The boll weevil plague and its effect on the southern agricultural sector, 1889–1929

Philipp Ager, Markus Brueckner and Benedikt Herz
Authors registered in the RePEc Author Service: Markus Brueckner

Explorations in Economic History, 2017, vol. 65, issue C, 94-105

Abstract: In the early 1890s, cotton fields in the American South were ravaged by the boll weevil. Using a model that controls for differences in the intensity of cotton production at the county level, we show how the boll weevil significantly changed southern agricultural labor arrangements and labor market outcomes. The boll weevil significantly reduced the number of tenant farms, decreased farm wages, and female labor force participation, particularly in counties with a higher intensity of cotton production.

Keywords: Tenancy; Labor force participation; Agriculture; American South; Boll weevil (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (9)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:exehis:v:65:y:2017:i:c:p:94-105

DOI: 10.1016/j.eeh.2016.07.005

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