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Impacts of Policy Reforms on the Supply of Mexican Labor to U.S. Farms: New Evidence from Mexico

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  • Stephen R. Boucher
  • Aaron Smith
  • J. Edward Taylor
  • Antonio Yúnez-Naude

Abstract

The availability of immigrant farm-workers from Mexico is a critical factor affecting the U.S. fresh fruit and vegetable sector. This paper uses retrospective panel data from rural Mexico to examine the impact of the North American Free Trade Agreement and the Immigration Reform and Control Act on the supply of migrant labor to the United States. We find that, in contrast to expectations, both policies were associated with an increase in migration to U.S. farm jobs from rural Mexico.

Suggested Citation

  • Stephen R. Boucher & Aaron Smith & J. Edward Taylor & Antonio Yúnez-Naude, 2007. "Impacts of Policy Reforms on the Supply of Mexican Labor to U.S. Farms: New Evidence from Mexico," Review of Agricultural Economics, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 29(1), pages 4-16.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:revage:v:29:y:2007:i:1:p:4-16.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1111/j.1467-9353.2006.00327.x
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    1. John Gibson & Bonggeun Kim, 2010. "Non‐Classical Measurement Error in Long‐Term Retrospective Recall Surveys," Oxford Bulletin of Economics and Statistics, Department of Economics, University of Oxford, vol. 72(5), pages 687-695, October.
    2. Grace Melo & Gregory Colson & Octavio A. Ramirez, 2014. "Hispanic American Opinions toward Immigration and Immigration Policy Reform Proposals," Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 36(4), pages 604-622.
    3. Zachariah Rutledge & Pierre Mérel, 2023. "Farm labor supply and fruit and vegetable production," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 105(2), pages 644-673, March.
    4. World Bank, 2010. "Taking Stock of Recent Migration Flows in the European Union," World Bank Publications - Reports 2965, The World Bank Group.
    5. Khan, Nazmus Sadat, 2020. "Revisiting the effects of NAFTA," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 68(C), pages 1-16.
    6. J. Edward Taylor, 2006. "The relationship between international migration, trade, and development: some paradoxes and findings," Proceedings, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, pages 199-212.
    7. Maoyong Fan & Susan Gabbard & Anita Alves Pena & Jeffrey M. Perloff, 2015. "Why Do Fewer Agricultural Workers Migrate Now?," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 97(3), pages 665-679.
    8. Rutledge, Zach, 2020. "No Farm Workers, No Food? Evidence from Specialty Crop Production," 2020 Annual Meeting, July 26-28, Kansas City, Missouri 304249, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    9. Brady, Michael P. & Gallardo, R. Karina & Badruddozza, Syed & Jiang, Xiaojiao, 2016. "Regional Equilibrium Wage Rate for Hired Farm Workers in the Tree Fruit Industry," Western Economics Forum, Western Agricultural Economics Association, vol. 15(1), pages 1-12.

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