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 [EMAIL PROTECTED]
