The Long-Run Effects of Agricultural Productivity on Conflict, 1400-1900

Murat Iyigun, Nathan Nunn and Nancy Qian

No 11189, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: This paper provides evidence of the long-run effects of a permanent increase in agricultural productivity on conflict. We construct a newly digitized and geo-referenced dataset of battles in Europe, the Near East and North Africa covering the period between 1400 and 1900 CE. For variation in permanent improvements in agricultural productivity, we exploit the introduction of potatoes from the Americas to the Old World after the Columbian Exchange. We find that the introduction of potatoes permanently reduced conflict for roughly two centuries. The results are driven by a reduction in civil conflicts.

Keywords: conflict; natural resources; long-run development (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D74 O13 Q34 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 64 pages
Date: 2017-11
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-agr, nep-dev, nep-gro and nep-his
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (8)

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Related works:
Working Paper: The Long-run Effects of Agricultural Productivity on Conflict, 1400-1900 (2017)
Working Paper: The Long-run Effects of Agricultural Productivity on Conflict, 1400-1900 (2017)
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