@article{Loughrey:236341,
      recid = {236341},
      author = {Loughrey, Jason and Donnellan, Trevor and Lennon, John},
      title = {The Inequality of Farmland Size in Western Europe},
      address = {2016-04},
      number = {358-2016-18378},
      pages = {23},
      year = {2016},
      abstract = {In this paper, we seek to identify spatial clusters of  farmland size inequality across Western Europe and to  discuss the implications for the future of agriculture and  agricultural policy reform in the region. We utilise  Eurostat data to estimate the degree of inequality in  farmland size at the NUTS (Nomenclature of Territorial  Units for Statistics) 2 level. We utilise geographical  information systems software to illustrate the spatial  distribution of farm size inequality and conduct  exploratory spatial data analysis techniques to identify  spatial dependence between neighbouring NUTS 2 regions. The  findings show that there are clusters of low inequality in  the countries of Northern Europe and clusters with high  inequality in much of Southern Europe. The highlands of  Scotland are a notable exception to the general trend in  Northern Europe. The variation in farmland size is a key  determinant in the distribution of farm income. In  combination with high farmland prices and sparse land  rental opportunities, a highly unequal farm size  distribution can militate against the progress of  new-entrant farmers and small farmers wishing to expand  their production and increase their farm incomes. A highly  unequal farm size distribution can therefore grant an  elevated importance to land inheritance as a determinant of  relative economic success at the farm level.},
      url = {http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/record/236341},
      doi = {https://doi.org/10.22004/ag.econ.236341},
}