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The deeper roots of human capital formation and economic development in Southeast Asia, 1900–2000

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  • de Pleijt, Alexandra M.
  • Frankema, Ewout

Abstract

Since 1970, Southeast Asia’s per capita GDP grew seven-fold and headcount poverty rates declined from ca. 70 to 5%. This paper explores the 20th century schooling revolution as one of the deeper roots of this major leap in human prosperity. Using micro-data on the educational attainment and migration status of ca. 123 million individuals, subdivided across 277 provinces in eight Southeast Asian countries, we establish a strong and significant relationship between early educational attainment and sub-national economic development at the start of the 21st century. Using a wide range of historical and geographic controls, we find that higher education shares are more strongly associated with regional development outcomes than mass education. We also find a strong and robust contribution of inter-regional and international migration to human capital accumulation and long-term development.

Suggested Citation

  • de Pleijt, Alexandra M. & Frankema, Ewout, 2025. "The deeper roots of human capital formation and economic development in Southeast Asia, 1900–2000," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 176(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:deveco:v:176:y:2025:i:c:s0304387825000574
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jdeveco.2025.103506
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    1. Francesco Cinnirella & Elona Harka, 2025. "From Chalkboards to Steam Engines: Early Adoption of Compulsory Schooling, Innovation, and Industrialization," CESifo Working Paper Series 12043, CESifo.

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • O10 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - General
    • O40 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - General
    • O53 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economywide Country Studies - - - Asia including Middle East
    • N00 - Economic History - - General - - - General

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