Center for Agricultural and Rural Development
Center for Agricultural and Rural Development

Economic Growth and Agricultural Trade of Less-Developed Countries: Summary Report

April 1989 [89-SR 37]
Authors:
  • Bruna Angel
  • Thomas Harrington Jr.
  • William H. Meyers
  • Stanley R. Johnson

Suggested citation

Angel, B., T. Harrington Jr., W.H. Meyers, and S.R. Johnson. 1989. “Economic Growth and Agricultural Trade of Less-Developed Countries: Summary Report.” Staff report 89-SR 37. Center for Agricultural and Rural Development, Iowa State University.

Summary

Competing claims regarding the complementarity of U.S. development assistance to less developed countries (LDCs) and U.S. agricultural exports have long been discussed by researchers, policymakers, and agricultural producers. The relationship between U.S. development assistance to LDCs and LC trade in agricultural products depends on two main linkages: (a) the link between development assistance and LDC income growth, and (b) the link between LDC income growth and increased food consumption. Food consumption growth that surpasses domestic production leads to increased agricultural commodity imports.