Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
5068629 | Explorations in Economic History | 2017 | 12 Pages |
Abstract
In the early 1890s, cotton fields in the American South were ravaged by the boll weevil. Using a model that controls for differences in the intensity of cotton production at the county level, we show how the boll weevil significantly changed southern agricultural labor arrangements and labor market outcomes. The boll weevil significantly reduced the number of tenant farms, decreased farm wages, and female labor force participation, particularly in counties with a higher intensity of cotton production.
Related Topics
Social Sciences and Humanities
Arts and Humanities
History
Authors
Philipp Ager, Markus Brueckner, Benedikt Herz,