Driving Forces behind Exiting from Farming in Western Europe
研究了1990年代西欧农民退出农业的影响因素，发现农场规模小、兼业化程度低、补贴少和农产品相对价格涨幅低的地区退出率更高，说明非农收入和政府干预减缓了农业结构变化。
Abstract This study examines the exit process of Western European farmers. Using a simple theoretical model of structural change, we examine empirically the impact of farm characteristics, macroeconomic conditions and policy intervention on farm exits during the 1990s. Econometric estimates using regional data for 110 regions in Western Europe indicate that exits from farming are strongly influenced by farm characteristics and policy conditions. In particular, exit rates are higher in regions with smaller farms and are closely related to production structures. Exit rates are lower in regions with more part‐time farming, high subsidy payments and high relative price increases for agricultural outputs, indicating that off‐farm income and government intervention slow down structural change in European agriculture.