Angeles, L. and Elizalde, A. (2017) Pre-colonial institutions and socioeconomic development: The case of Latin America. Journal of Development Economics, 124, pp. 22-40. (doi: 10.1016/j.jdeveco.2016.08.006)
|
Text
128869.pdf - Accepted Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial No Derivatives. 948kB |
Abstract
We study the effects of pre-colonial institutions on present-day socioeconomic outcomes for Latin America. Our thesis is that more advanced pre-colonial institutions relate to better socioeconomic outcomes today. We advance that pre-colonial institutions survived to our days thanks to the existence of largely self-governed Amerindian communities in rural Latin America. Amerindians groups with more advanced institutional capacity would have been able to organize and defend their interests in front of national governments; leading to better development outcomes for themselves and for the population at large. We test our thesis with a dataset of 324 sub-national administrative units covering all mainland Latin American countries. Our extensive range of controls covers factors such as climate, location, natural resources, colonial activities and pre-colonial characteristics – plus country fixed effects. Results strongly support our thesis.
Item Type: | Articles |
---|---|
Status: | Published |
Refereed: | Yes |
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: | Elizalde, Dr Aldo and Angeles, Professor Luis |
Authors: | Angeles, L., and Elizalde, A. |
College/School: | College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > Public Health College of Social Sciences > Adam Smith Business School > Economics |
Journal Name: | Journal of Development Economics |
Publisher: | Elsevier |
ISSN: | 0304-3878 |
ISSN (Online): | 1872-6089 |
Published Online: | 27 August 2016 |
Copyright Holders: | Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. |
First Published: | First published in Journal of Development Economics 124:22-40 |
Publisher Policy: | Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher |
University Staff: Request a correction | Enlighten Editors: Update this record