Ken Thomson

Honorary Research Associate
E: ken.thomson@hutton.ac.uk
T: +44 (0)344 928 5428 (*)
Professor Ken Thomson is an economist who has worked on agricultural and rural policy issues for several decades of university career at Newcastle upon Tyne and Aberdeen (of which he is a native). He is currently working part-time in SEGS for a limited period, mainly to assist the Group and its members to obtaining and successfully completing contributions to the Institute's overall mission.

Biography

Professor Ken Thomson is an economist who has worked on agricultural and rural policy issues for several decades of university career at Newcastle upon Tyne and Aberdeen (of which he is a native). He is currently working part-time in SEGS for a limited period, mainly to assist the Group and its members to obtaining and successfully completing contributions to the Institute’s overall mission.

He has been a principal or co-investigator, a consultant or a reviewer for various EU FP7 (and FP6, FP5, etc.) research projects, e.g. TOP-MARD, RuDI, CAP-IRE, CAPRI-RD, RURAL-ECMOD, and TERA-SIAP. He was Editor of the Jouirnal of Agricultural Economics between 1987 and 1993, and remains an active member of the UK Agricultural Economics Society. He was a member of the UK-wide Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) Agriculture Panels in 2001 and 2008, and has carried out similar work in or for Australia, Germany and Romania. He has been a specialist advisor to several Scottish and UK Parliamentary Committees, and is a Visiting Professor at the Countryside and Community Research Institute, University of Gloucestershire. He has acted recently as a consultant to OECD, FAO, and IFPRI.

His out-of-office activities include mountaineering (mainly hillwalking these days), music (mainly chamber and opera), and literature of various but not all kinds.

Research

Much of Ken’s work has focussed on the development of the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) as it has moved from market price support to “decoupled” direct payments, with rural development policy playing an ever-more important role for agricultural investment, agri-environmental land management and the wider rural economy. This work has involved number of modelling exercises carried out by Ken or his colleagues, e.g. the EU-wide “Newcastle” linear programming model of CAP markets in the 1970s and 1980s, and more recently SAM/CGE models at regional (e.g. the Scottish Western Isles with D. Roberts, and Greek regions with D. Psaltopoulos) or national/EU level. However, Ken has also written extensively on the political-economic arguments over CAP reform and related issues. He has carried out a number of projects in Central European countries, e.g. Poland, Romania and Serbia. From time to time, he has also dabbled in forestry, fisheries, rural tourism, and the host of issues raised by his 40-odd postgraduate research students over the years.

Past research

  • Input/Output Project, for Shetland Islands Council
  • Barriers and Opportunities to the Use of Payments for Ecosystem Services, for DEFRA and USW/ScottWilson
  • Mapping and explaining the contemporary patchwork of development, Module 8.1.1 within RESAS Programme Theme 8 “Nurturing Vibrant and Low Carbon Communities”
  • Application of an Ecosystem Approach, Workpackage 1.3 within RESAS Theme 1 “Scotland’s environmental assets, biodiversity and ecosystems services”
  • Developing a low carbon rural economy, Workpackage 4.2 within RESA Theme 4 “Resilient Rural Economy”
  • Distributional impacts and equity, Workstrand Activity 6 within RESAS Climate Change Centre of Expertise Mitigation Workstream

Publications

Journals

Prior to appointment

  • Thomson, K.; Roberts, D. (2004) The Common Agricultural Policy and its territorial impact., Territoires 2020, DATAR (Delegation a l’amenagement du territoire et a l’action regionale.) Summer, 2004.
  • Copus, A.K.; Thomson, K.J. (1993) The budgetary effects of the CAP reforms in the UK., In: Gilg, A.W. (ed.). Progress in Rural Policy and Planning, 3, John Wiley and Sons Ltd, Chichester.
  • Thomson, K.J.; Revell, B.J.; Copus, A.K.; Tzamarias, N. (1989) The rural economy of the UK less favoured areas., Report for MAFF, DAFS and NEDO, 150pp.

Books / chapters

  • Bergmann, H.; Dax, T.; Hocevar, V.; Hovorka, G.; Juvancic, J.; Kroger, M.; Thomson, K.J. (2011) Reforming Pillar 2 – Towards Significant and Sustainable Rural Development?, In: Sorrentino, A., Henke, R. & Severini, S. (eds.). The Common Agricultural Policy After the Fischler Reform: National Implementations, Impact Assessment and the Agenda for Future Reforms. Ashgate, Farnham, Surrey, 331-346.
  • Thomson, K.J.; Bryden, K.J. (2011) Implications for policy., In: Bryden, J., Efstrateglou, S., Ferenczi, T., Knickel, K., Johnson, T.G., Refsgaard, K. & Thomson, K.J. (eds). Towards Sustainable Rural Regions in Europe. Routledge, Abingdon, Oxon, Chapter 14, 275-285. ISBN 978-0-415-88225-5 (hbk); 978-0-203-83140-3 (ebk).
  • Ferenczi, T.; Thomson, K.J.; Bryden, J.M. (2011) Comparing the outcomes of CAP policy reform scenarios: analysis of POMMARD results and DEA analysis., In: Bryden, J., Efstrateglou, S., Ferenczi, T., Knickel, K., Johnson, T.G., Refsgaard, K. & Thomson, K.J. (eds). Towards Sustainable Rural Regions in Europe. Routledge, Abingdon, Oxon, Chapter 13, 243-274.
  • Bergmann, H.; Thomson, K.J. (2011) Agriculture and tourism in a remote, sparsley populated area – Caithness and Sutherland, Scotland, UK., In: Bryden, J., Efstrateglou, S., Ferenczi, T., Knickel, K., Johnson, T.G., Refsgaard, K. & Thomson, K.J. (eds). In: Towards Sustainable Rural Regions in Europe. Routledge, Abingdon, Oxon, Chapter 12, 232-242. ISBN 978-0-415-88225-5 (hbk); 978-0-203-83140-3 (ebk).
  • Bryden, J.; Efstrateglou, S.; Ferenczi, T.; Knickel, K.; Johnson, T.G.; Refsgaard, K.; Thomson, K.J. (2011) Towards sustainable rural regions in Europe., Routledge Studies in Development and Society, Routledge, Abingdon, Oxon, 360pp. ISBN 978-0-415-88225-5 (hbk); 978-0-203-83140-3 (ebk).
  • Haberfellner, S.; Thomson, K.J. (2010) Balancing between structural and rural policy., In: Oskam, A., Meester, G. & Huirne, H. (eds.). EU Policy for Agriculture, Food and Rural Areas. Wageningen Academic Press, The Netherlands Chapter 22, pp385-400. ISBN 987-90-8686-118-7.
  • Potter, C.; Thomson, K.J. (2010) Agricultural multifunctionality, trade liberalisation and Europe’s new land debate., In: Oskam, A., Meester, G. & Huirne, H. (eds.). EU Policy for Agriculture, Food and Rural Areas. Wageningen Academic Press, The Netherlands Chapter 10, pp213-222. ISBN 987-90-8686-118-7.
  • Thomson, K.J. (2010) Conclusions: pointers to a future CAP., In: Senior-Nello, S. & Pierani, P. (eds.). International Trade, Consumer Interests and Reform of the Common Agricultural Policy. Routledge, Abingdon, Oxon Chapter 9, 163-173.

Technical / contract reports

  • Thomson, S.; Moxey, A.; Wightman, A.; McKee, A.; Miller, D.G.; Brodie, E.; Glass, J.; Hopkins, J.; Matthews, K.B.; Thomson, K.; McMorran, R.; Bryce, R. (2016) The impact of diversity of ownership scale on social, economic and environmental outcomes: Exploration and case studies., Final Report to the Scottish Government, March 2016, 110pp.
  • Thomson, K.; Kerle, S.; Waylen, K.A.; Martin Ortega, J. (2014) Water-based Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) schemes in Scotland., Report produced from a project “Evaluating PES (Payment for Ecosystem Services) Theory in Practice” within WP 1.3 and 1.2 of the Ecosystem Services Theme within the RESAS Strategic Research Programme 2011-2016.
  • Thomson, K.; McKee, A.; Slee, B.; Irvine, R.J. (2013) A methodology for assessing the public interest economic impacts of deer management., A Report to Scottish Natural Heritage, 22 March 2013.
  • Prager, K.; Thomson, K. (2013) AKIS in the United Kingdom – an overview of Agricultural Knowledge Systems and farmer advisory services., Project Report for the EU project PROAKIS, WP3.
  • Prager, K.; Thomson, K. (2013) AKIS in the Republic of Ireland – an overview of Agricultural Knowledge Systems and farmer advisory services., Project report for the EU project PROAKIS, WP3.
  • Chapman, S.J.; Thomson, K.; Matthews, R.B. (2013) AFOLU accounting: implications for implementing peatland restoration – costs and benefits., CXC Enquiry Number 1208-01, Edinburgh, ClimateXChange.
  • Roberts, D.; Thomson, K.; Dinnie, L.; Brown, K.; Martin-Ortega, J.; McKee, A.; Prager, K.; Pages, M.; Towers, W.; Munoz-Rojas, J.; Slee, B. (2013) Improving implementationn and increasing uptake of measures to improve water quality in Scotland: key messages for informing policy makers., Scottish Government Land Reform Review Group (LRRG): Call for Evidence – Submission on behalf of the James Hutton Institute, Aberdeen, 11 January 2013.
  • Matthews, K.B.; Artz, R.R.E.; Birch, A.N.E.; Blackstock, K.L.; Brooker, R.; Brown, I.; Cummins, R.; Flanigan, S.; Hallet, P.; Irvine, R.J.; Kenyon, W.; Pakeman, R.J., Prager, K.; Slee, B.; Squire, G.; Stutter, M.; Sutherland, L.; Thomson, K.; Towers, W.; Vinten, A.J.A. (2012) Developing agri-environmental measures for the next Scottish Rural Development Programme: a summary of relevant research findings from the James Hutton Institute., Report to the Scottish Government, Natural Resources Division, SRDP Technical Working Group (Agri-Environment), 11pp, 25 June 2012.
  • Xu, Y.; Thomson, K. (2012) Disaggregating the household account in a 2007 Scotland SAM by income quintiles and by urban-rural location., Working Report for CXC, Mitigation Work Stream, “Distributional impacts and equity” Work Strand.
  • Thomson, K.J.; Slee, B.; Xu, Y. (2012) Household energy poverty and vulnerability in rural Scotland., ClimateXChange Project
  • Rowcroft, P.; Smith, S.; Clarke, L.; Thomson, K.J.; Reed, M. (2011) Barriers and opportunities to the use of payments for ecosystem services., URS/ScottWilson for DEFRA on behalf of Macaulay Land Use Research and The James Hutton Institute, London, 13 October 2011.
  • Rothman, D.S.; Eames, M.; Dahlstrom, K.; Thomson, K.J.; Gelan, A.; Schwarz, G.; Gotts, N.M.; Tinch, R. (2005) Appraisal of sustainable rural policy and land use (SURPLUS) – scoping study. HS CTHSO301., Final Report to DEFRA and HM Treasury, 26 November 2005.
  • Manley, W.; Wright, I.; Cox, G.; Silcock, P.; Thomson, K.J.; Pakeman, R.; Nolan, A.J. (2003) Options for the sustainable land use of heather moorland and moorland fringe in the United Kingdom., Final Report for Countryside Alliance, (GRP-P-146) December 2003.
  • Schwarz, G.; Gelan, A.; Thomson, K.J. (2003) Scoping study – modelling the impacts of reforming the CAP and similar payments in the Scottish economy., Scoping Study / contract work for Scottish Natural Heritage.
  • Thomson, K.J.; Crabtree, J.R.; Revell, B.J.; Copus, A.K.; Skea, W.A.; Slee, R.W. (1993) Scottish farm income trends and the natural heritage., SNH Research, Survey and Monitoring Report, 17.
  • Crabtree, J.R.; Appleton, Z.E.D.; Thomson, K.J.; Slee, W.; Chalmers, N.; Copus, A. (1992) The economics of countryside access in Scotland., SAC Economic Report 37, Scottish Agricultural College, Aberdeen.

Conference papers

  • Edwards, I.E.; Kirwan, S.; Thomson, K.J.; Stott, A.W. (2011) The economics of the welfare and labour input of hill sheep in the UK., International Farm Management Association Congress, Christchurch, New Zealand, 20-25 March 2011.
  • Slee, B.; Thomson, K.J. (2011) Rural development policy and the provision of public goods: challenges for evaluation., Evidence-based Agricultural and Rural Policy Making: Methodological and Empirical Challenges of Policy Evaluation, EAAE Seminar, 122nd, Ancona, 17-18 February 2011, 14pp.
  • Thomson, K.J. (2010) Devolution and delivery: recent rural policy-making in Scotland.,
  • Bergmann, H.; Thomson, K.J. (2010) The influence of migration processes on rural development: a case study from Scotland., 118th Seminar “Rural development: governance, policy design and delivery” of the European Association of Agricultural Economists (EAAE), Ljubljana, Slovenia, 25-27 August 2010.
  • Dwyer, J.; Mikk, M.; Peepson, A.; Thomson, K.J. (2010) RDP capacities, changing governance styles and the new challenges., 118th Seminar “Rural development: governance, policy design and delivery” of the European Association of Agricultural Economists (EAAE), Ljubljana, Slovenia, 25-27 August 2010.
  • Thomson, K.J. (2010) Disaggregated impacts of CAP reforms., Proceedings of OECD Workshop, ( P. Ciaian, A. Kancs, J. Swinnen, L. Vranken). Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Paris. March 2010. ISBN 978-92-64-09653-0.
  • Crabtree, J.R.; Leat, P.M.K.; Santarossa, J.; Thomson, K.J. (1994) The economic contribution and potential of nature conservation., In: People Economics and Nature Conservation – Proceedings of a JNCC/ESRC Conference, University College, London.

Conference posters / abstracts

  • Thomson, K.; Vellinga, N.; Slee, W.; Ibiyemi, A. (2013) Socio-economic performance in rural Scotland., Knowledge Exchange Event, Birnam, Dunkeld, 20 November 2013. (Poster)
  • Thomson, K.; Vellinga, N.; Slee, B.; Ibiyemi, A. (2013) Socio-economic performance in rural Scotland., RESAS Theme 8 Vibrant Rural Communities Workshop, Birnam Arts Centre, Dunkeld, 20 November 2013.
  • Xu, Y.; Roberts, D.; Thomson, K. (2013) A comparison of the total energy requirements of rural and urban households in Scotland: A SAM multiplier analysis., 87th Agricultural Economics Conference, Warwick, UK, 8-10 April 2013. Abstract.
  • Nijnik, M.; Thomson, K.; Mason, B.; Lesinski, J.; Pettenella, D.; Bjornsen, A. (2012) Linking multi-functional forestry goals with sustainable development objectives in European mountain regions., International Conference on Rural Space and Local Development, Sighetu Marmatiei, The Carpathian Mountains, Romania, 18-22 July 2012.
  • Nijnik, M.; Thomson, K.; Bjornsen, A.; Nyzhnyk, A.; Mason, B.; Pettenella, D.; Lesinski, J.; Slee, B. (2012) Challenges and policy responses to multifunctional forestry development in European mountain regions., 18th International Symposium on Society and Resource Management (ISSRM), Linking the North and the South: Responding to Environmental Change, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, 17-21 June 2012.