Are Japanese bureaucrats politically stronger than farmers?: The political economy of Japan's rice set-aside program

Phase

Major factors to be incorporated into the calculation

Phase 1

1. Proportionate to the past production

(1971-1975)

2. Proportionate to the past amount to be purchased by government

3. The crop production targets in each prefecture*

Phase 2

1. The crop production targets 2. Share of Jishu-Ryutsu-mai (high quality rice)

(1978-1986)

3. Specification index to promoted crops 4. Ratio of well-drained paddy

5. Frequency of suffering from natural disasters such as cold whether and flood

6. Share of the paddies in urbanized areas 7. Share of enlarged and improved
paddy plots equipped with drainage facilities

Phase 3

Six factors on the list above from 2 to7 plus

(1987-1992)

1. Productivity 2. Share of full-time farmers 3. Dependency of agriculture on
rice production

Phase 4

Reduced acreage of set-aside was calculated by factors as follows:

(1993-1995)

1. Productivity 2. Share of full-time farmers 3. Dependency of agriculture on
rice production 4. Willingness of the return to rice production

Phase 5

Increased acreage was calculated by factors as follows:

(1996-1997)

1. Proportionate to the past acreage of paddy 2. Share of full-time farmers

3. Share of Jishu-Ryutsu-mai (high quality rice)

Phase 6

Increased acreage was calculated by factors as follows:

(1998-1999)

1. Proportionate to the past acreage of paddy

Phase 7

Increased acreage was calculated by factors as follows:

(2000-)

1. Amount of the stock of Jishu-Ryutsu-mai (high quality rice) 2. Dependency
of rice production on the rice purchased by government (low quality rice)