Future Scenarios for Rural Wales
Peter Midmore
This Paper first examines the current crisis confronting the rural Wales
economy, assessing the impact of the foot-and-mouth disaster coming
hard on the heels of BSE, combined with the continuing adverse effects
of the high exchange rate on farming. It sketches the main characteristics
of the rural economy before describing two possible scenarios for future
developments, one optimistic and one pessimistic. Finally it draws some
lessons from the scenario analysis undertaken. Among others these test
our institutions and the current devolution settlement.
This 13-page Paper was prepared for presentation to a St. David's
Forum on Futures for Rural Wales, organised by the Institute
of Welsh Affairs in Llandrindod Wells, 1-2 December 2001. It is based
on one contributed to an earlier Institute of Welsh Affairs seminar
on Regeneration of the Welsh Rural Economy, in Aberystwyth, September
2001.
Download the paper
(PDF format, 64K)
Would you like to respond? Please email us: debatewales@iwa.org.uk
Peter Midmore is Professor of Applied Economics in the School
of Management and Business at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth.
Response from Will Carter:
Welsh farmers should be looking into growing Hemp to subsidise their
incomes as it is not illegal. A Hemp industry should be set up using
Objective 1 funding. Biomass from Hemp can be made into anything and
it can also create enough oil to feed a country's needs, therefore creating
more jobs in other areas that really need it, i.e. "The Valleys".
Hemp has been overlooked for many years. It is time to look again, for
more info read Jack Herer's The Emperor Wears No Clothes.
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