Which farm characteristics influence work satisfaction? An analysis of two agricultural systems

This study explores the influences of agricultural systems on a social aspect of farming, namely work satisfaction. We use an individual activity choice model and hypothesize that different systems yield different levels of satisfaction with farming. Farmers of northeast (NE) Germany and Switzerland were surveyed with a joint questionnaire, as these study regions differ widely in terms of farm size and thus in economies of scale. Regression analysis was done in two separate models including different proxies for farm income, namely farm size (n = 1137) and perceived financial situation of the farm (n = 1158). The results show that in the large-scale industrialized agricultural system of NE Germany, farmers' work satisfaction is positively affected by both farm income proxies. Both of these elements have a significantly different effect on the work satisfaction of Swiss farmers. Their work satisfaction is not affected by farm size and the positive effect of the perceived financial situation of the farm is significantly less strong for Swiss farmers than for German ones. Thus, monetary return seems to play a major role in utility of farming for NE German farmers, whereas it is less important for Swiss ones. Additionally, the Swiss agricultural system seems to offer qualities besides economic returns for its farmers as they are generally more satisfied with their work despite the lower economic return compared with NE German farmers.