How can we meet the needs of today without diminishing the capacity of future generations to meet theirs? This is the central question posed by "sustainable development". OECD countries committed themselves to sustainable development at the 1992 UN Conference on Environment and Development in...

Interest in the quality and health of soil has grown with the recognition that soil is vital not only to production of food and fiber, but also the smooth functioning of the ecosystem, and overall environmental stability. Agriculture needs economic soil management practices that provide...

Building on the path-breaking work Multifunctionality: Towards an Analytical Framework, this report takes the subject a step further. It attempts to guide policy-makers to the best possible decisions taking account of the multifunctional character of agriculture

Low incomes and high unemployment in rural areas are issues of concern to policy makers in all countries. With the ongoing structural adjustment in primary agriculture employment opportunities are diminishing, while off-farm employment in rural areas is growing, albeit gradually

The 21st century could see the switch from the fossil fuel to the biological based economy. Agriculture could be rejuvenated as a source of bioenergy and biomaterials, as well as providing food and fibres. The relative costs of fossil fuels and agricultural biomass will clearly play a key role

Improving the environmental performance of agriculture is a high priority in OECD and many non-OECD countries. This will be of increasing concern in the future given the pressure to feed a growing world population with scarce land and water resources. Policy has an important role to play where...

COVID-19 has proven to be a unique and complex shock for firms. In this paper we analyze the performance of individual Chilean firms during this episode drawing on administrative datasets. In particular we empirically characterize the international trade adjustment at the firm and product level....