How climate change could trap workers in agriculture
Climate change is likely to keep more labor in agriculture in the very regions where agricultural productivity suffers most.
Jan 7, 2026
As climate change puts increasing pressure on agricultural productivity, the ability of economies to adapt through trade and sectoral allocation is constrained by the structure and functioning of markets.
In this VoxDev article, Ishan Nath of Harvard Kennedy School presents evidence that the movement out of agriculture has stalled in low-income countries. High trade costs and weak infrastructure compound the challenge, limiting alternatives to domestic food production just as climate risks make diversification more urgent.