---
entity_slug: agricultural_cultivation_at_proprietor_expense
evaluator: null
evaluated_at: '2026-02-23T00:26:02.440677'
overall_score: 4.2
scores:
- name: definition_precision
  value: 4.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: 'The definition clearly distinguishes this system from alternatives by
    specifying key characteristics: proprietor-provided capital, extraction of entire
    produce, and the resulting incentive structure that leads to minimal cultivation.
    It avoids circularity and captures a distinct economic arrangement with specific
    behavioral consequences.'
- name: source_grounding
  value: 5.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: This entity is directly grounded in Smith's analysis in Book III, Chapter
    2, where he explicitly contrasts proprietor-funded cultivation with farmer-invested
    systems and discusses how different risk-bearing arrangements affect cultivation
    incentives. The concept faithfully represents Smith's actual argument about agricultural
    organization.
- name: domain_placement
  value: 5.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: The "Production" domain assignment is correct, as this entity describes
    a specific mode of organizing agricultural production with distinct capital allocation
    and labor arrangements. It fits naturally within production economics rather than
    exchange, distribution, or consumption domains.
- name: vsm_relevance
  value: 3.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: This entity has moderate VSM relevance, primarily mapping to S1 (primary
    operations) as it describes how basic productive activities are organized and
    resourced. However, it also touches on S3 (regulation) through the proprietor's
    control mechanisms, making it somewhat distributed across systems rather than
    having a clear single home.
- name: explanatory_value
  value: 4.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: The entity provides strong explanatory value by illuminating the causal
    mechanism between capital ownership, risk allocation, and production incentives
    in agricultural systems. It explains why certain organizational structures lead
    to suboptimal outcomes, offering genuine insight into economic behavior rather
    than merely labeling a phenomenon.
---

# Evaluation: Agricultural Cultivation At Proprietor Expense

## definition_precision — 4.0 / 5.0

The definition clearly distinguishes this system from alternatives by specifying key characteristics: proprietor-provided capital, extraction of entire produce, and the resulting incentive structure that leads to minimal cultivation. It avoids circularity and captures a distinct economic arrangement with specific behavioral consequences.

## source_grounding — 5.0 / 5.0

This entity is directly grounded in Smith's analysis in Book III, Chapter 2, where he explicitly contrasts proprietor-funded cultivation with farmer-invested systems and discusses how different risk-bearing arrangements affect cultivation incentives. The concept faithfully represents Smith's actual argument about agricultural organization.

## domain_placement — 5.0 / 5.0

The "Production" domain assignment is correct, as this entity describes a specific mode of organizing agricultural production with distinct capital allocation and labor arrangements. It fits naturally within production economics rather than exchange, distribution, or consumption domains.

## vsm_relevance — 3.0 / 5.0

This entity has moderate VSM relevance, primarily mapping to S1 (primary operations) as it describes how basic productive activities are organized and resourced. However, it also touches on S3 (regulation) through the proprietor's control mechanisms, making it somewhat distributed across systems rather than having a clear single home.

## explanatory_value — 4.0 / 5.0

The entity provides strong explanatory value by illuminating the causal mechanism between capital ownership, risk allocation, and production incentives in agricultural systems. It explains why certain organizational structures lead to suboptimal outcomes, offering genuine insight into economic behavior rather than merely labeling a phenomenon.
