Improving the Quality of CAP Strategic Planning through Enhancing the Role of Agricultural Economics

Abstract

SummaryExtending strategic planning to the full range of Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) interventions could improve the impacts of this controversial public policy. Science, particularly agricultural economics, can play a role in improving the quality of planning and implementation of a reformed CAP. The preparation of Member States' Strategic Plans (SP) is rather formalistic, while the plans are not very rigorously designed. A major weakness is related to the CAP's political‐economic characteristics and lies in the selection and definition of interventions: financially strong but poorly targeted interventions tend to be pre‐fixed, which prevents a stronger focus on the results and quality of planning. The intervention logic functions as a black box, as the links between policy priorities and interventions are merely implied, with no clear, evidence‐based links. Therefore, European decision makers should re‐examine the concept of CAP SP and especially improve a support system and capacity building for SP designers. Greater involvement of academic research and scientific methods and tools in the preparation, monitoring and evaluation of plans, could significantly improve the quality of planning. This would require increased investment in research and dialogue among representatives of academia, government and the nongovernmental sector.