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Dust Bowl Migrants: Environmental Refugees and Economic Adaptation

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  • Hornbeck, Richard

Abstract

The 1930s American Dust Bowl created archetypal “Dust Bowl migrants,” refugees from environmental collapse. I examine this archetype, comparing migration from more-eroded and less-eroded counties to distinguish Dust Bowl migrants from other migrants. Dust Bowl migrants were “negatively selected,” in years of education, compared to other migrants who were “positively selected.” Dust Bowl migrants had lower incomes than natives in their destinations, which is reflected in popular impressions. I estimate strikingly modest impacts of the Dust Bowl on average wage incomes in 1939, however, which contrasts with the Dust Bowl’s large and enduring impacts on agricultural land.

Suggested Citation

  • Hornbeck, Richard, 2023. "Dust Bowl Migrants: Environmental Refugees and Economic Adaptation," The Journal of Economic History, Cambridge University Press, vol. 83(3), pages 645-675, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:jechis:v:83:y:2023:i:3:p:645-675_1
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    Cited by:

    1. Luisito Bertinelli & Aurélie Gillen & Eric strobl, 2025. "Bugged Out: Locust Plagues, Migration, and Adaptation in 19th Century US," DEM Discussion Paper Series 25-07, Department of Economics at the University of Luxembourg.
    2. Stephan Heblich & Stephen J. Redding & Yanos Zylberberg, 2024. "The Distributional Consequences of Trade: Evidence from the Grain Invasion," Working Papers 337, Princeton University, Department of Economics, Center for Economic Policy Studies..
    3. Accetturo, Antonio & Cascarano, Michele & de Blasio, Guido, 2024. "Pirate attacks and the shape of the Italian urban system," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 108(C).

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