The Importance of History for Economic Development
Posted: 4 Jun 2010
There are 3 versions of this paper
The Importance of History for Economic Development
The Importance of History for Economic Development
The Importance of History for Economic Development
Date Written: January 2009
Abstract
This article provides a survey of a growing body of empirical evidence that points toward the important long-term effects that historic events can have on economic development. The most recent studies, using microlevel data and more sophisticated identification techniques, have moved beyond testing whether history matters and attempt to identify exactly why history matters. The most commonly examined channels include institutions, culture, knowledge and technology, and movements between multiple equilibria. The article concludes with a discussion of the questions that remain and the direction of current research in the literature.
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