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Germs, Social Networks, and Growth

Author

Listed:
  • Laura Veldkamp

    (NYU Stern)

  • Alessandra Fogli

    (University of Minnesota)

Abstract

The network model also explains why societies with a high prevalence of contagious disease might evolve toward growth-inhibiting social institutions and how small initial differences can produce large divergence in incomes. Empirical work uses differences in the prevalence of diseases spread by human contact and the prevalence of other diseases as an instrument to identify an effect of social structure on technology diffusion.

Suggested Citation

  • Laura Veldkamp & Alessandra Fogli, 2012. "Germs, Social Networks, and Growth," 2012 Meeting Papers 1074, Society for Economic Dynamics.
    • Handle: RePEc:red:sed012:1074
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes
    • O1 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development
    • E02 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - General - - - Institutions and the Macroeconomy
    • I1 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health

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