SECTOR MODELING FOR PREDICTION AND EVALUATION - A USEFUL TOOL AT INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH

Mathematical programming models of agricultural sectors have been wide ly used to analyze the impacts of changes in technology, policy and ge neral economic conditions. This paper discusses sector modelling conce pts and the application of sector models to agricultural problems. A m odel of the Swedish agriculture sector is presented along with an appl ication of the model to simulate future Swedish agriculture within or outside the European Union. Model results are interpreted in terms of environmental issues, potential interests in new technologies and the need for agricultural research.