A farm bookkeeping survey as part of official agricultural statistics: The case of Sweden

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Larsson, Gunnar¹ | Medin, Knut² | Wilson, Bernt³

Note: [1] Gunnar Larsson specialized in farm economics during his studies at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences at Ultuna, Uppsala. He was Head of the Section for Agricultural Economics at Statistics Sweden 1974–1985. Since 1985 he is Senior Agricultural Economist at the Federation of Swedish Farmers.

Note: [2] Knut Medin entered the Swedish Government service after some years as lecturer in statistics at the University of Uppsala. In 1960 he joined the staff of Statistics Sweden, where he is now working as consultant after retirement from the position as Head of the Department for Area Statistics.

Note: [3] Bernt Wilson studied social sciences at the University of Lund and has been employed by Statistics Sweden since 1960. As from 1971 he is Head of the Division for Postal Surveys in Agriculture at Statistics Sweden.

Abstract: Economists have since long ago been studying the economic situation of farms on the basis of bookkeeping data. In Sweden, such studies have gradually developed from a research project, which was initiated earlier in this century, into official agricultural statistics based on current survey methodology. The related survey administration was transferred to Statistics Sweden some ten years ago. The current situation can be analyzed from the points of view of (a) farm bookkeeping as a statistical measurement method; (b) the integration of the bookkeeping survey into official agricultural statistics through the use of e.g. the farm register and the new farm typology; and (c) the various kinds of statistical results showing nominal and real returns.

DOI: 10.3233/SJU-1987-4303

Journal: Statistical Journal of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, vol. 4, no. 3, pp. 245-257, 1987