The multiplicity of goals in tree-cultivating farms in Greece

Pavlos Karanikolas, Stelios Rozakis and Dimitrios Kremmydas

No 2013-2, Working Papers from Agricultural University of Athens, Department Of Agricultural Economics

Abstract: The aim of this study is the elicitation of farmers’ goals through a multi-criteria weighted programming model. This is pursued in the area of Ancient Epidaurus (Peloponnesus), where farming systems comprise various combinations of tree crops, such as olive-, orange- and mandarin- groves. The analysis is carried out at the level of four representative farms, whose members have a multiplicity of on- and off- farm employment opportunities. Research findings indicate that farms with tree crops aim at the achievement of multiple goals. Both components of the composite entity family farm/farm household are represented at the decision-making process, by means of including manifold objectives. Minimization of variable expenses and attainment of a living standardareprioritized as the most important ones. The identification of sets of hierarchical goals for different types of farms/households goes beyond the conventional-simplistic hypothesis of profit maximization in all different farm entities, pointing towards a satisficing behavior.

Keywords: Farmers’ objectives; goal programming; satisficing; bounded rationality; Argolida; Greece (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: B5 C61 Q12 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 22 pages
Date: 2013
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-agr
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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