This study investigates the dynamics of agricultural land prices across the European Union (EU) from 2006 to 2022, focusing on trends of convergence and divergence among member states. Employing a mixed-methods approach, including econometric analysis of price convergence models and comparative policy evaluation, the research identifies critical economic, policy, and environmental factors influencing land markets. The results indicate price convergence in Eastern European countries, such as Romania and Poland, driven by EU policies, including the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), and increased foreign investment. In contrast, Western European countries like the Netherlands and Luxembourg show price stability at elevated levels due to mature markets and limited land availability. The findings reveal a nuanced interaction between EU-wide and national policies, with CAP fostering convergence in emerging markets while maintaining price stability in developed ones. This study underscores the importance of tailored policy measures to address market disparities, support smaller farmers, and promote sustainable rural development across diverse EU regions.

The paper aims analyse the costs and labour productivity in agricultural enterprises of different legal forms of land management. The lowest level of employment occurred in the leaseholders. enterprises, whereas the highest – in the owned by companies Agricultural Property Agency (APA), what resulted in the lowest labour productivity. The highest level of labour productivity was noted in the owners. enterprises. In the APA companies, the highest wages ratio was found, what illustrated the highest share of labour costs in operational costs. Differences in labour costs between the owners. enterprises and the leaseholders. enterprises were rather minimal, what suggests implementation of similar employment and wages policies. In addition, in the owners. enterprises the highest return on investment in human capital was found, whereas the lowest – in the APA companies. Moreover, it concerned also a level of value-added of human capital, where the owners. and leaseholders. enterprises dominated. Finally, enterprises buying or leasing land were characterised by more effective use of labour force, in comparison to the APA companies. Przedstawiono analizę kosztów i efektywności pracy w przedsiębiorstwach rolniczych o różnych formach prawnych zagospodarowania ziemi. Określono zależności w zakresie: zasobów siły roboczej, ekonomicznej i społecznej wydajności pracy, udziału kosztów pracowniczych w kosztach operacyjnych oraz ich relacji do przychodów ze sprzedaży, współczynnika wynagrodzeń, zwrotu z inwestycji w kapitał ludzki oraz ekonomicznej wartości dodanej tego kapitału.

This study examines Poland’s agricultural land market between 2009 and 2023 through fixed effects and spatial econometric models, highlighting economic and spatial determinants of land prices. Key results show that GDP per capita strongly increases land values (β = +0.699, p < 0.001), while agricultural gross value added (–2.698, p = 0.009), soil quality (–6.241, p < 0.001), and land turnover (–0.395, p < 0.001) are associated with lower prices. Spatial dependence is confirmed (λ = 0.74), revealing strong regional spillovers. The volume of state-owned WRSP land sales declined from 37.4 thousand hectares in 2015 to 3.1 thousand hectares in 2023, while non-market transfers, such as donations, exceeded 49,000 annually. Although these trends support farmland protection and family farms, they also reduce market mobility and hinder generational renewal. The findings call for more flexible, sustainability-oriented land governance that combines ecological performance, regional equity, and improved access for young farmers.

The paper presents changes of equipment and efficiency of fixed assets in relation to the financial outcomes of farms classified to various production types. The statistical base for the above analysis was the data from FADN system. Therefore analysed sample of farms was representative in aspect of production types in Poland. The research concerned farms which sold their production on the market. In this context the outcomes of analysis could lead to the improvements of farms’ organization in various types.

The paper presents estimated level of equipage and effectiveness of making use of real capital assets in agricultural enterprises with different legal forms of cropland management. The highest level of equipage of real capital assets, in relation to the cropland area and resources of the labour, has been noted in enterprises of direct owners, however the lowest amounted in enterprises of lessees. In owners enterprises the participation of the depreciation in operating-costs was the highest, whereat the difference in relation to Agricultural Property Agency (APA) companies and enterprises of lessees was not so significant. Only in APA enterprises, in the analyzed period, the reproduction of a used real capital assets was confirmed. The adverse tendency in this range have been noted in owners enterprises. The highest revenues amount and the profitability of the real capital assets appeared in enterprises of lessees. The lowest revenues of these resources turned up in owners enterprises, and the lowest profitability was ascertained in APA companies

Considering the common use of the term “modernization” in socio-economic policy and the lack of common definition of this term, the author makes broad literature review. The research objective of the paper is to specify theoretical features of modernization, which should be the background for policy action and measures focused on farm modernization. Otherwise the policy action can lead to the weak effects and inefficient use of public money. The paper is composed of four essential chapter. First chapters shows the evolution of historical features of the modernization. Next, the author presents theoretical aims, phases and ways of modernization processes. Third chapter is related to the modernization in the context of multi-dimension character of the economic processes. Finally modernization is reduced to the micro level, i.e. farm or firm level.