To analyze the effects of prospective policy changes, sectoral and economy-wide modelers need to begin with baseline estimates of policy induced price distortions. Global trade modelers mostly use the Global Trade Analysis Project (GTAP) protection database, which currently relies heavily on...

"The authors study whether political campaign contributions influence agricultural protection in the United States in the manner suggested by the political economy model of Grossman and Helpman (1994). This is the first attempt to test this model using agricultural data. The authors test the...

1. Introduction and Summary -- 2. How Trade Can Boost Food Security -- 3. The Long History of Food Globalization -- 4. The Evolution of Food Trade Patterns since 1960 -- 5. Market-Distorting Policies: Long-Run Trends and Short-Run Insulation -- 6. Estimating Trade, Welfare, and Poverty Effects...

Trade negotiators and policy advisors are keen to know the relative contribution of different farm policy instruments to international trade and economic welfare. Nominal rates of assistance or producer support estimates are incomplete indicators, especially when (especially in developing...