Introduction
Agricultural comparative advantage—a key pillar of free trade theory—often clashes with political reality. Legislators may support trade agreements despite evidence suggesting agriculture loses competitiveness internationally.
Data & Methods:
📊 Surveys, bills, interest group analyses used to gauge legislative sentiment and voting patterns across US agriculture policy over decades.
Key Findings:
- Legislators consistently favor agricultural protection even when it contradicts comparative advantage theory
- This bias holds despite clear economic evidence demonstrating farm inefficiencies in international markets
- Interest groups successfully mobilize opposition against trade-reducing policies targeting agriculture sectors
Policy Takeaway:
💡 Understanding this disconnect helps explain why US agriculture remains protected economically inefficient sectors.
