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Capital Cities, Conflict, and Misgovernance

Author

Listed:
  • Filipe R. Campante
  • Quoc-Anh Do
  • Bernardo Guimaraes

Abstract

We investigate the links between capital cities, conflict, and the quality of governance, starting from the assumption that incumbent elites are constrained by the threat of insurrection, and that the latter is rendered less effective by distance from the seat of political power. We show evidence that (i) conflict is more likely to emerge (and dislodge incumbents) closer to the capital, and (ii) isolated capitals are associated with misgovernance. The results hold only for relatively nondemocratic countries and for intrastate conflicts over government (as opposed to territory)—exactly the cases where our central assumption should apply.

Suggested Citation

  • Filipe R. Campante & Quoc-Anh Do & Bernardo Guimaraes, 2019. "Capital Cities, Conflict, and Misgovernance," American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, American Economic Association, vol. 11(3), pages 298-337, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:aea:aejapp:v:11:y:2019:i:3:p:298-337
    Note: DOI: 10.1257/app.20170111
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Provenzano, Sandro, 2024. "Accountability failure in isolated areas: The cost of remoteness from the capital city," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 167(C).
    2. Luu Duc Toan Huynh & Kiet Tuan Duong, 2024. "A land of sages: A legacy of former elites and university professors in Vietnam," Working Papers 115, Queen Mary, University of London, School of Business and Management, Centre for Globalisation Research.
    3. Leopoldo Fergusson & Carlos Molina, 2020. "Facebook Causes Protests," HiCN Working Papers 323, Households in Conflict Network.
    4. Tommaso Sonno, 2025. "Globalization and Conflicts: the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of Corporations in Africa," The Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 135(668), pages 1108-1140.
    5. Christopher A. Hartwell & Paul M. Vaaler, 2023. "The Price of Empire: Unrest Location and Sovereign Risk in Tsarist Russia," Papers 2309.06885, arXiv.org, revised Nov 2023.
    6. repec:spo:wpmain:info:hdl:2441/11auergscg875893gvc2mtel3q is not listed on IDEAS
    7. Lago, Ignacio, 2024. "Making countries small: The nationalization of districts in the United States," Political Science Research and Methods, Cambridge University Press, vol. 12(2), pages 416-425, April.
    8. Filipe R. Campante & Quoc-Anh Do & Bernardo Guimaraes, 2019. "Capital Cities, Conflict, and Misgovernance," American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, American Economic Association, vol. 11(3), pages 298-337, July.
    9. Jean-Louis Keene, 2020. "Essays on political economy and development [Essais sur l'économie politique et le développement]," Sciences Po Economics Publications (main) tel-04125445, HAL.
    10. Ho, Hoang-Anh, 2023. "Land rights in historical Vietnam: Theory and evidence," Explorations in Economic History, Elsevier, vol. 90(C).
    11. Leopoldo Fergusson & Horacio Larreguy & Juan Felipe Riaño, 2022. "Political Competition and State Capacity: Evidence from a Land Allocation Program in Mexico," The Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 132(648), pages 2815-2834.
    12. Guimaraes, Bernardo & Sheedy, Kevin D., 2024. "Institutional specialization," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 150(C).
    13. Sultan Mehmood & Bakhtawar Ali, 2024. "Judicial Capture," The Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 134(659), pages 1287-1301.
    14. Qian Wang & Mengmeng Hao & David Helman & Fangyu Ding & Dong Jiang & Xiaolan Xie & Shuai Chen & Tian Ma, 2023. "Quantifying the influence of climate variability on armed conflict in Africa, 2000–2015," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 25(9), pages 9289-9306, September.
    15. Provenzano, Sandro, 2024. "Accountability failure in isolated areas: the cost of remoteness from the capital city," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 120909, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    16. Martin Gassebner & Paul Schaudt & Melvin H. L. Wong, 2020. "Armed Groups in Conflict: Competition and Political Violence in Pakistan," CESifo Working Paper Series 8372, CESifo.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D72 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Political Processes: Rent-seeking, Lobbying, Elections, Legislatures, and Voting Behavior
    • D74 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Conflict; Conflict Resolution; Alliances; Revolutions
    • O17 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Formal and Informal Sectors; Shadow Economy; Institutional Arrangements
    • O18 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Urban, Rural, Regional, and Transportation Analysis; Housing; Infrastructure
    • R12 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Size and Spatial Distributions of Regional Economic Activity; Interregional Trade (economic geography)

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