Agricultural extension policy in Australia: public funding and market failure

Citation
Jd. Mullen et al., Agricultural extension policy in Australia: public funding and market failure, AUST J A R, 44(4), 2000, pp. 629-645
Citations number
16
Categorie Soggetti
Agriculture/Agronomy,Economics
Journal title
AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND RESOURCE ECONOMICS
ISSN journal
1364985X → ACNP
Volume
44
Issue
4
Year of publication
2000
Pages
629 - 645
Database
ISI
SICI code
1364-985X(200012)44:4<629:AEPIAP>2.0.ZU;2-L
Abstract
Trends in public expenditure on agricultural extension are examined for Agr iculture Departments in four States. There is little evidence that the shar e of public resources going to extension has declined. However, new demands have meant that the nature of extension has changed. A strategic approach to examining issues, such as land degradation, for the source of market fai lure may better guide the use of scarce public resources than the tradition al focus on the public goods characteristics of research and extension. The case for evaluating broad functions such as research and extension is beco ming more questionable as these functions become more diverse.