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Of Mice and Merchants: Connectedness and the Location of Economic Activity in the Iron Age

Author

Listed:
  • Jan David Bakker

    (Bocconi University, University College London, and CEP)

  • Stephan Maurer

    (University of Konstanz and CEP)

  • Jörn-Steffen Pischke

    (LSE and CEP)

  • Ferdinand Rauch

    (University of Oxford and CEP)

Abstract

We study the causal relationship between geographic connectedness and development using one of the earliest massive trade expansions: the first systematic crossing of open seas in the Mediterranean during the time of the Phoenicians. We construct a geography-based measure of connectedness along the shores of the sea. We relate connectedness to economic activity, which we measure using the presence of archaeological sites. We find an association between better-connected locations and archaeological sites during the Iron Age, at a time when sailors began to cross open water routinely on a large scale. We corroborate these findings at the world level.

Suggested Citation

  • Jan David Bakker & Stephan Maurer & Jörn-Steffen Pischke & Ferdinand Rauch, 2021. "Of Mice and Merchants: Connectedness and the Location of Economic Activity in the Iron Age," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 103(4), pages 652-665, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:tpr:restat:v:103:y:2021:i:4:p:652-665
    DOI: 10.1162/rest_a_00902
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Adamson, Jordan, 2025. "Trade and the rise of ancient Greek city-states," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 235(C).
    2. Richard Hornbeck & Guy Michaels & Ferdinand Rauch, 2024. "Identifying agglomeration shadows: Long-run evidence from ancient ports," CEP Discussion Papers dp2013, Centre for Economic Performance, LSE.
    3. Stephan Maurer & Ferdinand Rauch, 2023. "Economic geography aspects of the Panama Canal," Oxford Economic Papers, Oxford University Press, vol. 75(1), pages 142-162.
    4. Shuhei Kitamura & Nils-Petter Lagerlöf, 2025. "Battles and Capitals," ISER Discussion Paper 1290, Institute of Social and Economic Research, The University of Osaka.
    5. Jerch, Rhiannon L. & Phaneuf, Daniel J., 2024. "Cities and water quality," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 107(C).
    6. Hanlon, W.Walker & Heblich, Stephan, 2022. "History and urban economics," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 94(C).
    7. Kitamura, Shuhei & Lagerlöf, Nils-Petter, 2021. "Cities, Conflict, and Corridors," OSF Preprints cfrzs, Center for Open Science.
    8. Andrew Dickens & Nils‐Petter Lagerlöf, 2023. "The long‐run agglomeration effects of early agriculture in Europe," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 61(3), pages 629-651, July.
    9. Max Marczinek & Stephan E. Maurer & Ferdinand Rauch, 2022. "Trade persistence and trader identity - evidence from the demise of the Hanseatic League," CEP Discussion Papers dp1828, Centre for Economic Performance, LSE.
    10. Marczinek, Max & Maurer, Stephan & Rauch, Ferdinand, 2025. "Networks in trade — Evidence from the legacy of the Hanseatic league," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 157(C).
    11. repec:osf:osfxxx:cfrzs_v1 is not listed on IDEAS
    12. Bosker, Maarten, 2022. "City origins," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 94(C).
    13. Marius Klein & Ferdinand Rauch, 2023. "Market Access and the Arrow of Time," CESifo Working Paper Series 10279, CESifo.
    14. Lin, Jeffrey & Rauch, Ferdinand, 2022. "What future for history dependence in spatial economics?," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 94(C).

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • F14 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Empirical Studies of Trade
    • O47 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - Empirical Studies of Economic Growth; Aggregate Productivity; Cross-Country Output Convergence

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