Working Paper: NBER ID: w23183
Authors: Martin Fiszbein
Abstract: This paper examines the role of agricultural diversity in the process of development. Using data from U.S. counties and exploiting climate-induced variation in agricultural production patterns, I show that mid-19th century agricultural diversity had positive long-run effects on population density and income per capita. Examining the effects on development outcomes over time, I find that early agricultural diversity fostered structural change during the Second Industrial Revolution. Besides stimulating industrialization, agricultural diversity boosted manufacturing diversification, patent activity, and new labor skills, as well as 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.
Keywords: Agricultural Diversity; Structural Change; Economic Development; US Counties
JEL Codes: N11; N12; N51; O13; O14
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| early agricultural diversity (Q19) | population density (J11) |
| early agricultural diversity (Q19) | income per capita (D31) |
| early agricultural diversity (Q19) | industrial diversification (L59) |
| early agricultural diversity (Q19) | increased patent activity (O34) |
| early agricultural diversity (Q19) | development of new labor skills (J24) |
| agricultural diversity (Q19) | acquisition of new ideas and skills (O36) |