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Agriculture and Specific Industries
Protectionism is incapable of saving jobs. Employment in specific industries has declined largely because productivity growth has outpaced demand growth. Rising productivity is good for the economy; it provides workers with opportunities for higher paying jobs. Trade protection defers and complicates this process, though. It distorts market signals that might otherwise encourage new investment in new industries, and discourages workers from seeking opportunities these investments provide.
The same concepts hold for government intervention in agricultural markets. Cutting farm subsidies and agricultural trade barriers would save U.S. taxpayers and consumers tens of billions of dollars during the next decade, would yield environmental benefits by reducing over-production, and stimulate innovation and productivity on farms.
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Books and Book Chapters
"Agricultural Policy," Chapter 18, Cato Handbook for Policymakers, 7th Edition (2009).
"Agricultural Policy," Chapter 30, Cato Handbook for Congress: Policy Recommendations for the 108th Congress, (2003).
"Agricultural Policy," Chapter 31, Cato Handbook for Congress: Policy Recommendations for the 107th Congress, (2001).
"Environmental Health: Risks and Reality," Chapter 46, Cato Handbook for Congress: Policy Recommendations for the 107th Congress, (2001).
The Precautionary Principle: A Critical Appraisal of Environmental Risk Assesment, by Indur M. Goklany (2001).
Cato Studies
"Burning Rubber: Proposed Duties on Chinese Tires Whiff of Senseless Protectionism," by Daniel J. Ikenson, Free Trade Bulletin no. 39, September 11, 2009
"A Service to the Economy: Removing Barriers to "Invisible Trade"," by Sallie James, Trade Policy Analysis no. 38, April 30, 2009
"Audaciously Hopeful: How President Obama Can Help Restore the Pro-Trade Consensus," by Daniel J. Ikenson and Scott Lincicome, Trade Policy Analysis no. 39, April 28, 2009
"Crisis Averted? How Government Actions Keep Food Prices High," by Sallie James, Free Trade Bulletin no. 35, December 7, 2008
"Food Fight," by Sallie James, Free Trade Bulletin no. 31, January 30, 2008
Articles and Newsletters
"The Benefits of Biotech," by Gregory Conko, Regulation, vol. 26, no. 1, Spring 2003, pp. 6.
"Reform's Stunted Crop," by David Orden, Regulation, vol. 25, no. 1, 2002, pp. 7.
"Congress's Dairy Dilemma," by Kenneth W. Bailey, Regulation, vol. 24, no. 4, 2001, pp. 9.
"Food Risks and Labeling Controversies," by Henry I . Miller and Peter VanDoren, Regulation, vol. 23, no. 1, 2000.
"Politics and Cynicism Dominate UN Biotech Deliberations," by Henry I. Miller, Regulation, vol. 22, no. 2, 1999, pp. 2.
Opinion and Commentary
"Obama Cuts Sour Deal on Sugar," by Daniel Griswold, Detroit News, October 8, 2009
"A Defining Moment?," by Daniel J. Ikenson, Beijing Review, September 22, 2009
"Manufactured Objections," by Daniel J. Ikenson, National Review (Online), August 20, 2009
"What Should Liberals Liberalize?," by Daniel B. Klein, Cato.org, December 11, 2008
"America Without Its Automakers," by Daniel J. Ikenson, Los Angeles Times, December 2, 2008
Events
"Tricked on Our Treats: Time to Rethink the U.S. Sugar Program," October 30, 2009 [Capitol Hill Briefing]
"Freeing the Farm: A Farm Bill for All Americans," May 23, 2007 [Capitol Hill Briefing]
"Freeing the Farm: A Farm Bill for All Americans," April 26, 2007 [Policy Forum]
"The Future of the European Common Agricultural Policy and Global Trade Liberalization," October 27, 2006 [Policy Forum]
"Changing Course: Why Congress Should Consider a New Direction for U.S. Agriculture Policy," September 21, 2006 [Capitol Hill Briefing]
Speeches and Congressional Testimony
"Testimony by Daniel T. Griswold, Farm Bill Follies," Congressional Testimony, June 6, 2002.
"Testimony by Michael Gough, Endocrine Disrupters, Politics, Pesticides, the Cost of Food and Health," Speech, December 15, 1997.
"Testimony by Michael Gough, Herbicide Exposure: Link to Disease," Congressional Testimony, September 19, 1996.
"The Economic Effects of Significant U.S. Import Restraints," Daniel Griswold, Congressional Testimony, December 4, 2001.
"Blame Domestic Slowdown, not Trade, for Manufacturing Slump," Daniel Griswold, Congressional Testimony, June 21, 2001.
Multimedia
"Trade, China and Manufacturing" featuring Daniel Griswold, September 14, 2009 [Flash Audio, 07:08]
Mark A. Calabria discusses U.S. manufacturing jobs on Street Signs August 17, 2009 [Flash Video, 04:18]
"Government and Food Prices" featuring Sallie James, December 19, 2008 [Flash Audio, 10:56]
Chris Edwards, Sallie James and Dan Ikenson discuss U.S. farm policies. December 18, 2008 [Flash Video, 05:32]
"American Ag Subsidies and Doha" featuring Donald J. Boudreaux, August 11, 2008 [Flash Audio, 05:30]
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