Economic and Ecological Approaches to Land Fragmentation: In Defense of a Much-Maligned Phenomenon

Abstract

Land fragmentation, also known as pulverization (Clout 1972: 106), morcellement (De Vries 1974: 11-12), parcellization (Roche 1956), and scattering (Farmer 1960), is type of land ownership pattern where single farm consists of numerous discrete parcels, often scattered over a wide area (Binns 1950: 5). Another phenomenon, also known as land fragmenta­ tion, is division of land into small farms (Clout 1972a: 41; Jacoby 1971: 265). In this paper I discwis former. Fragmentation is described by agricultural policymakers as the blackest of evils, to be prevented by legislative action as one would attempt to prevent prostitution or blackmail (Farmer 1960: 225; cf CEC 1982: 4 1-42; Marsh & Swanney 1980: Ch. 3). Economists, on other hand, have suggested that land fragmentation is adaptive under certain circumstances but becomes nonadaptive as technology and relative factor costs change (McClosky 1975a,b; O. Johnson 1970). Europeanist geographers, especially those who incorporate historical mate­ rial into their work, tend to agree with economists. They see fragmenta­ tion as outdated. The size, shape, and distribution of Europe's fields are of medieval origin, and not well-suited to twentieth century machines and labor costs (Thorpe 1951 ; Houston 1953; Clout 1972 a,b; 1984; Schmook 1976; C. Smith 1978; O'Flanagan 1980; Grigg 1983). Non-Europeanist geographers (with anthropologists) usually stress adaptive, functional role of land