The
underlying scenario of the perspectives of changes made to the agricultural policies
of the United States of America and the European Union are the financial crisis
that have impacted the two largest producers of agricultural products in the
world. The time of tax restrictions is here, which should have repercussions on
the allocation of agricultural subsidies. This measure should open new and good
growth perspectives for Brazilian agriculture. As well as the perspectives of
subsidy changes, there are yet undeniable opportunities in the world market.
However, if Brazilian agriculture is to benefit from market opportunities, it
is necessary for all policies that distort economic production incentives to be
eliminated. At the time when the 150th anniversary of the Ministry of
Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply is being celebrated, it is interesting
to measure the effects of the changes made to macroeconomic policies and the
sectorial policy over the last five decades. In particular, the events that
have taken place over the last decade in terms of reduction of the levels of
protection and taxation of agricultural products should be addressed, compared
to industrial products. In other words, it is our intention to understand to
what extent Brazilian agricultural policies prepare the agricultural sector to
compete in world-markets.