TOWARDS A THEORETICALLY GROUNDED TYPOLOGY OF FARMS - A SWEDISH CASE

A survey of farms and farm households in three different areas of Swed en makes it possible to study the position of family farms, as compare d to other farm types. Based on patterns of labour use and sources of income, a theoretically grounded farm typology is suggested. Such a ty pology is offered as an alternative to arbitrary criteria in terms of acreage, turnover or total labour, which can never be generalized, nor used in longitudinal or comparative studies. The sample illustrates t he striking similarities in social set-up between the intensive agricu lture in the plains of southern Sweden and that in the northern parts of the country. The role of family and non-family labour, as well as t he role of non-farm work and sources of income in the three study area s are analysed. (C) Scandinavian Sociological Association 1996