Summary
This staggered difference-in-differences study of 56 regional administrative units across three Korean provinces from 2010–2023 found that direct market policy openings produced no significant changes in regional crop composition or diversity, but did drive a 4.2 percentage point rise in full-time farm share and 13.5% increase in full-time farm households. The findings suggest the policy's effects manifest in labour allocation and farm management type rather than crop conversion, and recommend that performance evaluation of such programmes extend beyond short-term changes in regional crop composition.
Regional applicability
This South Korean study may offer relevant policy insights for United Kingdom local and direct-to-consumer food marketing programmes, particularly regarding the mechanisms through which such initiatives influence farm structure. However, the findings cannot be directly transferred without accounting for differences in Korean and UK farm sizes, labour costs, crop portfolios, and existing policy contexts.
Key measures
Herfindahl index, crop diversity indices, share of vegetable and fruit farms, paddy reliance measures, full-time farm share, full-time farm household numbers, total farm household counts
Outcomes reported
The study examined whether direct market openings changed crop composition and farm management structure at regional level, measuring five crop diversity indices, farm type shares, and full-time farm household transitions.
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