Employment Diversification of Farm Households and Structural Change in the Rural Economy of the New Member States

Employment Diversification of Farm Households and Structural Change in the Rural Economy of the New Member States
Author:
Publisher:
Total Pages:
Release: 2011
Genre:
ISBN:

Changes in the rural labour market, especially the increase of rural non-farm employment are recognised as one dimension of structural change. Labour allocation decisions are driven by economic incentives such as wage differentials, but also non-economic motives may play a decisive role. This paper summarises theoretical insights and presents an integrated conceptual framework reflecting the drivers of employment shifts. Methodologically, the conceptual framework is implemented in fuzzy logic to analyse the household potential to diversify its income activities. The empirical analysis draws on a survey of 1,077 farm households in rural Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania, and Slovenia. ... This report is structured as follows: Chapter 2 presents a review of theory, an integrated theoretical framework as well as an overview of current trends of employment diversification. Chapter 3 then introduces fuzzy logic methodology and presents the model that is implemented to assess the non-farm income diversification potential in the survey countries. This is followed by a brief description of the database in Chapter 4. Simulation results are presented in Chapter 5 and Chapter 6. The last chapter summarises the main outcomes and gives policy recommendations.

Structural Transformation and Rural Change Revisited

Structural Transformation and Rural Change Revisited
Author: Bruno Losch
Publisher: World Bank Publications
Total Pages: 307
Release: 2012-06-18
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 0821395122

"This final report was prepared by Bruno Losch, Sandrine Fraeguin-Gresh and Eric White (World Bank), with contributions of Thierry Giordano and Jean-Franocois Baeliaeres (Cirad). It was peer-reviewed by Derek Byerlee, Don Larson (World Bank), and Andrae Pouilles-Duplaix (AFD). The report draws extensively on two sets of seven country reports and data work developed by the national teams during the two phases of the RuralStruc Program."

Rural Policies And Employment: Transatlantic Experiences

Rural Policies And Employment: Transatlantic Experiences
Author: Davidova Sophia M
Publisher: World Scientific
Total Pages: 424
Release: 2019-06-13
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 1786347105

A unique title comparing rural policies and employment in the two most developed parts of the world — the EU and USA. While both regions are concerned for their vast rural areas, each adopts a strikingly different approach to create and maintain employment there, making rural space attractive to businesses and residents.This book focuses on a major issue of socioeconomic and policy concern, i.e. whether jobs and incomes can be protected or created in rural areas, where often agriculture no longer provides a large and secure basis for employment. Within a 'paired' chapter structure covering both the European Union and the United States of America, it deals with several themes of interest including farm policies, labor entry and exit, and rural and household enterprise diversification. Specific 'special studies' also analyze recent developments within countries or regions.

Agricultural Policy Reform and the Rural Economy in OECD Countries

Agricultural Policy Reform and the Rural Economy in OECD Countries
Author: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Publisher:
Total Pages: 328
Release: 1998-03-09
Genre: Agriculture
ISBN:

The socio-economic development of rural areas has become an important issue for agricultural policy design in many OECD countries. Yet there is still a lack of comprehensive analysis of the inter-linkages between the agro-food sector and the rural economy. What consequences have ongoing structural changes in agriculture have for rural areas? What is the role of agricultural policies? This report, comprising a main report and case studies on Canada, France, Greece, Japan, New Zealand, Norway and Switzerland, addresses these questions. How to strike the right balance between the need for greater economic efficiency, and social and environmental concerns in rural areas is a key challenge facing policy makers.

Structural Transformation and Rural Change Revisited

Structural Transformation and Rural Change Revisited
Author: Bruno Losch
Publisher:
Total Pages: 277
Release: 2012
Genre: Agriculture
ISBN: 9786613802224

This book makes a compelling case for reintegrating structural issues into agricultural and rural development policies, which have for the last 30 years over-focused on short-term issues. It shows how the liberalization of agriculture in many late developing countries has not in fact led to the development of the vibrant rural non-farm economy so often discussed in the literature. Neither has it led to a large-scale integration of agricultural producers into the global economy. Most producers remain engaged in traditional crops--mainly staples--and in traditional marketing systems characterized by limited contractualization. Yet in spite of these observations the book draws optimistic conclusions: there are a clear set of policy priorities that, if adapted to individual country contexts, can facilitate an enduring and productive rural transformation. The book is based on an in-depth seven-country study that surveyed 8,000 rural households. It specifically focuses on these households' activity and income structures in an evolving agricultural context marked by liberalization and trends of increasing economic integration. In doing so it reviews the very different levels (and trajectories) of rural diversification among countries at various stages in the structural transformation process. Among late developers, such as the countries of sub-Saharan Africa, a common observation is an incipient economic transition that is accompanied by a strong process of demographic transition. Consequently, growing cohorts of new labor market entrants pose a dramatic challenge. This new demographic structure offers a huge opportunity for growth if it can be accommodated, and if not it represents a serious political and economic liability. If overall economic diversification is the major avenue for change, sustainable growth, and job creation, then it is clear that agriculture and the rural economy will have a critical role to play in the coming two decades. Based on its investigation of existing rural realities, the book suggests several policy orientations. These include a clear need to focus on staples and family agriculture, to engage in targeted development strategies at the regional level, and to pursue a policy of "territorial development" that promotes strong rural-urban linkages at the level of rural localities, towns and districts.

Agricultural Management Strategies in a Changing Economy

Agricultural Management Strategies in a Changing Economy
Author: Popescu, Gabriel
Publisher: IGI Global
Total Pages: 461
Release: 2015-01-31
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1466675225

Research and development in agriculture is a very relevant topic in today’s society, especially given the evolution of land ownership structures and resources exploitation. These transformations have paved the way for new approaches in the allocation and management of agricultural systems. Agricultural Management Strategies in a Changing Economy brings together emergent research and best practices in the area of agricultural management, policy, and structures. Highlighting theoretical concepts and empirical research, this book will be an all-encompassing reference source for professionals, researchers, academicians, practitioners, and students in the field of agricultural economics and sustainable development, as well as in related disciplines.

Territorial Cohesion in Rural Europe

Territorial Cohesion in Rural Europe
Author: Andrew K. Copus
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 244
Release: 2014-08-13
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 113513104X

This book reflects on how the economies, social characteristics, ways of life and global relationships of rural areas of Europe have changed in recent years. This reveals a need to refresh the concepts we use to understand, measure and describe rural communities and their development potential. This book argues that Europe has 'outgrown' many of the stereotypes usually associated with it, with substantial implications for European Rural Policy. Rural structural change and its evolving geography are portrayed through regional typologies and the concept of the New Rural Economy. Demographic change, migration, business networks and agricultural restructuring are each explored in greater detail. Implications for equality and social exclusion, and recent developments in the field of governance are also considered. Despite being a subject of active debate, interventions in the fields of rural and regional development have failed to adapt to changing realities and have become increasingly polarized. This book argues that rural/regional policy needs to evolve in order to address the current complex reality, partially reformulating territorial or place-based approaches, and the New Rural Paradigm, following a set of principles termed ‘Rural Cohesion Policy’.