Improving the understanding of farmers’ non-compliance with agricultural policy regulations
基于808名瑞士农民的调查数据，研究农民不遵守直接支付法规的原因，发现规则知识、教育水平和接受度显著影响违规概率，为政府制定针对性措施提供依据。
To reduce the negative impacts of agricultural production, Switzerland and the EU introduced environmental and animal welfare regulations in their direct payment policy schemes. Compliance with these regulations is monitored, and fines are imposed if deficiencies in implementation are identified. Non-compliance with these regulations reduces the effectiveness of direct payment measures and creates public and private administrative transaction costs. Therefore, a better understanding of the reasons behind farmers' non-compliance with direct payment regulations can help the government develop targeted measures to increase the effectiveness of direct payment policies. We used data on self-reported compliance with direct payment regulations from a survey of 808 Swiss farmers to develop a framework that explains the likelihood of receiving penalties based on the following influencing factors: (1) knowledge of rules, (2) acceptance of rules, (3) costs and benefits of non-compliance, and (4) farmer and farm characteristics. We found that 28% of the participants had experienced receiving penalties because of non-compliance with direct payment rules. Based on a hierarchical binary logistic regression model, our findings revealed that better knowledge of inspection measures, higher educational levels, and higher acceptance of entrepreneurial restrictions associated with direct payment regulations significantly reduced the likelihood of receiving penalties as a result of non-compliance. We further found that non-compliance with direct payment rules could hardly be explained by farm size or farm types. Information about the reasons for farmers’ non-compliance with direct payment regulations can help the government develop targeted measures to increase the effectiveness of policy measures.