Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.This study sought to reflect the diversity of rural contexts and farm structure across Western Europe. It consists of two surveys - the baseline survey and the final survey. The baseline survey, conducted in 1987, covered basic conditions, work and income patterns of farm households in different socio-economic situations in Europe with a view to further investigation over the next three years of the reasons, extent and effects of change experienced by some of them at farm, local, regional and national levels with special reference to multiple job-holding. The final survey was carried out in 1991. The baseline survey data are held as separate study numbers for each country (see list of constituent studies). The dataset containing the merged data of the baseline and final surveys for all countries is held as SN:2973.

Main Topics:

Farm size and tenure; agricultural production and livestock; farm buildings and machinery; finance and income. Residence. Household members and farm work forces; agricultural and farm-based activities; off-farm activities; policy experience; expected changes

One-stage stratified or systematic random sample

Face-to-face interview