Inflation et transferts : le cas de l'Italie

Agriculture is a sector of the economy traditionnally concerned by redistribution of income as a result of its structural caracteristics, its weak bargaining power and the necessity of food security. Moreover, in Italy political reasons intervene. Beside the usual causes of income redistribution, in the last few years a new one has appeared : inflation. Agriculture can be in the same time a cause and victim of inflation. In the years 1 972-78 the indexes of prices in the agricultural sector have been growing at the same rate as in the other sectors of the economy. Starting from 1 979 the terms of trade have deeply changed. The new European Monetary System (E.M.S.) has led to a worsening of the agricultural situation with a sudden diminution of farm incomes.