Post Second World War State Agricultural Policies in Bulgaria - Evolution, Implementation, Impacts

Abstract

This paper analyzes evolution, implementation and impacts of state agricultural policies in Bulgaria during post Second World War years now. Firstly, it presents agricultural policies development during 1950s and 1960s (post war nationalization, cooperation of peasants, central planning and price control, support to agriculture) and its impacts on farming modernization and improvement of peasants welfare. Second, it analyzes reforms in 1970s and 1980s (concentration of farming in large agro-industrial complexes, experimentations with "economic" mechanisms of governance) and their effects on agriculture. Third, it evaluates policies during post-communist transition and EU integration, and their consequences for agricultural development.

Keywords: State Agricultural Policies, impacts on agriculture, Post Second World War, Communist system, post-communist transition, Bulgaria

JEL Classification: E61, N54, O13, O17, O21, P32, Q15, Q18, P21, P11