WTO架構下的臺灣稻作誘因與競爭力分析

PRODUCTION INCENTIVE AND COMPETITIVENESS OF THE RICE SECTOR IN TAIWAN UNDER THE WTO FRAMEWORK

本文探討政府為了維持穀價穩定於高水準所施行的稻米政策如何干擾了稻作的生產誘因，進而削弱了臺灣稻作的競爭力，分析如何藉由穀價下跌與彈性化之調整策略來回應WTO 市場開放的挑戰，並使得臺灣的稻作產業得以脫胎換骨，由政策導向轉為市場導向。政府必須持續調降最低的干預價格，以完整的市場價格訊息來誘導稻農進行生產結構之轉型，同時設置所得安全網來維護稻農所得，方能提昇本國稻米長期的價格競爭力。

This paper examines how government price support policy interrupts the incentives and weakens the competitiveness of rice production in Taiwan. WTO accession has created pressure to lower rice prices in the domestic market. Therefore, we propose a policy alternative to gradually phase out the existing price support through lowering the intervening price and introducing an income safety net for rice farmers. The new policy scheme will send correct price signals to rice farmers and transform the rice sector into a market-oriented production structure so that the long-run competitiveness of domestic rice against foreign imports can be strengthened.