摘要：This study aims to classify Korean farms by using the multivariatee techniques of factor and cluster analysis. These methods are applied to farm-level cross sectional data from 2004, allowing firstly, the identification of underlying constructs characterizing farms within the sample, and secondly, the categorizing of relatively homogeneous farms in terms of farm characteristics, production performance index, farming type, and farm operator's human capital.
The results of a cluster analysis indicate the presence of six clusters by a cluster analysis. The classification of sample farms thus results in six distinctively different types. The six identified types can be characterized as follows: specialized rice farms, specialized horticulture farms, specialized livestock farms, diversified farms with old operators, small income farms with old operators, and farms with off-farm income as a major income. Also, the results show that the clustering is influenced mainly by agricultural income, operator age, and farming type. These findings highlight important farm typology differences to be considered in agricultural policy formulation.
