Working Paper: NBER ID: w29643
Authors: Martin Fiszbein; Yeonha Jung; Dietrich Vollrath
Abstract: This study examines the influence of agricultural labor intensity on individualism across U.S. counties. To measure historical labor intensity in agriculture, we combine data on crop-specific labor requirements and county-specific crop mix around 1900. Potential endogeneity of agricultural labor intensity is addressed using climate-induced variation in crop mix. Our estimates indicate that a one standard deviation increase in labor intensity is associated with a reduction of 0.2-0.3 standard deviations in individualism (as captured by the share of children with infrequent names). We further document significant changes in individualism over time using within-county changes in labor intensity due to mechanization and the boll weevil. We also show that historical agricultural labor intensity continues to influence geographic variation in individualism today.
Keywords: individualism; collectivism; agriculture; cultural evolution
JEL Codes: N51; O13; P16
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| Agricultural labor intensity (J43) | Individualism (P14) |
| Historical labor intensity (J89) | Individualism (P14) |
| Mechanization of agriculture (L64) | Agricultural labor intensity (J43) |
| Boll weevil infestation (N52) | Agricultural labor intensity (J43) |
| Agricultural labor intensity (1860-1900) (J43) | Individualism (P14) |
| Boll weevil arrival (N52) | Individualism (P14) |
| Changes in agricultural labor intensity (J43) | Changes in individualism (F61) |