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Parasitical cultures? The cultural origins of institutions and development

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  • Robbert Maseland

Abstract

Do cultural attitudes affect institutions and economic performance? This paper suggests they do. To measure the impact of cultural attitudes we use prevalence rates of the common parasite Toxoplasma gondii which is known to affect individual attitudes and societal values in predictable ways. By using prevalence rates of Toxoplasma as instrument for cultural variation, we are able to isolate the effects of cultural attitudes on institutions, distinguishing them from effects of institutions and economic outcomes on culture. We find that our indicators of cultural attitudes are significant determinants of institutional quality, and strong predictors of long-run economic performance. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media New York 2013

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  • Robbert Maseland, 2013. "Parasitical cultures? The cultural origins of institutions and development," Journal of Economic Growth, Springer, vol. 18(2), pages 109-136, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jecgro:v:18:y:2013:i:2:p:109-136
    DOI: 10.1007/s10887-013-9089-x
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Economic development; Institutions; Culture; Pathogens; O43; Z10; N4;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O43 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - Institutions and Growth
    • Z10 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - General
    • N4 - Economic History - - Government, War, Law, International Relations, and Regulation

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