Views on Agricultural Economics' Role in Economic Thought

Like other social scientists, agricultural economists are powerfully drawn toward professional introspection and collective selfevaluation. In fact, we revel in it. This assertion, like most of the others in this paper, is entirely subjective. I have performed no original research in the preparation of this paper. What is here is mainly a matter of opinion-mine. However, it is certainly true that these opinions have been augmented by conversations with and suggestions by a handful of colleagues. This paper represents my first foray into public professional introspection. That the occasion for it is part of the 75th anniversary observance by the American Agricultural Economics Association (AAEA) is both daunting and exhilarating. Even so, the message and the tone of this piece remain subjective to the core. Furthermore, the modest length of this contribution prevents it from being exhaustive or even detailed. My goal is to be indicative and perhaps a bit provocative. The first thing I must do is stake out my ground sufficiently so that others can grasp how I intend to approach this topic. First, who are agricultural economists and what is agricultural economics? Many others have tried to wrestle this matter to the ground. In my view, they have achieved uncertain success. Perhaps the most recent encounter is Glenn L. Johnson's presidential address to the 1985 meeting of the International Association of Agricultural Economics. His paper, "The Scope of Agricultural Economics," is a helpful effort, buttressed by long experience and careful thought. That it surely will not be the last word to be written on the topic indicates the inherent complexity of the matter. For the limited purpose here, I consider agricultural economics to encompass the professional work and historical tradition of agricultural economists. To elude complete circularity in this matter, I obviously must define who agricultural economists are. Though this may seem like sophistry to some, I regard agricultural economists as individuals who, if they were either constrained or forced to attend only one professional meeting a year, would, at least three years out of five, attend the AAEA summer meetings as constituted since about 1950 (or a non-U.S. equivalent). My intent is to suggest evolution and self-selection as guiding principles in the delineation of our profession. In addition, this curious definition allows me to speak about agricultural economics and agricultural economists virtually interchangeably. For the most part, I will not attempt to discuss individual contributions of particular agricultural economists to economic thought, substantial though they may be. Rather, I will view agricultural economics as a collective intellectual force stretching over subjects and time. Additionally, my view of agricultural economics as a professional discipline does not extend back beyond the formation of organizations immediately antecedent to the American Farm Economic Association, which itself was founded in 1919. Finally, my own particular frame of reference, myopic though it may be, is largely North American and postWorld War II. The papers in the "Proceedings" section were presented at AAEA sessions held at the annual meeting of the Allied Social Science Associations, New York City, 27-29 December 1985. This first session was held jointly with the American Economic Association. The author is a professor, Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, University of Minnesota. Scientific Journal Series Paper No. 14,749, Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station.