I. Introduction(the purpose and method of this study).
The farm households' debts have given rise to serious conflicts in psychological, economical, and political aspect. The purpose of this study is to find out the causes of the farm households' deb...
I. Introduction(the purpose and method of this study).
The farm households' debts have given rise to serious conflicts in psychological, economical, and political aspect. The purpose of this study is to find out the causes of the farm households' debts and-to suggest countermeasures. This study is mainly based on book research, statistics, and field surveys.
II. The transition and composition of the faun households' debts.
The amount of debts has increased rapidly since in 1977, especially in 1982.
The composition of debts in categorized as follows;
1) the rate of personal loan,
2) the kinds of expenditure,
3) the scale of arable land,
4) the term of redemption,
5) the rate of interest,
6) the ratio of debts in incomes and estates.
7) other things.
III. The causes of the farm households' debts.
The causes of the farm households' debts are as follows;
1) the import policy of farm products,
2) the structural factors(the small production scale and the low prices of farm products),
3) the rapid increase of farming costs,
4) the gap between farming investments and incomes,
5) the change of consumption patterns,
6) the increase of real interest and the decrease of marginal efficiency of farming capital,
7) other factors(farming calamities and the price fluctuations of cattle).
IV. The analysis of field surveys.
The findings from field surveys are as follows;
1) There are few people who accept the import policies of farm products positively. Especially, the 81 percent of respondents distrust the general farm policies of govemnent. The more debts the farmers have, the more negative the farmers' attitudes on government are.
2) The debts are analyzed to increase in proportion to the weakness of labor power measured by farmers' age except thirties.
3) The debts are basically related to the human capital. Compared with the survey in 1980, the human capital measured by farmers' school career has decreased about 10 percent.
4) The debts are also related to the school expenses. The farmers want to educate their children ardently because of low social standing. The farm house holds having colliagians have more debts by 0.6 million won than their counterpart.
5) To use farming 'machines enhances the farming costs, and is convenient, and compensates for insufficiency of labor forces, but brings about debts.
6) There are few farming items which guarantee farmers against loss.
7) The price fluctuations of farm products derive partly from sending out a mass of products just after harvest because of farmers' urgent fund need.
8) The farm households having more debts tend to consume extravagantly hecause of being worried about uncertain future.
V. The countermeasures of the farm households' debts.
The countermeasures are considered as two aspects.
First, the policies to make the burdens less are suggested as follows in order to compensate for polcy costs to maintain societal equity;
1) the decrease of interest rate to loan fanning funds,
2) the procrastination of the term of redemption,
3) the supply of farming materials at the lowest prices,
4) the subsidy of school expenses,
5) the subsidy of medical insurance premiums.
Secondly, the policies to restrain debts are suggested as follows in orden to establish agricultural growth;
1) the rational prices of farm products,
2) the trade of farm products,
3) the improvement of marketing structure for farm products,
4) the innovation of agricultural technology,
5) the innovation of agricultural structure.
VI. Conclusion.
The farm households' debts have been serious problem in1980s. This study tries to find out the causes of them, and to suggest the countermeasures in the view point of two aspects; compensation and restraint.