Data and Code for: Agricultural Diversity, Structural Change, and Long-run Development: Evidence from the U.S.

Principal Investigator(s):  View help for Principal Investigator(s) Martin Fiszbein, Boston University

Version:  View help for Version V3

Name File Type Size Last Modified
alfalfa.tif image/tiff 1.9 MB 12/21/2020 10:49:AM
barley.tif image/tiff 2.6 MB 01/31/2013 11:52:AM
buckwheat.tif image/tiff 1.7 MB 12/11/2020 06:26:AM
cabbage.tif image/tiff 2.4 MB 01/28/2013 04:12:PM
canesugar.tif image/tiff 2.6 MB 02/08/2013 04:41:PM
carrot.tif image/tiff 3.4 MB 02/08/2013 04:16:PM
cotton.tif image/tiff 1.5 MB 02/08/2013 04:45:PM
elevation.tif image/tiff 5.3 MB 12/11/2020 06:26:AM
flax.tif image/tiff 1.5 MB 07/24/2013 04:30:PM
lenghtofgrowingperiod.tif image/tiff 2.6 MB 04/14/2013 10:28:PM

Project Description

Summary:  View help for Summary This project 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. During the Second Industrial Revolution, agricultural diversity fostered industrialization, diversification within manufacturing, patent activity, formation of new labor skills, and the expansion of 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.

Scope of Project

Subject Terms:  View help for Subject Terms Agriculture; Structural change; Economic development
JEL Classification:  View help for JEL Classification
      N11 Economic History: Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics; Industrial Structure; Growth; Fluctuations: U.S.; Canada: Pre-1913
      N12 Economic History: Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics; Industrial Structure; Growth; Fluctuations: U.S.; Canada: 1913-
      N51 Economic History: Agriculture, Natural Resources, Environment, and Extractive Industries: U.S.; Canada: Pre-1913
      O13 Economic Development: Agriculture; Natural Resources; Energy; Environment; Other Primary Products
      O14 Industrialization; Manufacturing and Service Industries; Choice of Technology
Geographic Coverage:  View help for Geographic Coverage United States


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Published Versions

V3 [2022-03-25]

V2 [2020-06-15]

V1 [2020-05-23]

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DDI 2.5

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