Re: Cancun

[Michael Perelman <michael@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I am not familiar with the intricacies of ag. protectionism.  I don't know
how much the Korean government supports agriculture, but without state
support much of California could not compete in agriculture.  California
has massive water subsidies, which are much more important than the better
known subsidies.  The major subsidy is cheap immigrants, who work in the
fields when it gets above 110 degrees.  Using the Korean analogy, many of
the Mexican workers would be better suited to doing ag. work in Mexico.
But there, the state diverts the irrigation to the big farmers and leaves
the small farmers without support.

Maybe David Barkin or someone more familiar with Mexico could comment.

 --
Michael Perelman
Economics Department
California State University
Chico, CA 95929

Tel. 530-898-5321
E-Mail michael@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx