American Economic Journal:
Macroeconomics
ISSN 1945-7707 (Print) | ISSN 1945-7715 (Online)
Agricultural Diversity, Structural Change, and Long-Run Development: Evidence from the United States
American Economic Journal: Macroeconomics
(pp. 1–43)
(Complimentary)
Abstract
This paper examines the role of agricultural diversity in the process of development. Using data from US counties and exploiting climate-induced variation in agricultural production patterns, I show that mid-nineteenth-century agricultural diversity had positive long-run effects on population density and income per capita. During the Second Industrial Revolution, agricultural diversity fostered industrialization, diversification within manufacturing, patent activity, formation of new labor skills, and the expansion of knowledge- and skill-intensive industries. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that diversity spurs the acquisition of new ideas and new skills because of the presence of cross-sector spillovers and complementarities.Citation
Fiszbein, Martin. 2022. "Agricultural Diversity, Structural Change, and Long-Run Development: Evidence from the United States." American Economic Journal: Macroeconomics 14 (2): 1–43. DOI: 10.1257/mac.20190285Additional Materials
JEL Classification
- N31 Economic History: Labor and Consumers, Demography, Education, Health, Welfare, Income, Wealth, Religion, and Philanthropy: U.S.; Canada: Pre-1913
- N32 Economic History: Labor and Consumers, Demography, Education, Health, Welfare, Income, Wealth, Religion, and Philanthropy: U.S.; Canada: 1913-
- N51 Economic History: Agriculture, Natural Resources, Environment, and Extractive Industries: U.S.; Canada: Pre-1913
- N52 Economic History: Agriculture, Natural Resources, Environment, and Extractive Industries: U.S.; Canada: 1913-
- N91 Regional and Urban History: U.S.; Canada: Pre-1913
- N92 Regional and Urban History: U.S.; Canada: 1913-
- Q10 Agriculture: General