Both economic theory and modern economic history show that productivity growth in non-agricultural sectors has consistently outweighed that of the agricultural sector. Thus, as development progresses, employment, which had been centered around the agricultural sector, becomes more and more dependent on the industrial and services sectors. This relationship between economic growth, and the move ...

This technical note extends the model of Michaels et al. (2011) to introduce Eaton and Kortum (2002) heterogeneity within each sector, which facilitates a tractable analysis of bilateral transport costs. We show how the resulting model can be calibrated using data on employment by sector and location to determine productivity in each sector and location. We undertake this calibration for each y...

The implementation of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) in India in 2006, has voiced concerns about the possible adverse impact on agriculture due to a shortage of casual labour in the agriculture sector and an unfavourable shift in cropping patterns. At the same time, MGNREGA is also associated with investments in rural infrastructure. The scheme especially f...

We use the rollout of a large-scale land certification program in Mexico from 1993 to 2006 to study how rural reforms establishing secure property rights determine patterns of migration, relocation of economic activity, and structural transformation. We find that certification leads higher-skilled agricultural labor to migrate, leaving behind economies less concentrated in agriculture, and with...

In 2011 Wisconsin adopted the Manufacturing and Agriculture Credit (MAC), which provides credits which largely offset the taxes faced by businesses in those sectors in the state. While manufacturing employment has grown since the MAC took effect in 2013, how much of these gains were due to the credit is under debate. To isolate the policy effect, I focus on counties on either side of the Wiscon...

This paper documents a significant impact of climate variation on urbanization in sub-Saharan Africa, primarily in arid countries. By lowering farm incomes, reduced moisture availability encourages migration to nearby cities, while wetter conditions slow it. The paper also provides evidence for ruralurban linkages. In countries where cities are starting to develop an industrial base, reduced mo...

This chapter reviews the prospects and challenges facing the agricultural sector in Sub-Saharan Africa over the next decade. It reviews sector performance, outlines the current market context, provides detailed quantitative medium term projections for the ten-year period 2016-25, and assesses key risks and uncertainties. The outlook for agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa is situated in the conte...

The paper provides an updated insight on the role that urban agriculture can play in pursuing the Millennium Development Goals and more specifically MDG 1 and 7, related to poverty reduction, food security, and environmental sustainability. Reference is made to urban agriculture in relation to the recent and important issues affecting the world economy and the environment, regarding climate cha...

This paper analyzes a sample from the 2005 mini-census of Xinjiang to examine ethnic stratification in China's labor markets, with a special focus on how ethnic earnings inequality varies by employment sector. We show that Han and Uyghur Chinese dominated different economic sectors. Excluding those in agriculture, Uyghurs were more likely to work in government or institutions than either Han lo...

Agricultural sector is still the leading sector in Nigeria’s ailing economy as it provides direct employment to about 75% of the population. This paper examines gender involvement in agricultural production as a means towards increased food sufficiency and consequently curbing food crisis. It critically identified the specific gender involvement in agriculture and gender inequality is noticed i...