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Geography, European settlements and compared development in the Americas
File(s)
File | Description | Size | Format | |
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WP05.18.pdf | 1.67 MB |
Author(s)
Date Issued
November 2005
Date Available
07T16:11:32Z August 2009
Abstract
The interplay between factor endowments,institutionl development and economic performance has received considerable attention in recent years. This paper exploits the importance of geographic factors and institutional structures for explaining patterns of settlement and examines how these influenced growth outcomes. I find evidence that prospective European migrants preferred to settle in regions with
favourable natural endowments and institutional packages designed to
attract them. These settlers not only benefited from a growth-inducing
institutional framework but also contributed actively to its quality in a
mutually reinforcing relationship. Countries that competed for migrants
achieved higher income levels through institutional development and better provision of public goods. Finally, my findings show that the link
between European migrants and economic development is not linear, as the positive effects of attracting European settlers on institutions and public goods are set off only when European populations grow to
outnumber other ethnic groups. Countries where European migrants remained a minority were more likely to develop institutions that advantaged a small elite and eliminated opportunities for the bulk of the
population.
Type of Material
Working Paper
Publisher
University College Dublin. School of Economics
Series
UCD Centre for Economic Research Working Paper Series
WP05/18
Subject – LCSH
Factor proportions
Institutional economics
Land settlement patterns--America
Colonies--Economic conditions
Language
English
Status of Item
Not peer reviewed
This item is made available under a Creative Commons License
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