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Long-run Causes of Comparative Development: An Interpretation of the Recent Evidence

Author

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  • Stephen C. Smith

    (Department of Economics/Institute for International Economic Policy, George Washington University)

Abstract

What explains the extreme variations in development achievement, among LDCs, and between developing and developed countries? This paper present a schematic framework for the interpretation of some influential recent contributions to the study of the majo long-run causes of comparative development. The major emphasis is placed on what has been learned recently about the role of institutions in relation to other factors, through the use of centuries rather than decades of data.

Suggested Citation

  • Stephen C. Smith, 2008. "Long-run Causes of Comparative Development: An Interpretation of the Recent Evidence," Working Papers 2008-13, The George Washington University, Institute for International Economic Policy.
    • Handle: RePEc:gwi:wpaper:2008-13
    as

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    File URL: http://www.gwu.edu/~iiep/assets/docs/papers/Smith_IIEPWP2008-13.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. James Feyrer & Bruce Sacerdote, 2009. "Colonialism and Modern Income: Islands as Natural Experiments," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 91(2), pages 245-262, May.
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    3. Yifu Lin, Justin & Nugent, Jeffrey B., 1995. "Institutions and economic development," Handbook of Development Economics, in: Hollis Chenery & T.N. Srinivasan (ed.), Handbook of Development Economics, edition 1, volume 3, chapter 38, pages 2301-2370, Elsevier.
    4. David H. Romer & Jeffrey A. Frankel, 1999. "Does Trade Cause Growth?," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 89(3), pages 379-399, June.
    5. Daron Acemoglu & Simon Johnson & James A. Robinson, 2002. "Reversal of Fortune: Geography and Institutions in the Making of the Modern World Income Distribution," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 117(4), pages 1231-1294.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    comparative development; institutions; geography; colonialism; inequality; property rights; economic opportunity;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O17 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Formal and Informal Sectors; Shadow Economy; Institutional Arrangements
    • O43 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - Institutions and Growth
    • N10 - Economic History - - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics; Industrial Structure; Growth; Fluctuations - - - General, International, or Comparative

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