CROPLAND DIVERSION (SET‐ASIDE) IN THE US AND UK
比较美英两国农田休耕计划的结构与运作，分析其经济福利影响，指出政府成本节约和土地租金支付可能误导对休耕效益的评估，并探讨休耕作为补偿机制在农业调整中的合适角色。
Lessons from a variety of past and present US cropland diversion programmes are important for evaluating UK set‐aside proposals. The structure and operation of current US programmes and the major UK proposals are described. A comparative economic welfare analysis of generic cropland diversion in the US and UK reveals the different types of potential impacts due principally to their different agricultural support programmes. Government cost savings and land rental payments can be misleading benefit and cost indicators for set‐aside. Major problems with US programmes include slippage of production control, lack of targeting, inadequate overall efficiency evaluations, and goal conflict. The most appropriate role for cropland diversion may be as a compensatory mechanism to aid the agricultural adjustment process in the face of price restraint, while securing the most valuable non‐market conservation and environmental services from idled farm land.