The Potential of Agricultural Economics: Thinking through History

Abstract

Agricultural economics is a rare cross-disciplinary field that can consider the natural and human worlds simultaneously. However, before considering the potential of agricultural economics, we must examine the history of its political efficacy. The first issue is its relationship with colonialism. Japanese agricultural economists were actively involved in the Manchu emigration movement of the 1930s and its theoretical formation. Second, world agricultural economics has actively supported the “Green Revolution.” However, it has also been the subject of criticism for the environmental and social problems it has caused. Based on the above examination, agricultural economics must finally fulfil its “ecological turn” to respond to the current global environmental destruction.