Food pricing policy and its effects in Costa Rica: The case of rice and beans

Abstract

This article describes the National Production Council of Costa Rica's pricing policies in the rice and beans markets over the period 1950–80 and quantifies the costs and benefits resulting from those policies. Changes in production and consumption brought about by the policy are estimated on a yearly basis, as are changes in the welfare of producers, consumers and society in general, and the foreign exchange bill and the CNP's revenues.