| Environmental and social justifications for organic conversion subsidies are as pervasive in the United States as in Europe, but national policy does not explicitly support organic agriculture. Using Sweden's experience, we analyze factors that affect whether a subsidy is required to motivate organic conversion. We use a utility difference model to compare farmers who converted before and after the subsidy. Significant factors in conversion without subsidies are greater livestock diversity and more sales outlets. Farmers requiring subsidies manage larger farms, are more concerned with organic inspection quality and adequacy of technical advice, and reside in areas with more organic farms. Results suggest that a subsidy induces mainly those already... |
