This project investigates the distributive dynamics concerning agricultural land and income in Switzerland. It emphasizes the effects of direct payment across spatial, social, and temporal dimensions. Direct payments stabilize farm incomes and reduce income gaps between agricultural and non-agricultural sectors, whereas they may also exacerbate intra-sectoral inequality by disproportionately supporting larger, more capital-intensive farms or enhance the concentration of land.
The analysis includes a range of techniques to examine spatial and microeconomic datasets. The results aim to give evidence-based policy recommendations designed to achieve a balance between economic and social sustainability, tailored to Switzerland's heterogeneous agricultural conditions and associated challenges.