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Agricultural trade and employment: links, evidence and policy implications

FAO Trade Policy Briefs No. 32 Trade & Employment

Year of publication 2018

Place of publication Rome, Italy ;

Pages 2

Author Trade and Markets Division (EST)

Publisher FAO ;

Product type Policy brief

Edition 1

Synopsis (short abstract) With agriculture accounting for roughly 70 percent of employment and 30 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) in low-income countries, trade in agricultural products has the potential to significantly affect rural employment, incomes and poverty in these countries. The linkages between agricultural trade and employment are complex, with national experiences of the impacts depending on a number of context-specific factors. Designing policies that are appropriate for a country’s level of agricultural development, and effectively managing the process of trade reforms – particularly through the implementation of complementary measures – are therefore key, for achieving positive economic growth and employment outcomes.

Language English

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