Market Structure Analysis Using Changes in the Number of Farms and Farm Income: In the Case of Korea

Abstract

This study proposes a method to analyze market structures using changes in the number of farms and amount of farm incomes, taking Korea as a case study. We discern the market structures in agriculture by scrutinizing the impact of variations in agricultural added-value and production costs on the count of farms and farm-type specific agricultural incomes using the method. We also explore the significant influence of policy changes on agricultural market structures. As a result, in response to the increase in agricultural value-added, most types of farm households are in a short-term equilibrium state with both the number of farm households and amount of agricultural incomes increasing. In response to the increase in agricultural management costs, results of the distribution of farm households and agricultural incomes depend on farm types.