Analysis of Agricultural Emigration from Romanian Rural Areas Using a Quantitative Approach

N. GALLUZZO
Association of Geographical and Economic Studies in Rural Areas, 02100 Rieti, Italy

Abstract

GALLUZZO, N., 2016. Analysis of rural emigration from Romanian agricultural areas using a quantitative approach. Bulg. J. Agric. Sci., 22: 536–542

Romania is characterized by lots of small farms with a poor usable agricultural surface which is fewer than 3.5 hectares. The main consequence of this shortage of agrarian capital has been a growth of out emigration from the countryside, aging of entrepreneurs, rural poverty and marginalization of rural space. The purpose of this paper was to investigate, after the breakdown of Berlin’s wall, as a consequence of the entry of Romania into the European Union, the evolution of the rural out emigration using a quantitative approach such as multiple regression model and Self-Organizing Maps. Findings have pointed out as in small villages scattered in rural areas, with a poor agrarian surface size and a signifi cant incidence of agricultural activity in their economic fabric, the diversifi cation of rural activities could have positive effects in terms of farm net income growth reducing partially rural emigration.

Key words: Common Agricultural Policy, Self-Organizing Maps, rural development, multiple regression model

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