Inequalities In The Distribution Of Income In The Households Of Farmers In Poland

The purpose of the study was to identify and assess the level of income inequality in farm households. The research methods applied were literature studies and analysis of statistical data provided by the Central Statistical Office for the period 2012-2017. The subject of the study was the disposable income of a farm household per capita. A research hypothesis was adopted whereby, over the years 2010-2017, a systematic increase in income inequality in farm households took place. It was found that during the analysed years, there was an increase in disposable income per capita in farm households. When assessing the level of income inequality in this group of households, a decrease in income stratification measured by the level of the Gini coefficient, by the Schutz-Pietra measure, was noticed, although these changes were very small. Comparing the level of the Gini coefficient among all groups of households distinguished with regard to the main source of income, it was the group of farms that was characterised by the highest level of income inequality. In addition, income inequalities among farmers were characterised by the highest variation compared to other professional groups. This situation may be caused by the nature of farm income, which is conditioned, among others, by the size and productivity of the farm, its degree of specialisation, as well as weather conditions.