Ethnic Diversity and Growth: Revisiting the Evidence

Marta Reynal-Querol and García-Montalvo, José

No 12400, CEPR Discussion Papers from Centre for Economic Policy Research

Abstract: The relationship between ethnic heterogeneity and economic growth is complex. Empirical research working with cross-country data finds a negative, or statistically insignificant, relationship. However, analysis at city level finds a positive effect of diversity on wages and productivity. Generally, there is a trade-off between the economic benefits of diversity and the costs of heterogeneity. Using cells of fixed size we find that the relationship between diversity and growth is positive for small geographical areas. In the case of Africa, we argue that the explanation is the increase in trade at the boundaries between ethnic groups due to ethnic specialization.

Keywords: Scale; Ethnicity; Economic growth (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017-10
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-evo, nep-gro and nep-ure
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (18)

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