Variations in Farm Performance: Evidence from the CEECs and Existing EU Member States

This paper attempts to shed light on the recent performance of farms in the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland and to compare the findings from the CEECs with the EU situation. Utilising farm survey data, ratios of agricultural profitability and productivity have been estimated and clusters of farms with similar characteristics have been identified. Analysis indicates that the Hungarian farms have the best prospects amongst the analysed accession countries according to their profitability. The poor profitability and structural problems of Polish agriculture are highlighted. The family farms are less productive than corporate farms in the Czech Republic and Hungary despite the expectations at the outset of the reform that better incentives will boost their productivity.