Julkishyödykkeiden sopimustuotanto maataloudessa

Abstract

The main purpose of this study is to clarify the conceptual framework that can be used in the analysis of voluntary agreements and their application to the provision of agriculture related public goods. In addition, the study examines how current agricultural policy measures like CAP support, LFA support, agri-environmental support and structural measures contribute like CAP support, agri-environmental support and structural measures contribute to the provision of agriculture related public goods. Futhermore, the study provides a more detailed look on the French CTE (Contral Territorial d'Exploitation) system, which represents one of the pioneer application within the Common Agricultural Policy in the field of the provision of public goods through voluntary agreements. The study defines the various types of public goods produced in agriculture in the joint production process, illuminates problems that are encountered in the social decision-making process related to public goods, offers an insight into the difficulties faced in the monetary valuation of public goods, and gives a brief introduction concerning alterative public measures and control instruments to promote the provision of the public goods. The study also explains the reasoning behind the use of voluntary agreements, provides a more detailed look into the principalagent framework and the related key concepts of information economics, and reviews resolutions available to the participation and incentive problems inherent in voluntry agreement schemes. It is not possible to prove unambiguously that voluntary agreement function more efficiently than other policy measures in the provision of agriculture related public goods. However, there is evidence that properly designed voluntary agreements can reduce information asymmetry between a principal (government) and an agent (farmer), and thus advance socially desirable production of public goods in agriculture. The provision of agriculture related public goods i agriculture. The provision of agriculture related public goods is site-specific and may even depend on characteristics of an individual farm. In these circumstances government authorities need a policy instrument which can be tailored and targeted to meet varying needs. Voluntary agreements serve this purpose although their superority over other policy instruments depends on the overall policy context, inherent information asymmetry, and the nature of a public good in guestion.