The Colonial Origins of Comparative Development: An Empirical Investigation

  • Citation: Acemoglu, Daron, Simon Johnson, and James A Robinson. “The Colonial Origins of Comparative Development: An Empirical Investigation.” American Economic Review 91, no. 5 (2001): 1369–1401.
    • Topics:
    • Human Rights
    • Keywords:
    • colonization
    • settlements
    • mortality
    • institutional persistence
    • colonization strategy

We exploit differences in European mortality rates to estimate the effect of institutions on economic performance. Europeans adopted very different colonization policies in different colonies, with different associated institutions. In places where Europeans faced high mortality rates, they could not settle and were more likely to set up extractive institutions. These institutions persisted to the present. Exploiting differences in European mortality rates as an instrument for current institutions, we estimate large effects of institutions on income per capita. Once the effect of institutions is controlled for, countries in Africa or those closer to the equator do not have lower incomes.

Related Resources

  • Eating-Disordered Behavior among Male and Female College Students in Iran

    Sahlan, Reza N., Fatemeh Taravatrooy, Virginia Quick, and Jonathan M. Mond. 2020. “Eating-Disordered Behavior among Male and Female College Students in Iran.” Eating Behaviors 37: 101378.

    • Open Source Results
    • Authors with Diverse Backgrounds
    Keywords: eating disorder behaviour, Iran, gender differences, college students, binge eating
  • Suicidality in Autistic Youth: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

    O'Halloran, Laura, Phillip Coey, and Charlotte Emma Wilson. “Suicidality in Autistic Youth: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.” Clinical Psychology Review 93 (2022): 102144.

    • Open Source Results
    • Authors with Diverse Backgrounds