Agricultural planning for regional balance
The reduction of employment in agriculture and forestry has led to regional economic imbalances, especially in Northern Sweden. The problems are typically: low rate of employment, distortion of the age structure of the population, contraction of the population basis for local services and the demand...
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ftrepec:oai:RePEc:oup:erevae:v:8:y:1981:i:4:p:499-518. 2024-04-14T08:16:41+00:00 Agricultural planning for regional balance LARS OLOF PERSSON OLOF BOLIN http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/erae/8.4.499 unknown http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/erae/8.4.499 article ftrepec 2024-03-19T10:28:59Z The reduction of employment in agriculture and forestry has led to regional economic imbalances, especially in Northern Sweden. The problems are typically: low rate of employment, distortion of the age structure of the population, contraction of the population basis for local services and the demand for governmental subsidies. In a multidisciplinary research project we have analysed different ways of integrating agricultural and regional policy. A systems dynamics model was used to simulate agricultural structure development in one municipality. Some important regional consequences were also computed. The results show that the reduction of employment and population on farms is likely to continue, but the rate of contraction could be slowed down by means of coordinated policy measures. Cost-benefit-type analyses indicate small differences in socio-economic terms between different agricultural structure alternatives, at least in a medium range perspective. A small scale farm structure may require more subsidies, than a rationalisation alternative. Finally, we describe a planning method for calculating where (in what sub-district of a region), when (during the period 1975-2000) and to which sector of the economy (agriculture, forestry, industry, service, etc.) financial support would lead to the achievement of certain criteria of regional balance at the lowest cost. The methods and results described are relevant to planning in sparsely populated areas in northern climatic zones, but may be of general interest when discussing the role of agriculture in economic development. Article in Journal/Newspaper Northern Sweden RePEc (Research Papers in Economics) |
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RePEc (Research Papers in Economics) |
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The reduction of employment in agriculture and forestry has led to regional economic imbalances, especially in Northern Sweden. The problems are typically: low rate of employment, distortion of the age structure of the population, contraction of the population basis for local services and the demand for governmental subsidies. In a multidisciplinary research project we have analysed different ways of integrating agricultural and regional policy. A systems dynamics model was used to simulate agricultural structure development in one municipality. Some important regional consequences were also computed. The results show that the reduction of employment and population on farms is likely to continue, but the rate of contraction could be slowed down by means of coordinated policy measures. Cost-benefit-type analyses indicate small differences in socio-economic terms between different agricultural structure alternatives, at least in a medium range perspective. A small scale farm structure may require more subsidies, than a rationalisation alternative. Finally, we describe a planning method for calculating where (in what sub-district of a region), when (during the period 1975-2000) and to which sector of the economy (agriculture, forestry, industry, service, etc.) financial support would lead to the achievement of certain criteria of regional balance at the lowest cost. The methods and results described are relevant to planning in sparsely populated areas in northern climatic zones, but may be of general interest when discussing the role of agriculture in economic development. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
LARS OLOF PERSSON OLOF BOLIN |
spellingShingle |
LARS OLOF PERSSON OLOF BOLIN Agricultural planning for regional balance |
author_facet |
LARS OLOF PERSSON OLOF BOLIN |
author_sort |
LARS OLOF PERSSON |
title |
Agricultural planning for regional balance |
title_short |
Agricultural planning for regional balance |
title_full |
Agricultural planning for regional balance |
title_fullStr |
Agricultural planning for regional balance |
title_full_unstemmed |
Agricultural planning for regional balance |
title_sort |
agricultural planning for regional balance |
url |
http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/erae/8.4.499 |
genre |
Northern Sweden |
genre_facet |
Northern Sweden |
op_relation |
http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/erae/8.4.499 |
_version_ |
1796315412409876480 |