Understanding Reform of the Common Agricultural Policy

This note reviews a recent volume edited by Swinnen on the “political economy” of the 2003 reform of the Common agricultural policy in discussing the prospects for further reform in the post-2013 period. The 2003 reform was a product of elite decision- making, and its success was due in part to the deliberate attempt to limit its redistributive effects across member states. It is already clear that the post-2013 Cap will be accompanied by a redistribution towards the new member states, and this will increase the willingness of the older member states to countenance reform.