Endogenous Development and the European Model of Agriculture: Developing a Theoretical Framework

The European model of agriculture comprises heterogeneous realities and economic actors characterised by different local conducts. Schematising this model, we can distinguish two agriculture typologies: modernised agriculture and traditional agriculture. The first agriculture typology has reached high levels of productivity but it is also a big producer of negative externalities. On the contrary, traditional agriculture is based on virtuous and sustainable productive activities but lacks in terms of productivity. In this article, we will develop a theoretical framework which encompasses the different patterns of endogenous development in both agriculture typologies. For this reason, initially we will refer to the theory of rural endogenous development. This theory searches phenomena of "self-centred" and "conservative" development, which can occur in less favoured agricultural areas excluded by the modernised processes (such as mountainous areas). In regards to the European dualistic model, the paradigm of rural endogenous development will be extended to typologies of modernised agriculture. Finally, we will analyse the neoclassic doctrine of the economic growth and its evolutionary course, stressing the pros and cons of such doctrine by explaining rural endogenous development phenomena.