The effects on seats depends a lot on how the seats are distributed. It is a much less powerful effect in countries that have a proportional distribution compared to the effects in a winner takes all system.
Sigh. Here in Sweden we had finally managed to totally do away will all subsidies in the early 90's. Then we entered EU and got more subsidies than ever. :(
Re:Things Economists Agree On
by jacoblyles on Saturday October 30, 2010 @03:01PM
(#1851530)
Some governments have gotten rid of them. I believe New Zealand cut its agricultural subsidies greatly in recent years without ill effect.
And the reason why they continue to exist, and will probably continue to exist is that there are relatively few farmers in each of those countries, who make up incredibly homogenous democgraphics within their election ridings. Government that even proposes eliminating the tariffs will lose their rural seats/votes/whatever. Every single one of them.