Sociology and Space, No. 33, 1971.
Review article
The Socio-economic Nature of Small Farms
Žarko V. Đorđević
Abstract
In this article, the essential socio-economic characteristics of small peasant farms are discussed. Among these characteristics, first place is given to
the close relationship between the small agricultural farm and the family to which
it belongs, a certain specific symbiosis which causes this farm to develop according
to different principles than other economic units. Small, peasant farms are
by their socio-economic essence of an expressly uncapitalistic nature. Their uncapitalistic
nature is seen in the incentives with which their owners approach the production
process as well as in the financial results materialized, the criterium of judged
realized success on the farm, and other principles by which economic activities
are managed. Although they possess a specific means of production, small peasants
do not view any factor of production with the eyes of a capitalist. The negligible
surface of land of which they have use they do not consider a source of land rent
but rather a necessary field for the application of their labor. The modest capital
which they have at their disposal does not serve them to realize profits in order
to hire labor but instead, along with the application of their own labor, to provide
the essential needs for their family’s existence. Managing by the force of their
own labour, the small peasants do not judge results of the production process
objectiyely, that is, on the basis of invested productive labour plus the time and
energy involved, according to net revenue, but instead only according to productive
labour, that is, to the achievement of some newly created value-income. K. Marx
had already pointed to the peculiar manner, of evaluating success and achieved
results in the production process of small peasants when he emphasized that despite
the great individual value of the agricultural products from small farms, these
products do not necessarily even contain the cost of production, even less the
value of production and that, in contrast with farms managed in a capitalist manner,
do not create an absolute land rent. In addition to this classical conception
of land rent, a new, modified conception is advanced in this article by which even
in small peasant agriculture, some form of absolute land rent exists which comes
from titular ownership of land. The author also points to a new understanding
of the problem of expanded production on small peasant farms and to other
changes. But, despite significant technological and social changes, these farms
have, nevertheless, maintained their uncapitalistic character.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
119429
URI
Publication date:
3.9.1971.
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