Agrarian sustainability in Bulgaria – evaluating economic, social and ecological pillars

Abstract

Sustainable development has become a major topic not only for economic science but in economic policy development. There is substantial literature dedicated to analyzing the different aspects of sustainability - economic, social, and/or ecological. Agriculture has been recognized as one of the economic fields that have a multidimensional impact not only on the incomes and well-being of the employed but also on the rural population as a whole and the environment. This article presents a holistic approach for assessing agrarian sustainability in Bulgaria based on its economic, social, and ecological aspects on sectoral macro-level. It is based on official statistical and other information as well as on expert evaluation. Our study has found that Bulgarian agriculture on the macro-level has good sustainability. Some of the sustainability aspects have higher levels (e.g. the economic aspect) while others (social and environmental) are inferior. Study results could help in focusing the political efforts, so that agrarian sustainability, in its social and ecological aspect, could be increased. However further research is needed to evaluate the level of sustainability at micro-level so that the major issues and problem areas are addressed accordingly.

Keywords: agrarian sustainability, sustainability indicators, economic, social, ecological aspects, Bulgarian agriculture

JEL Classification: D23, L22, M13, 017, Q12, Q13