Working Paper: NBER ID: w0881
Authors: Richard H. Steckel
Abstract: This paper argues that latitude-specific investments in seeds and human capital provided an incentive for farmers to move along east-west lines. The incentives were greatest during the early and mid 1800s. Towards the end of the century migration patterns changed as farmers learned about farming in different environments, as settlement reached the Great Plains and beyond, and as farming declined in importance. Census manuscript schedules and Mormon family-group records form the basis for empirical work.
Keywords: migration; economic development; agriculture; human capital
JEL Codes: N01; J61
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| Latitude-specific investments in seeds (Q16) | migration along east-west lines (F22) |
| Latitude-specific investments in human capital (J24) | migration along east-west lines (F22) |
| Investment in seeds (Q14) | increased yields (Q15) |
| increased yields (Q15) | migration along east-west lines (F22) |
| Adaptation of seeds to specific latitudes (Q16) | improved yields (Q16) |
| improved yields (Q16) | migration along east-west lines (F22) |
| Increased knowledge about farming environments (Q15) | reduced migration incentives (J69) |