Disease And Diversity In Long-Term Economic Development

Publicado en

  • World Development

Resumen

  • Ethnographic data and archeological censuses of cities suggest that sub-Saharan Africa lagged behind tropical America during pre-colonial times. Disease (i.e., environmentally determined pathogen stress) has a negative impact on pre-colonial economic conditions, as measured by the presence of large physical structures in ethnographic data. This negative relationship is seen primarily, but not exclusively in African societies. Using a simple coalitional game, I propose a causal path from disease to ethnic diversity. Ethnographic data suggests a positive effect of disease on ethnic diversity, and persistent effects on long-term economic development. Even today, pre-colonial factors influence income per capita and ethnolinguistic fractionalization.

fecha de publicación

  • 2023

Líneas de investigación

  • Communicable Diseases
  • Economic Development
  • Ethnic Diversity

Volumen

  • 161

Issue

  • C