Originally published in 1962, this book was a study of British agricultural policy since the Second World War – during a period which saw the adoption of a comprehensive system of agricultural support which stood in marked contrast to the free trade policy adhered to previously. The policy of support brought a substantial increase in the output of British agriculture, but it imposed a heavy burden on the taxpayer and was the subject of much controversy. The author considers the economic issues involved with this policy and compares the role of agriculture in Britain with the part it played at the time in other countries. The book analyses the main sources of Britain’s food supply in the second half of the 20th century and examines the effect of the European Common Market. The British system of support is contrasted with that used in other European countries.

Michael A. Leeds is Professor of Economics at Temple University in Philadelphia, PA, and a research associate at IZA. He has published numerous articles in labor economics and the economics of sports and was co-editor of the Handbook on the Economics of Women in Sports. He has won departmental, college, and university awards for his teaching. From 2007 to 2009, he was an assistant dean at Temple University, Japan.

Peter von Allmen is the David H. Porter Professor of Economics at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, NY. His primary research focus is sports economics with a particular focus on demand studies and compensation schemes, incentives, and monopsony power. He previously served as the president of the North American Association of Sports Economists (NAASE). In 2006–2007 he was a fellow of the American Council on Education.

Victor A. Matheson is a professor in the Department of Economics and Accounting at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA. His research focuses on the economic impact of teams, stadiums, and events on local economies as well as the economics of gambling. He has served as the president of the North American Association of Sports Economists (NAASE) and as an editor of the Journal of Sports Economics. He has also had a long career as a top-level soccer referee, officiating more than 500 D1 college matches as well as games in Major League Soccer.