---
entity_slug: subsistence_agriculture
evaluator: null
evaluated_at: '2026-02-23T06:26:46.278382'
overall_score: 4.2
scores:
- name: definition_precision
  value: 4.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: The definition clearly distinguishes subsistence agriculture from market-oriented
    agriculture based on the primary purpose (family consumption vs. market exchange).
    It precisely identifies the key mechanism - prevention of specialization due to
    self-sufficiency requirements.
- name: source_grounding
  value: 5.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: The entity is directly grounded in Smith's specific example of Scottish
    Highland farmers who must be "butcher, baker, and brewer for his own family."
    This illustrates Smith's broader point about how market access limitations prevent
    division of labour.
- name: domain_placement
  value: 5.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: '"Production" is the correct domain placement since subsistence agriculture
    represents a specific mode of organizing productive activities. It fundamentally
    concerns how goods are produced and for what purpose (subsistence vs. exchange).'
- name: vsm_relevance
  value: 3.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: This entity maps primarily to S1 (primary operations) as it describes
    a basic production system, but it's somewhat VSM-neutral since it represents a
    pre-systemic or simplified organizational form. The lack of specialization means
    other VSM functions (coordination, regulation, intelligence) are underdeveloped.
- name: explanatory_value
  value: 4.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: The entity provides strong explanatory power by illustrating the structural
    relationship between market access, specialization, and productivity. It demonstrates
    how geographic and economic constraints create self-reinforcing cycles that limit
    economic development through reduced division of labour.
---

# Evaluation: Subsistence Agriculture

## definition_precision — 4.0 / 5.0

The definition clearly distinguishes subsistence agriculture from market-oriented agriculture based on the primary purpose (family consumption vs. market exchange). It precisely identifies the key mechanism - prevention of specialization due to self-sufficiency requirements.

## source_grounding — 5.0 / 5.0

The entity is directly grounded in Smith's specific example of Scottish Highland farmers who must be "butcher, baker, and brewer for his own family." This illustrates Smith's broader point about how market access limitations prevent division of labour.

## domain_placement — 5.0 / 5.0

"Production" is the correct domain placement since subsistence agriculture represents a specific mode of organizing productive activities. It fundamentally concerns how goods are produced and for what purpose (subsistence vs. exchange).

## vsm_relevance — 3.0 / 5.0

This entity maps primarily to S1 (primary operations) as it describes a basic production system, but it's somewhat VSM-neutral since it represents a pre-systemic or simplified organizational form. The lack of specialization means other VSM functions (coordination, regulation, intelligence) are underdeveloped.

## explanatory_value — 4.0 / 5.0

The entity provides strong explanatory power by illustrating the structural relationship between market access, specialization, and productivity. It demonstrates how geographic and economic constraints create self-reinforcing cycles that limit economic development through reduced division of labour.
