Economic Efficiency in Polish Peasant Farming: An International Perspective

Abstract

One decade following the market transition in Poland, the agricultural sector still exhibits low productivity. Policy makers often describe the sector as fragmented and inefficient. To understand why small-scale farming in Poland is inefficient despite longstanding secure property rights, a survey of economic efficiency in Southern agriculture was conducted and compared with limited studies of efficiency in Poland. The most important issues, particularly related to farm size and efficiency, are price risk, uncertainty and low rural development. Comparative studies across regions with varying institutional arrangements and economic organization are powerful, but must be made carefully and critically.