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Farm Employment, Immigration, and Poverty: A Structural Analysis

Author

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  • Martin, Philip L.
  • Taylor, J. Edward

Abstract

This study tests for structural change in the poverty-farm employment relationship between 1980 and 1990. Econometric findings from a partially simultaneous block triangular regression model estimated with census data reveal a circular relationship between farm employment and immigration that was associated with a significant decrease in the number of people in impoverished U.S. households in 1980. However, in 1990, the farm employment-poverty relationship reversed: an additional farm job was associated with an increase in poverty. Our findings suggest immigration to fill low-skilled farm jobs is transferring poverty from rural Mexico to communities in the United States.

Suggested Citation

  • Martin, Philip L. & Taylor, J. Edward, 2003. "Farm Employment, Immigration, and Poverty: A Structural Analysis," Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Western Agricultural Economics Association, vol. 28(2), pages 1-15, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:ags:jlaare:31095
    DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.31095
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Charlton, Diane & Hill, Alexandra E. & Taylor, J. Edward, "undated". "Automation and social impacts: winners and losers," ESA Working Papers 330793, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Agricultural Development Economics Division (ESA).
    3. Nikolaj Malchow-Møller & Jakob Roland Munch & Claus Aastrup Seidelin & Jan Rose Skaksen, 2013. "Immigrant Workers and Farm Performance: Evidence from Matched Employer-Employee Data," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 95(4), pages 819-841.
    4. Martey, Edward & Etwire, Prince Maxwell & Adusah-Poku, Frank & Akoto, Isaac, 2022. "Off-farm work, cooking energy choice and time poverty in Ghana: An empirical analysis," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 163(C).
    5. Fritzen, Scott A., 2007. "Can the Design of Community-Driven Development Reduce the Risk of Elite Capture? Evidence from Indonesia," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 35(8), pages 1359-1375, August.
    6. Zhu, Zhen & Xu, Zhigang & Shen, Yueqin & Huang, Chenming & Zhang, Yaoqi, 2019. "How off-farm work drives the intensity of rural households' investment in forest management: The case from Zhejiang, China," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 98(C), pages 30-43.
    7. Federico Antonioli & Simone Severini & Mauro Vigani, 2023. "Visa for competitiveness: foreign workforce and Italian dairy farms’ performance," European Review of Agricultural Economics, Oxford University Press and the European Agricultural and Applied Economics Publications Foundation, vol. 50(1), pages 115-150.
    8. Mengfei Gao & Rui Pan & Yueqing Ji, 2025. "How Does Migrant Workers’ Return Affect Land Transfer Prices? An Investigation Based on Factor Supply–Demand Theory," Land, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-27, July.
    9. Charlton, Diane & Countryman, Amanda & Manning, Dale & Ikeme, Sionegael, 2024. "U.S. Employment Exposure to Agricultural Trade Policy," 2024 Annual Meeting, July 28-30, New Orleans, LA 343771, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    10. Srabashi Ray & Thomas W. Hertel, 2025. "Effectiveness and Distributional Impacts of Conservation Policies: The Role of Labor Markets," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 88(5), pages 1147-1193, May.
    11. Grace Melo & Gregory Colson & Octavio A. Ramirez, 2014. "Hispanic American Opinions toward Immigration and Immigration Policy Reform Proposals," Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 36(4), pages 604-622.

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