Structure of agricultural protection in industrial countries

The nominal rates of agricultural protection in ten industrial countries from 1955 to 1980 are estimated with the same commodity coverage and data definitions. A regression analysis is conducted to explain variations in the measured level of agricultural protection in terms of political as well as economic factors. Nearly 80 percent of the variations is accounted for by differences in agriculture's comparative advantage, agriculture's share in total economy, the international terms of trade between agricultural and manufactured commodities, regionalism (EEC), and food security consideration associated with non-military alliance.