American Economic Journal:
Macroeconomics
ISSN 1945-7707 (Print) | ISSN 1945-7715 (Online)
The Agricultural Wage Gap: Evidence from Brazilian Micro-data
American Economic Journal: Macroeconomics
vol. 12,
no. 1, January 2020
(pp. 153–73)
Abstract
A key feature of developing economies is that wages in agriculture are below those of other sectors. Using Brazilian household surveys and administrative panel data, I use information on workers who switch sectors and workers with multiple jobs to assess the role of worker composition in explaining this gap. The evidence is consistent with the presence of significant intersector sorting in Brazil. A calibrated sorting model can account for the wage gap level observed, as well as its decline, as the economy transitioned out of agriculture.Citation
Alvarez, Jorge A. 2020. "The Agricultural Wage Gap: Evidence from Brazilian Micro-data." American Economic Journal: Macroeconomics 12 (1): 153–73. DOI: 10.1257/mac.20170436Additional Materials
JEL Classification
- J24 Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
- J31 Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials
- J43 Agricultural Labor Markets
- O13 Economic Development: Agriculture; Natural Resources; Energy; Environment; Other Primary Products
- Q10 Agriculture: General