Economics of Agricultural Development : World Food Systems and Resource Use

Economics of Agricultural Development examines the causes, severity, and effects of poverty, population growth, and malnutrition in developing countries. It discusses potential solutions to these problems, progress made in many countries in recent years, and the implications of globalization for agriculture, poverty, and the environment.

Topics covered in the book include:

• Means for utilizing agricultural surpluses to further overall economic development
• The sustainability of the natural resource environment
• Gender issues in relation to agriculture and resource use
• The contribution of improved technologies to agricultural development
• The importance of agricultural policies and institutions to development and trade
• Actions to encourage more rapid agricultural and economic development

This new edition reflects the following developments:

• Growth in environmental challenges due to climate change
• Continued progress in agricultural and economic development in many low-income

• countries while other countries and regions are being left behind
• Continued growth in demand for higher-valued farm products

This book is essential reading for undergraduate students seeking to understand the economics of agricultural development and the world food system, including environmental and human consequences, international trade, and capital flows. It contains a wealth of real-world case studies and is accompanied by a website.

George W. Norton is Professor Emeritus of Agricultural and Applied Economics at Virginia Tech, USA, and a Fellow of the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association. He is the author of 12 books and numerous scholarly articles.

Jeffrey Alwang is Professor of Agricultural and Applied Economics at Virginia Tech, USA, and has won several international research and outreach awards. He is the author of 14 books and more than 100 journal articles.

William A. Masters is Professor in the Friedman School of Nutrition and the Department of Economics at Tufts University, USA, and a Fellow of the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association. He is the author of numerous books and scholarly publications.