Assessing the success of agri-environmental policy in the UK

This paper considers alternative means for assessing the success of "agri-e nvironmental" policy (AEP), which has become an increasingly-important aspe ct of agricultural and environmental policy throughout Europe, and which ha s probably developed more extensively in the UK than elsewhere. After a bri ef description of the main elements of AEP in the UK, we consider two broad classes of assessment method, those based on efficiency and those based on effectiveness. The latter class of methods has dominated appraisal so far in the UK, primarily through participation measures. We outline the limitat ions of these, and then consider evidence of policy efficiency gained throu gh cost-benefit analysis techniques. Finally, we suggest how a combined app roach could be used to appraise three possible changes to UK agri-environme ntal policy. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.