By exploring a topic which has been much neglected in the past, this publication aims to provide policy-makers and law-makers with the necessary tools to evaluate the impact of existing law on marketing systems and to identify changes needed to achieve desired policy goals. Although it is primarily aimed at those interested in agricultural marketing, the approach adopted and the methodology outlined for analyzing the various effects of laws should also make this publication very relevant to specialists in other fields of agriculture who are concerned with the impact of the regulatory framework on their work.

Copies of "Law and markets - Improving the legal environment for agricultural marketing" AGS Bulletin No. 139 (US$12.00), are available from FAO's Publications Unit. The publication can also be downloaded below.

Following a brief Summary the purpose of the publication is outlined in Chapter 1 This is followed by an analysis of the role of the state in relation to marketing and how this has changed in Chapter 2 and of the role of law in relation to agricultural marketing in Chapter 3 Next, Chapter 4discusses in more detail how laws affect the functioning of agricultural markets. Chapter 5 considers briefly the various institutional aspects relevant to the topic.  Chapter 6 discusses the practical aspects that can be taken to improve laws affecting agricultural marketing , emphasising that good law should increase transparency, reduce compliance costs, reduce regulatory costs and increase both compliance and enforcement. Chapter 7 presents a methodology for analysing and reforming regulatory systems and this is followed in Chapter 8 by a discussion of how to implement any reforms which may have been identified. Conclusions are presented in Chapter 9

Front Cover
Preface
Acknowledgements
Table of Contents
Annex
Bibliography
Rear Cover