structure of the agricultural sector of the economy, level of concentration in the land market, monopolisation of the agricultural sector, Gini coefficient
Abstract
The article aims to assess the differences between individual agricultural enterprises in terms of their size, identify the main trends and risks of monopolisation of the agricultural land market, and outline possible measures to improve its regulation. The main objectives of the study are to reflect the dynamics of the yield of major crops, the dynamics and structure of enterprises depending on their size, to evaluate the dependence of average yield on the average land area of enterprises in different groups, estimating the level of concentration in the agricultural land market in Ukraine as a whole and in the Rivne region in particular, as well as drawing conclusions about trends in the development of the agricultural sector from the point of view of achieving sustainable development. This article examines the distribution of agricultural enterprises in Ukraine in terms of their size and analyses relative performance indicators – gross income per hectare of agricultural land and yield indicators. The article analyses the grouping of agricultural enterprises in Ukraine by size (area of agricultural land) based on statistical data and provides a graphical assessment of the impact of average farm size on crop yields. In addition, the authors examine the level of monopolisation of agricultural land by calculating the Gini coefficient and constructing a Lorenz curve based on official statistical information. A more detailed analysis was carried out based on data from the Rivne region: data on the area of agricultural land and the size of production were analysed. It has been determined that both in Ukraine as a whole and in the Rivne region, the Gini coefficient and the visual shape of the Lorenz curve indicate a high degree of monopolisation of the land market in Ukraine. This demonstrates significant inequality, as such a level of concentration poses a threat to maintaining a normal level of competition in the market and to forming economically justified rent prices of agricultural land. In addition, high monopolisation in the agricultural sector leads to the concentration of control over logistics routes and elevator capacities in the hands of a small number of large enterprises.
