Immigration and the US farm labour supply Cover Image

Immigration and the US farm labour supply
Immigration and the US farm labour supply

Author(s): Stephen R. Boucher, Edward J. Taylor, Aaron Smith, Antonio Yúnez-Naude
Subject(s): Labor relations, Migration Studies, Socio-Economic Research
Published by: Transnational Press London
Keywords: Farm labour; Mexico-US migration; immigration reform;

Summary/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 devel-oped 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.

  • Issue Year: 9/2012
  • Issue No: 1
  • Page Range: 87-99
  • Page Count: 13
  • Language: English
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