664 B
664 B
Subsistence Agriculture
Definition
The agricultural practice in which farmers produce primarily for their own family's consumption rather than for market exchange. In subsistence agriculture, farmers must perform all necessary tasks themselves, preventing specialisation and limiting the division of labour.
Source Chapter
Book I, Chapter 3
Context
Smith describes how in the remote highlands of Scotland, every farmer must be "butcher, baker, and brewer for his own family," illustrating how limited market access forces self-sufficiency and prevents the division of labour even in basic economic activities.
Economic Domain
Production