support and economic incentives.