Can off farm employment affect the privatization of social safety net? The case of self-employed farm households

Ashok Mishra () and Hung-Hao Chang

Food Policy, 2012, vol. 37, issue 1, 94-101

Abstract: This study uses a two-stage econometric framework with farm household level data to investigate whether off-farm work of operators and spouses influences healthcare expenditures and retirement savings. Results indicate that agricultural policy discourages off-farm work by farm operators and spouses. However, off-farm work decisions of farm couples significantly decrease healthcare expenditures and increase retirement savings of farm households in the US. The effect of farm spouse’s off-farm employment on household retirement saving is more pronounced. These conclusions can extend to middle-income countries where off-farm work may enable farmers to afford better healthcare and retirement pension plans.

Keywords: Agricultural policy; Off-farm work; Healthcare expenditures; Retirement savings (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2012
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (12)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:jfpoli:v:37:y:2012:i:1:p:94-101

DOI: 10.1016/j.foodpol.2011.11.003

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