agreste

Agreste cahiers n° 46 - décembre 1999

Between 1991 and 1996 farmers enjoyed increases in income from independant activity that were more favorable than those of small individual business retailers, builders, transporters, and those in business and household services (excluding health care).

Between 1991 and 1996 farmers enjoyed increases in income from independant activity that were more favorable than those of small individual business retailers, builders, transporters, and those in business and household services (excluding health care). The period is indeed relatively favorable to farmers, whereas small non-farm independants were affected by the economic slowdown at the beginning of the 1990’s. Moreover their market shares, which were already very small due to competition from larger units, declined further. In most sectors, the population of small businesses is subject to extensive renewal. In the non-farm sector, creations and disappearances coexist, whereas the number of farms changes mostly because of disappearances. Revenue growth in those farms that do last is thus less rapid than the average. For non-farm independants, the situation differs according to the sector : durable businesses see their average income grow faster than most in certain sectors, less quickly in others.