Institutions and Development:A View from Below

Rohini Pande () and Christopher Udry
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Rohini Pande: Economic Growth Center, Yale University

Working Papers from Economic Growth Center, Yale University

Abstract: In this paper we argue the case for greater exploitation of synergies between research on specific institutions based on micro-data and the big questions posed by the institutions and growth literature. To date, the macroeconomic literature on institutions and growth has largely relied on cross-country regression evidence. This has provided compelling evidence for a causal link between a cluster of ‘good’ institutions and more rapid long run growth. However, an inability to disentangle the effects of specific institutional channels on growth or to understand the impact of institutional change on growth will limit further progress using a cross-country empirical strategy. We suggest two research programs based on micro-data that have significant potential. The first uses policy-induced variation in specific institutions within countries to understand how these institutions influence economic activity. The second exploits the fact that the incentives provided by a given institutional context often vary with individuals’ economic and political status. This can help us better understand how institutional change arises in response to changing economic and demographic pressures.

Keywords: Institutions; Growth; Cross-Country Regressions (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O11 O12 O17 P51 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 59 pages
Date: 2005-11
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-dev, nep-pke and nep-soc
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (67)

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Working Paper: Institutions and Development: A View from Below (2005)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:egc:wpaper:928

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