``Working for yourself?'' Small farmers in post-socialist Ukraine

This article uses a Ukrainian case study to explore the social and economic conditions that might facilitate young working class men's conversion to independent farm work. The growing attraction of ``self-employment'' does not stem from some kind of entrepreneurial spirit liberated by post-socialist land reforms but instead reflects a deterioration in wage-earners' working conditions since the 2008 financial crisis. It also hides a new dependency on market pricing and minor non-agricultural resources - all of which weakens people's sense of autonomy.