Preface Chapter 1 Introduction 1.1 Background 1.2 Literature review 1.2.1 Studies on grain price support policies 1.2.2 Studies on grain production costs 1.2.3 Studies on reform of grain price support policy 1.3 Justification 1.4 Objective 1.5 Research significance 1.6 Innovation Chapter 2 Evolution of grain price policies in China 2.1 Market liberalization (1949-1952) 2.2 State monopoly (1953-1984) 2.3 Dual-track pricing system (1985-1992) 2.4 Protection price policy (1993-2003) 2.5 Minimum purchasing price policy (2004-present) 2.6 Summary Chapter 3 Implementation of current price support policy and changes in grain market 3.1 Implementation of price support policy 3.1.1 Current grain price support policy in China 3.1.2 Policy implementing areas 3.1.3 Announce of grain support prices 3.1.4 Changes in grain support prices 3.2 Grain marketing changes after policy implementation 3.2.1 Grain price changes 3.2.2 Grain production costs increase 3.2.3 Grain production increases 3.2.4 Grain ending stocks increase 3.2.5 Grain imports increase 3.3 Summary Chapter 4 Effect of price support policy on grain prices 4.1 Grain price changes 4.1.1 Changes in rice prices 4.1.2 Changes in wheat prices 4.2 Impact mechanism of price support policy 4.3 Empirical analysis on the effect of price support policy on grain prices 4.3.1 Model specification 4.3.2 Data 4.3.3 Estimated results 4.4 Summary Chapter 5 Effect of price support policy on grain production costs 5.1 Grain price support policy and production costs in China 5.2 Methodology 5.2.1 Panel unit root test 5.2.2 Panel cointegration test 5.2.3 Panel long-run Granger causality 5.3 Data 5.4 Empirical Results 5.4.1 Unit root test