Welfare Science

Welfare Science: Welfare Economics and Policy Design

Welfare economics approaches to farm animal policy examine how regulations, taxes and subsidies can efficiently achieve welfare improvements while addressing market failures.

Key Facts

Market failures mean animal welfare costs are externalised from product prices
A welfare-adjusted price for animal products would be considerably higher
Carbon and ammonia taxes already incorporate some externalities into food pricing
Mandatory welfare standards are more efficient than voluntary labelling for systemic change
Subsidy reform can redirect agricultural support toward higher welfare production

Welfare Considerations

Welfare economics provides tools for designing policies that efficiently improve animal welfare at scale. Market failures in animal agriculture are structural and require regulatory solutions. Well-designed welfare taxes or standards can improve welfare while maintaining food access and farmer viability.

What You Can Do

Engage with agricultural subsidy reform consultations from a welfare perspective
Support organisations applying welfare economics methods to policy advocacy
Advocate for 'true cost accounting' of animal product prices
Donate to think tanks working on animal welfare policy solutions