Studies of the economic behaviour of farm families : a thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Agricultural Science with Honours in Lincoln College of the University of Canterbury

Abstract

The objective of this study is to describe how farmers make investment and production decisions, and why they make these decisions. The approach used in this study is that of a psychologist rather than the economist. The aim of the psychologist is to establish from observations, relationships between specific conditions and specific forms of behaviour. The method of the economist is to set up ideal conditions and approach real conditions step by step. The study begins by reviewing some of the literature which provides information on the economic behaviour of the family farm. The review provides a background to the writer's own empirical investigations. These consist of five case studies and a survey of 120 farmers who attended the Lincoln College Farmers' Conference. The case studies consist of a description of selected farms and farmers. The main purpose of the case studies is to describe what type of behaviour, or what kind of decisions, are made by different people under different conditions. The survey is aimed at determining the attitudes of farmers to farm development and the factors which are limiting or preventing farm development. The methods of investigation which were used in this study, and the reasons for using them, are discussed in Chapter 3. Any general conclusions which could be made from the case studies, have been presented in Chapter 5. Chapter 6 is the writer's assessment of the value of this study.