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The deep roots of economic development in the U.S. states: an application of Putterman and Weil (2010)

Author

Listed:
  • Ryan H. Murphy

    (Southern Methodist University)

  • Alex Nowrasteh

    (Cato Institute)

Abstract

The “Deep Roots” literature investigates the effects of ancient cultural variables on economic outcomes. We extend Putterman and Weil’s (Q J Econ 125(4):1627–1682, 2010) inquiry into the effects of State History and Agricultural History to the economic output in ethnically and racially diverse fifty U.S. States. The ethnic and racial differences across the populations of the fifty U.S. states vary considerably due to historical immigration and slave flows that, as a result, produced radically different State History and Agricultural History scores across the states. Results derived from Putterman and Weil’s methodology do not robustly predict per capita levels of economic output across U.S. States. We also investigate the institutions channel, and find that they impact some measures of institutions, but they do not impact the quality of economic institutions which may be essential for promoting economic growth and development.

Suggested Citation

  • Ryan H. Murphy & Alex Nowrasteh, 2018. "The deep roots of economic development in the U.S. states: an application of Putterman and Weil (2010)," Journal of Bioeconomics, Springer, vol. 20(2), pages 227-242, July.
  • Handle: RePEc:kap:jbioec:v:20:y:2018:i:2:d:10.1007_s10818-017-9255-x
    DOI: 10.1007/s10818-017-9255-x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Ryan H. Murphy, 2021. "The Soft Stuff of Institutional Development: Culture, Cohesion, and Economic Freedom," Journal of Private Enterprise, The Association of Private Enterprise Education, vol. 36(Summer 20), pages 37-66.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Deep roots; State history; Agricultural history; Institutions; Economics of migration;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration
    • O43 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - Institutions and Growth
    • Z13 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - Economic Sociology; Economic Anthropology; Language; Social and Economic Stratification

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