An analysis on determinants of farm household income in Gyeongbuk province: focus on the Saemaeul project

The aim of this paper was to analyze the determinants of farm household income in the Gyeongbuk province. Data from 5,254 villages in the Gyeongbuk province were used. The main results are as follows. First, the percentage of self-supporting villages for fishing villages was 10.8%, which was higher than the average of 6.4%; however, the percentage of self-supporting villages for mountain villages was only 2.7 percent. Second, the level of income was estimated to positively correlate with the ratio of the roof improvement rate, a sisterhood relationship, farming households, and the number of people under the age of 14. Finally, the results show that variables such as age, farming percentage, roof improvement ratio, and a sisterhood relationship were significant. When the percentage for the roof improvement ratio was higher, the ratio for a sisterhood relationship with another city was higher, and when the proportion of farmers was higher, the average income of the village was higher. Based on the results from the above analysis, the following policy implications are suggested. First, the income levels of rural villages in the 1970s are related to the Saemaul project in Korea. In other words, the Saemaul project contributed to improving the farming household income by direct and indirect methods. Second, it can be seen that it is important to develop policies that take into account different village types within rural areas.