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The Out of Africa Hypothesis of Comparative Economic Development: Common Misconceptions

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  • Quamrul H. Ashraf
  • Oded Galor
  • Marc Klemp

Abstract

"The importance of the prehistoric migration of anatomically modern humans from Africa for comparative economic development has been the focus of a vibrant research agenda in the past decade. This influential literature has attracted the attention of some scholars from other disciplines, and in light of existing methodological gaps across fields, has perhaps unsurprisingly generated some significant misconceptions. This article examines the critical views expressed by some scholars from other disciplines, and establishes that they are based on fundamental misunderstandings of the statistical methodology, the conceptual framework, and the scope of the analysis that characterize this influential literature..

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  • Quamrul H. Ashraf & Oded Galor & Marc Klemp, 2018. "The Out of Africa Hypothesis of Comparative Economic Development: Common Misconceptions," Working Papers 2018-13, Brown University, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:bro:econwp:2018-13
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Cemal Eren Arbatlı & Quamrul H. Ashraf & Oded Galor & Marc Klemp, 2020. "Diversity and Conflict," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 88(2), pages 727-797, March.
    2. Cemal Eren Arbatli & Quamrul Ashraf & Oded Galor, 2013. "The Nature of Civil Conflict," Working Papers 2013-15, Brown University, Department of Economics.
    3. Quamrul H. Ashraf & Oded Galor & Marc Klemp, 2018. "Interpersonal Diversity and Socioeconomic Disparities Across Populations: A Reply to Rosenberg and Kang," Working Papers 2018-14, Brown University, Department of Economics.
    4. C. Justin Cook & Jason M. Fletcher, 2018. "High-school genetic diversity and later-life student outcomes: micro-level evidence from the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study," Journal of Economic Growth, Springer, vol. 23(3), pages 307-339, September.
    5. Emilio Depetris-Chauvin & Ömer Özakz., 2018. "The Origins of the Division of Labor in Pre-modern Times," Documentos de Trabajo 511, Instituto de Economia. Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile..
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    1. ¿Es buena la diversidad genética para la economía?
      by David Cuberes in Nada Es Gratis on 2019-11-27 06:07:23

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    1. Quamrul H. Ashraf & Oded Galor & Marc Klemp, 2018. "Interpersonal Diversity and Socioeconomic Disparities Across Populations: A Reply to Rosenberg and Kang," Working Papers 2018-14, Brown University, Department of Economics.
    2. Kizys, Renatas & Mamatzakis, Emmanuel C. & Tzouvanas, Panagiotis, 2023. "Does genetic diversity on corporate boards lead to improved environmental performance?," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    3. Todea, Alexandru & Petrescu, Daiana Florina, 2021. "Is stock price informativeness shaped by our genes?," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 103(C).

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