Climate Change and Agricultural Employment in the Balkans

This study explores the effects of climate change on agricultural employment in the Balkans through a comprehensive panel data analysis covering the period from 1996 to 2020. The sample includes Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, Croatia, Hungary, North Macedonia, Romania, Slovenia, and Turkey—countries that have been notably underrepresented in existing empirical research and this article contributes significantly by addressing this literature gap. Climate change is proxied by key indicators such as greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, renewable electricity generation, and forest area, while agricultural production and the consumer price index are included as control variables. The empirical findings advance the current literature by indicating that rising GHG emissions and expanding forest areas are associated with declines in agricultural employment, whereas increases in renewable electricity generation and agricultural production have a positive effect. These results highlight the complex and multifaceted relationship between climate change and labor dynamics in the agricultural sector. The study highlights the importance of implementing targeted policy measures to mitigate the negative impacts of climate change on agricultural employment and to foster sustainable development across the Balkans.

agricultural employment · agricultural production · Balkans · Climate change · Climate policy · forest land · greenhouse gas emissions · renewable electricity generation · workforce dynamics · Climate change impacts on agriculture · Climate Change Policy and Economics · Energy, Environment, Economic Growth