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.

More on Agricultural Trade

Commentary

Why Is There a Dole for Farmers?

By Doug Bandow. The Freeman. April 26, 2013.

Protecting U.S. Consumers from ‘Big Cattle’

By K. William Watson. Reuters. April 4, 2013.

Another Year In Washington, D.C. Is Another Year of Policy Insanity

By Doug Bandow. Forbes. January 1, 2013.

Cato Studies

Countervailing Calamity: How to Stop the Global Subsidies Race

By Scott Lincicome. Policy Analysis No. 710. October 9, 2012.

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

An Economic Critique of Corn-Ethanol Subsidies

Jerry Taylor. Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis: Regional Economic Development. Vol. 5. No. 1. 2009.

Public Filings

Hettinga v. United States

By Ilya Shapiro, Trevor Burrus and Matt Gilliam. Legal Briefs. November 21, 2012.

Events

Tricked on Our Treats: Time to Rethink the U.S. Sugar Program

Featuring Daniel Griswold. October 30, 2009. Capitol Hill Briefing.

Freeing the Farm: A Farm Bill for All Americans

Featuring Sallie James. May 23, 2007. Capitol Hill Briefing.

Freeing the Farm: A Farm Bill for All Americans

Featuring Sallie James. April 26, 2007. Policy Forum.

Downsizing the Federal Government

Agricultural Regulations and Trade Barriers

By Chris Edwards. June 2009.

Agricultural Subsidies

By Chris Edwards. June 2009.

Books