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Immigration and the US farm labour supply

Author

Listed:
  • J. Edward Taylor1

    (Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, University of California, Davis, USA)

  • Stephen R. Boucher

    (Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, University of California, Davis, USA)

  • Aaron Smith

    (Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, University of California, Davis, USA)

  • Peri L. Fletcher

    (Institute of Governmental Affairs, University of California, Davis, USA)

  • Antonio Yúnez-Naude

    (Centre for Economic Studies at El Colegio de México, Mexico)

Abstract

This paper uses unique data from rural Mexico to examine the supply of immigrant hired labour to US farms. Econometric evidence indicates that immigration policy reforms had unintended consequences for farm labour supply. The long-term trend in migration from rural Mexico to US farms is decreasing, and in recent years, US farms have drawn more labour from remote and less developed areas of rural Mexico. Other high income countries, as well as some developing nations, mirror the US in reliance on foreign agricultural workers. Our analysis questions the sustainability of an agricultural system that depends on foreign sources of labour, and highlights the importance of labour productivity-enhancing technological change.

Suggested Citation

  • J. Edward Taylor1 & Stephen R. Boucher & Aaron Smith & Peri L. Fletcher & Antonio Yúnez-Naude, 2012. "Immigration and the US farm labour supply," Migration Letters, Migration Letters, vol. 9(1), pages 87-99, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:mig:journl:v:9:y:2012:i:1:p:87-99
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Kimhi, Ayal, 2015. "Is foreign farm labor a blessing or a curse? Evidence from Israel," 2015 Conference, August 9-14, 2015, Milan, Italy 211852, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    2. Kabir, Kayenat & Keeney, Roman M., 2017. "Modeling undocumented migration from Mexico to the United States – A structural examination of available information and options for analysis," 2017 Annual Meeting, July 30-August 1, Chicago, Illinois 258376, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    3. Marquez Alcala, German A., 2016. "Examining the Labor Market Consequences of Endogenous Low-skill Migration with a Market-based Immigration Policy," 2016 Annual Meeting, July 31-August 2, Boston, Massachusetts 236275, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    4. Brady, Michael P. & Gallardo, R. Karina & Badruddozza, Syed & Jiang, Xiaojiao, 2016. "Regional Equilibrium Wage Rate for Hired Farm Workers in the Tree Fruit Industry," Western Economics Forum, Western Agricultural Economics Association, vol. 15(1), pages 1-12.
    5. An Li & Jeffrey J. Reimer, 2021. "The US Market for Agricultural Labor: Evidence from the National Agricultural Workers Survey," Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 43(3), pages 1125-1139, September.

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