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The new rural poverty: Central Valley evolving into patchwork of poverty and prosperity
Authors
J. Edward TaylorPhilip L. Martin
Authors Affiliations
J.E. Taylor is Professor, is Professor, Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, UC Davis; Philip L. Martin is Professor, Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, UC Davis.Publication Information
Hilgardia 54(1):26-32. DOI:10.3733/ca.v054n01p26. January 2000.
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Abstract
From Redding to Bakersfield, the Central Valley is evolving into a patchwork of poverty and prosperity. Despite being part of the world's most prosperous agricultural economy, more than 25% of Fresno County's 800,000 residents were eligible for Medi-Cal in 1998. A study of 65 rural California towns indicates that labor-intensive agriculture contributes to poverty and welfare demands in rural communities by attracting large numbers of unskilled foreign workers and offering most of them poverty-level wages. In the 65 towns, 28% of the residents live in households with below-poverty incomes. Major policy choices for ameliorating this situation include modifying immigration and labor laws that affect farming to help farmworkers earn higher wages.
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Also in this issue:
Simulated crop-water production functions for several crops when irrigated with saline watersPopulation change to challenge Californians
Q&A: Hard choices ahead for growing world
Women, minority farmers are growing in California
Grandparents become primary parents
“Tidal Wave II” to hit higher education
Past, present and future: Immigration, high fertility fuel state's population growth
For California farmworkers, future holds little prospect for change
The new rural California: Farmworkers putting down roots in Central Valley communities
Welfare reform shines a light on work-force development challenges
How will the Central Valley economy grow?
‘Third’ institution needed to bridge family-school gap for youth
ANR responds to Hispanic teenage pregnancy
Elderly population will increase dramatically
UC must take lead in curricula reform, teacher training