Sustainability and Competitiveness of Farms

Dear Colleagues,

The economic recession that has hit the world economy in recent years has had a negative impact on the economic performance of enterprises, to which farms are no exception. The supply and demand of agricultural products have specific characteristics, as compared to other goods. The demand for agricultural products and foodstuffs is characterized by a low elasticity in terms of income and prices (Malassis L., Ghersi G., 1995). The offer is rather rigid in the short term and, in fact, the effect of a variation in the independent variable (i.e., price) on the dependent variable (i.e., quantity produced) is not instantaneous, but rather is spread out over a given time (Nerlove M. 1979; Saccomandi V., 1999). In light of these premises, businesses are compelled to redefine their production and marketing strategies. In fact, creating a competitive advantage for enterprises becomes crucial, not only for entrepreneurs, but even for the region in general for which companies constitute a vital source of employment and income. The farm is, in fact, the building block of socio-economic development of rural areas. This Special Issue is dedicated to publishing articles that analyze, in theoretical and methodological terms, just how agricultural enterprises may compete in the new scenarios of the current economic system, with the aim of strengthening the capabilities of rural areas and maintaining the economic viability of the agricultural sector.

Dr. Filippo Sgroi
Guest Editor

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