The Relationship between Household Structure and Land Use: A Case Study at Rai Khok Village, Nang Rong District, Buriram Province, Thailand

Wannarat Rattanawarang, Mahidol University

This case study focuses on the relationship between household structure and land use in rural Thailand where most people live on agriculture. The theory of Demographic Change and Response is used to explain population and social change. The objectives of this study are to investigate the changes of household structure and land use and to examine the relationship between household structure and land use. The unit of analysis is a household. This paper explores land use in size, ownership and activities on land. Longitudinal data and in-depth interviews are employed. The summary provided that population pressure leads to the change of household structure and inevitably affects land use change. Change in size of land indicates that fragmentation of land occurred through inheritance. The likelihood of agricultural work decreased with an increased number of children with higher education. Agricultural work was reduced due to non-farm income. Migration contributes indirect to land use change.