Global models applied to agricultural and trade policies: a review and assessment

The continuing process of global integration bears implications for farmers and related supplying and processing industries in all parts of the world, but also for the rest of the world economy. An assessment of agricultural and trade policy impacts is bound to be complex and is often supported by q uantitative modeling analysis. This article provides an assessment of the p resent state of applied modelling in the area of trade and agricultural pol icies. We provide in this paper a comparative assessment of alternative mod elling approaches, considering a total of 16 partial equilibrium and genera l equilibrium models. The assessment includes theoretical modelling foundat ions, datasets employed and institutional aspects, such as model maintenanc e and dissemination of results. A typology of models is provided by structu ring the assessment along a clear set of evaluation criteria. (C) 2001 Else vier Science B.V. All rights reserved.