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Agricultural productivity and the sectoral reallocation of labor in rural India

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  • Emerick, Kyle

Abstract

How do shocks to agricultural productivity affect the allocation of labor across sectors of the economy? To answer this, I use data from rural India to show that exogenous increases in agricultural productivity — caused by abnormally high levels of precipitation — lead to an increase in the labor share of the non-agricultural sector. I further show that the non-tradable sector expands significantly when agricultural output increases. This evidence is consistent with increasing agricultural output causing increased demand for local non-tradables, which in turn increases the non-agricultural labor share.

Suggested Citation

  • Emerick, Kyle, 2018. "Agricultural productivity and the sectoral reallocation of labor in rural India," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 135(C), pages 488-503.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:deveco:v:135:y:2018:i:c:p:488-503
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jdeveco.2018.08.013
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Agricultural productivity; Labor allocation;

    JEL classification:

    • Q10 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Agriculture - - - General
    • O13 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Agriculture; Natural Resources; Environment; Other Primary Products
    • J43 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Particular Labor Markets - - - Agricultural Labor Markets

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