Analysis of the evolution of farmers' early retirement policy in Spain. The case of Castille and Leon

The aim of this paper is to present an empirical analysis of early retirement CAP (R. 2079/92) policy in Spain. The guidelines issued by the commission in 1985 (COM(85)750 last) emphasize the need to help young farmers to get started and describe the handicaps to be overcomeby young individuals seeking to start up as farmers on account of reduced mobility in ownership of arable land. The early retirement policy is a structural and rural development policy (installation of young farmers, modernization of agrarian structures). We explore the implementation of this process on a national and regional level in Spain and Castille and Leon, and review its inconsistencies and the interests of the parties involved. The early retirement scheme presents poorresults because of its extra-cultural nature, unconnected with the traditions of inheritance and the farmers' interests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]