Kooperative und hierarchische Erscheinungsformen institutionellen Wandels

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Konrad Hagedorn
• Subject Area: Agricultural Economics, Agricultural Policy, Agricultural Sociology
• Term: from 2007 to 2012
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 53162462

The objective of the project is to analyze the spatial and temporal dynamics of technological, institutional and structural changes in European agriculture based on the example of genetically modified (GM) crops. Since 2004 member states of the European Union (EU) have increasingly diverging policies towards GM crops, challenging the common regulatory framework and market. This analysis will be based on theories of institutional, structural and technological change with a specific focus on path-dependency models. In the first step, quantitative data on farm structures as well as GM crop adoption and opposition for each member state will be gathered and evaluated. Data analysis will be complemented by document analysis regarding national policies. The objective is to identify different patterns in spatial and temporal developments across the EU and to identify possible drivers such as farm sizes, share of organic farms, or people’s perceptions and preferences. Statistical and econometric techniques will be applied to study the relationships between key variables. In the second step, stakeholder interviews with different actors operating at the EU level such as representatives of member states, regions, NGOs, the GM industry and the EU administration will shed light on actors’ strategies to create or break development paths at the national or European policy level.

• DFG Programme: Research Units
• Subproject of: FOR 986: Structural Change in Agriculture
• Participating Person: Professor Dr. Volker Beckmann