Diamonds Are Forever: Long-Run Effects of Mining Institutions in Brazil

Marcelo Sacchi de Carvalho ()

No 2015_46, Working Papers, Department of Economics from University of São Paulo (FEA-USP)

Abstract: This paper uses a regression discontinuity approach to investigate whether a set of colonial policies adopted in the Diamond District of colonial Brazil have long-run impacts on development. Results regarding household income are still inconclusive. On the other hand, the estimated effects on adult literacy and light density from satellite images are positive. I also try to explore potential channels through which this historical event might influence the present. Using a geospatial road location database, I find that observations inside the District’s historical boundaries have denser road networks. Additionally I use microdata from the 1830s to show that slavery was more intense in untreated villages, which has been related in the literature to underdevelopment.

Keywords: Institutions; Development; Colonial Brazil (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: N56 O13 O43 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015-12-03
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-gro, nep-his and nep-lam
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
http://www.repec.eae.fea.usp.br/documentos/MarceloSacchi_46WP.pdf (application/pdf)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:spa:wpaper:2015wpecon46

Ordering information: This working paper can be ordered from

Access Statistics for this paper

More papers in Working Papers, Department of Economics from University of São Paulo (FEA-USP) Contact information at EDIRC.
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Pedro Garcia Duarte ( this e-mail address is bad, please contact ).