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The Long Shadow of the Past: Political Economy of Regional Inequality in Colombia

Author

Listed:
  • Leopoldo Fergusson

    ()

  • Carlos Molina

    ()

  • James A. Robinson

    ()

  • Juan F. Vargas

    ()

Abstract

We study the nature of regional inequality in Colombia over the past 200 years. The main empirical fact is that regional inequality has been highly persistent despite the large changes that have taken place and the modernization of the society. We show that regional inequality is highly correlated with significant within-country differences in economic and political institutions, which are themselves highly persistent over the same period. We propose a tentative political economy theory of why the spatial distribution of institutions and economic outcomes has been so persistent over time.

Suggested Citation

  • Leopoldo Fergusson & Carlos Molina & James A. Robinson & Juan F. Vargas, 2017. "The Long Shadow of the Past: Political Economy of Regional Inequality in Colombia," DOCUMENTOS CEDE 015445, UNIVERSIDAD DE LOS ANDES-CEDE.
    • Handle: RePEc:col:000089:015445
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    File URL: http://economia.uniandes.edu.co/publicaciones/dcede2017-22.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Nathan Nunn, 2008. "The Long-term Effects of Africa's Slave Trades," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, Oxford University Press, vol. 123(1), pages 139-176.
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    5. Adolfo Meisel Roca., 2012. "¿Quién Manda Aquí?Poder Regional Y Participación De La Costa Caribe En Los Gabinetes Ministeriales, 1900-2000," Cuadernos de Historia Económica 31, Banco de la Republica de Colombia.
    6. Leopoldo Fergusson & Juan F. Vargas, 2013. "Don't Make War, Make Elections. Franchise Extension and Violence in XIXth-Century Colombia," DOCUMENTOS CEDE 010584, UNIVERSIDAD DE LOS ANDES-CEDE.
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    Cited by:

    1. Leonardo Bonilla-Mejía & Iván Higuera-Mendieta, 2017. "Political Alignment in the Time of Weak Parties: Electoral Advantages and Subnational Transfers in Colombia," DOCUMENTOS DE TRABAJO SOBRE ECONOMÍA REGIONAL Y URBANA 015746, BANCO DE LA REPÚBLICA - ECONOMÍA REGIONAL.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Regional Inequality; Political Institutions; Economic Institutions.;

    JEL classification:

    • D31 - Microeconomics - - Distribution - - - Personal Income and Wealth Distribution
    • D72 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Political Processes: Rent-seeking, Lobbying, Elections, Legislatures, and Voting Behavior
    • D73 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Bureaucracy; Administrative Processes in Public Organizations; Corruption
    • D78 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Positive Analysis of Policy Formulation and Implementation

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