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Is small family farming more environmentally sustainable? Evidence from a spatial regression discontinuity design in Germany

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  • Wuepper, David
  • Wimmer, Stefan
  • Sauer, Johannes

Abstract

This article investigates the effect of small family farming on the use of sustainable farming practices in Germany. For causal identification, we employ a fuzzy spatial regression discontinuity design at the historical inner-German border, adjust p-values for multiple hypothesis testing, and compare distinct strategies to classify farms. The results show that small family farming leads to more spatial diversification (more products), but less temporal diversification (more monocultures), more bare soils during winter (fewer cover crops), and less creation or conservation of structural elements (such as hedges, walls, and trees). Thus, our empirical evidence does not support the idea that small family farming is unambiguously more sustainable than its alternatives.

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  • Wuepper, David & Wimmer, Stefan & Sauer, Johannes, 2020. "Is small family farming more environmentally sustainable? Evidence from a spatial regression discontinuity design in Germany," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 90(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:lauspo:v:90:y:2020:i:c:s026483771930078x
    DOI: 10.1016/j.landusepol.2019.104360
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    3. David Wuepper & Robert Finger, 2023. "Regression discontinuity designs in agricultural and environmental economics," European Review of Agricultural Economics, Oxford University Press and the European Agricultural and Applied Economics Publications Foundation, vol. 50(1), pages 1-28.
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    5. Guzmán, Gloria Isabel & Fernández, David Soto & Aguilera, Eduardo & Infante-Amate, Juan & de Molina, Manuel González, 2022. "The close relationship between biophysical degradation, ecosystem services and family farms decline in Spanish agriculture (1992–2017)," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 56(C).
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    7. Wuepper, David & Borrelli, Pasquale & Mueller, Daniel & Finger, Robert, 2020. "Quantifying the soil erosion legacy of the Soviet Union," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 185(C).
    8. Meemken, Eva-Marie, 2021. "Large farms, large benefits? Sustainability certification among family farms and agro-industrial producers in Peru," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 145(C).
    9. Marii Rasva & Evelin Jürgenson, 2022. "Agricultural Land Concentration in Estonia and Its Containment Possibilities," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-15, December.
    10. Zahra Ardakani & Fabio Bartolini & Gianluca Brunori, 2020. "New Evaluation of Small Farms: Implication for an Analysis of Food Security," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 10(3), pages 1-15, March.
    11. Brown, Calum & Kovács, Eszter & Herzon, Irina & Villamayor-Tomas, Sergio & Albizua, Amaia & Galanaki, Antonia & Grammatikopoulou, Ioanna & McCracken, Davy & Olsson, Johanna Alkan & Zinngrebe, Yves, 2021. "Simplistic understandings of farmer motivations could undermine the environmental potential of the common agricultural policy," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 101(C).
    12. Marii Rasva & Evelin Jürgenson, 2022. "Europe’s Large-Scale Land Acquisitions and Bibliometric Analysis," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-13, June.
    13. Hemond, Olivia & Butsic, Van & Moanga, Diana & Wartenberg, Ariani C., 2023. "Farm consolidation and turnover dynamics linked to increased crop diversity and higher agricultural input use," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 210(C).
    14. Damm, Yannic Rudá & Börner, Jan & Gerber, Nicolas, 2021. "Health Effects of the Amazon Soy Moratorium," 2021 Conference, August 17-31, 2021, Virtual 315401, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    15. Christian Stetter & Philipp Mennig & Johannes Sauer, 2022. "Using Machine Learning to Identify Heterogeneous Impacts of Agri-Environment Schemes in the EU: A Case Study," European Review of Agricultural Economics, Oxford University Press and the European Agricultural and Applied Economics Publications Foundation, vol. 49(4), pages 723-759.
    16. Zimmert, Franziska & Zorn, Alexander, 2021. "Direct payments and on-farm employment: evidence from a spatial regression discontinuity design," 61st Annual Conference, Berlin, Germany, September 22-24, 2021 317052, German Association of Agricultural Economists (GEWISOLA).
    17. Aliaa Dirani & Gumataw Kifle Abebe & Rachel A. Bahn & Giuliano Martiniello & Isam Bashour, 2021. "Exploring climate change adaptation practices and household food security in the Middle Eastern context: a case of small family farms in Central Bekaa, Lebanon," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 13(4), pages 1029-1047, August.

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