The State and Domestic Agricultural Markets in Nicaragua

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xxxiv

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2. The State and Agricultural Markets in LDCs: An Interventionist or Laissez-faire Approach?

   • Max Spoor

   Pages 1-40

3. The Limits of Market Intervention: Nicaragua (1979–90)

   • Max Spoor

   Pages 41-69

4. Transformation of the Grain Market

   • Max Spoor

   Pages 71-94

5. Agricultural Price Policy and Parallel Markets

   • Max Spoor

   Pages 95-126

6. Agricultural Credit Policy

   • Max Spoor

   Pages 127-146

7. Agricultural Inputs and the Choice of Technology

   • Max Spoor

   Pages 147-170

8. Farm Survey in Jalapa, Jicaro and Quilali

   • Max Spoor

   Pages 171-194

9. From Interventionism to Neo-Liberalism

   • Max Spoor

   Pages 195-211

10. Back Matter

    Pages 213-298

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The book examines in depth the problematic effects of state intervention in agricultural markets of developing countries against the background of the current transition of interventionism to neo-liberalism. The fascinating case of Nicaragua is explored, focusing on the 1979-1990 interventionist period under Sandinista rule, followed by an analysis of the post-1990 laissez-faire UNO-period. The limits of state intervention are shown by analysing in detail the unintended effects of certain policies such as those on land reform, price, credit and technology. Finally, the book draws comparisons between the Nicaraguan case (in which two transitions took place in a relatively short time-span) and the recent dramatic transformations of Eastern Europe. It provides arguments for a different role for the state in this process, which is directed to market development, rather than the current withdrawal.

• agriculture
• Developing Countries
• development
• grain

• Agricultural and Development Programme, Institute of Social Studies, The Hague, The Netherlands

  Max Spoor

Policies and ethics