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Comment on Kaestner, "Revisiting the Bracero Guest Worker Reforms"

Author

Listed:
  • Michael A. Clemens
  • Ethan G. Lewis
  • Hannah M. Postel

Abstract

We respond to the three speculations of Robert Kaestner (2020) regarding our research in Clemens et al. (2018). First, Kaestner speculates about the robustness of the results to changes of specification. Those robustness checks are already in the original paper. Kaestner does not mention those checks and does not use the paper’s open code and data to do any reanalysis. Second, he expresses doubts about the plausibility of the mechanism we posited, while ignoring new evidence corroborating precisely that mechanism. Third, he posits that a hypothetical, vast new wave of illegal migration in 1965 could explain the null results of Clemens et al. No such event occurred, Kaestner offers no evidence that it occurred, and Kaestner ignores a range of evidence that it did not occur. We conclude with an observation about the role of policy evaluation in economics.

Suggested Citation

  • Michael A. Clemens & Ethan G. Lewis & Hannah M. Postel, 2020. "Comment on Kaestner, "Revisiting the Bracero Guest Worker Reforms"," Econ Journal Watch, Econ Journal Watch, vol. 17(1), pages 1-18–27, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:ejw:journl:v:17:y:2020:i:1:p:18-27
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Robert Kaestner, 2020. "Revisiting the Bracero Guest Worker Reforms: A Comment on Clemens, Lewis, and Postel," Econ Journal Watch, Econ Journal Watch, vol. 17(1), pages 1-4–17, March.
    2. George J. Borjas, 2007. "Mexican Immigration to the United States," NBER Books, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc, number borj06-1.
    3. Borjas, George J. (ed.), 2007. "Mexican Immigration to the United States," National Bureau of Economic Research Books, University of Chicago Press, edition 2, number 9780226066325, August.
    4. George J. Borjas & Lawrence F. Katz, 2007. "The Evolution of the Mexican-Born Workforce in the United States," NBER Chapters, in: Mexican Immigration to the United States, pages 13-56, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    immigration; migrants; migration; labor;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J61 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Geographic Labor Mobility; Immigrant Workers
    • J43 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Particular Labor Markets - - - Agricultural Labor Markets
    • J46 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Particular Labor Markets - - - Informal Labor Market

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