This paper considers whether the dual production structure now in place in central and eastern European countries (CEECs) is efficient and stable in the medium term. The large, recently emerged ...corporate and co-operative farm structures may not be stable because of conflicts inherent in co-operative production under current ownership structures. Such units use high levels of capital and purchased inputs, and relative price changes for production factors may threaten their survival without subsidies. The few large individual private operators that have emerged may soon face restructuring problems, as they have been relying on cheap capital at prices that do not reflect current replacement costs. New, younger, relatively small-scale farmers appear to have major and as yet unexploited production potential. Although representing only a small share of the many family farms, they are nevertheless numerous enough to create a viable 'middle class' of commercially oriented, private farmers. Although this group currently faces severe technological and financial constraints, the emergence of medium-sized, individually owned and operated farm units is the most viable option for the future in CEECs.
The large, recently emerged corporate and co-operative farm structures may not be stable because of conflicts inherent in co-operative production under current ownership structures. Such use high ...levels of capital and purchased inputs, and relative price changes for production factors may threaten their survival without subsidies. The few large individual private operators that have emerged may soon face restructuring problems, as they have been relying on cheap capital at prices that not reflect current replacement costs. New, younger, relatively small-scale farmers appear to have major and as yet unexploited production potencial
This Discussion Paper contains the greater part of the contributions to the Young Scientists Workshop on Agricultural Development in Central and Eastern Europe (IAMO, September 4-5, 2006). After last ...years' positive response, the workshop has been organized for the fourth time and has a solid number of contributions. The aim of this annual event is to give young scientists the opportunity to present and discuss their transition-related research. The following short versions of the workshop contributions serve as a basis for discussion during the workshop, but also offer a cross-sectional overview of current research being carried out by young scientists. Although the issues covered by the workshop contributions are quite diverse, they share a common interest in evaluating the impact of institutional and policy changes on agricultural and rural development at the current stage of transition. Regionally, the contributions focus on the new member states of the European Union, as well as countries of South Eastern Europe. G E R M A N V E R S I O N: Dieses Diskussionspapier enthält den größten Teil der Beiträge, die im Rahmen des Workshops zur Agrarentwicklung in Mittel- und Osteuropa für Doktoranden und kürzlich auch Promovierte vorgestellt und diskutiert werden. Dieser Workshop findet zum vierten Mal am IAMO statt, dieses Jahr vom 4. bis 5. September. Ziel der Veranstaltung ist es, Nachwuchswissenschaftlern die Möglichkeit zu geben, ihre Forschungsvorhaben zu präsentieren und zu diskutieren. Die folgenden Kurzfassungen sollen allerdings nicht nur als Diskussionsgrundlage für den Workshop dienen, sondern auch einen kleinen Überblick über die gegenwärtige Nachwuchsforschung im Agrarbereich zu Mittel- und Osteuropa vermitteln. Auch wenn die Workshopbeiträge ein sehr breites Themenspektrum abdecken, beschäftigen sie sich alle mit der Analyse der Wirkung von politischen und institutionellen Änderungen auf die Entwicklung ländlicher Räume und des Agrarsektors im gegenwärtigen Stadium des Transformationsprozesses. Regional konzentrieren sich die Beiträge auf die neuen Mitgliedsländer der Europäischen Union und die Länder Südosteuropas.
Well-functioning agricultural land markets are a precondition for agricultural and rural development in general. However, agricultural land markets remain weak and still face many constraints in ...Eastern Europe and Central Asia. By applying a conceptual framework for agricultural land market development in five stages, the paper assesses the current development stage of land markets in countries in Eastern Europe and Central Asia and discusses the main constraints including informalities, absent owners, technical errors and complicated and costly land transaction procedures. Most of the countries have farm structures characterized by excessive land fragmentation and small average farm sizes. The need for coherent national land policies is argued. Furthermore, land management instruments such as land consolidation and land banking in addition to facilitating agricultural and rural development also contribute to land market development.
•Agricultural land markets in studied countries are in different development stages.•Weak land markets are unable to facilitate the necessary transformational changes.•Multiple and inter-related constraints hamper land market development.•Land consolidation and land banking can support development of land markets.•Development of land markets require a clear and coherent policy and regulations.
This paper considers whether the dual production structure now in place in central and eastern European countries (CEECs) is efficient and stable in the medium term. The large, recently emerged ...corporate and co-operative farm structures may not be stable because of conflicts inherent in co-operative production under current ownership structures. Such units use high levels of capital and purchased inputs, and relative price changes for production factors may threaten their survival without subsidies. The few large individual private operators that have emerged may soon face restructuring problems, as they have been relying on cheap capital at prices that do not reflect current replacement costs. New, younger, relatively small-scale farmers appear to have major and as yet unexploited production potential. Although representing only a small share of the many family farms, they are nevertheless numerous enough to create a viable 'middle class' of commercially oriented, private farmers. Although this group currently faces severe technological and financial constraints, the emergence of medium-sized, individually owned and operated farm units is the most viable option for the future in CEECs. Copyright 1999 by Oxford University Press.
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