Flury&Giuliani GmbH, CH-8092 Zurich

Importance of agriculture within the regional economy

The importance of agriculture within the regional economy consists not only of the direct employment and added value generated, but also of the effects it has on the rest of the economy. A quantitative survey in four mountain regions in Switzerland shows that basically, that part of agriculture’s contribution to rural development over and above land-use could be de-linked from production. In many regions, support for this employment is inefficient since the costs generated by agriculture are probably higher than those resulting from the creation of alternative employment opportunities. Those regions with a distinct agrarian character in which it is hardly possible to create jobs outside of agriculture are an exception.

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