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Off-Farm Labor Participation Decisions of Married Farm Couples and the Role of Government Payments

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  • Hisham S. El-Osta
  • Ashok K. Mishra
  • Mitchell J. Morehart

Abstract

The determinants of off-farm work by married farm couples are examined using data from the 2004 Agricultural Resource Management Survey and multinomial logistic regression. Expected government payment is found important in decreasing the likelihood of off-farm work strategies involving work by the husband only or by both husband and wife relative to a strategy of no work by either husband or wife. The marginal impact of government payments on the probability of the wife working off farm alone is found positive suggesting the possibility of nonpecuniary motives for off-farm employment for 21% of farm households in the selected weighted sample. Copyright 2008, Oxford University Press.

Suggested Citation

  • Hisham S. El-Osta & Ashok K. Mishra & Mitchell J. Morehart, 2008. "Off-Farm Labor Participation Decisions of Married Farm Couples and the Role of Government Payments," Review of Agricultural Economics, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 30(2), pages 311-332.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:revage:v:30:y:2008:i:2:p:311-332
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