The "Out of Africa" Hypothesis, Human Genetic Diversity, and Comparative Economic Development

Quamrul Ashraf and Oded Galor

No 2010-03, Center for Development Economics from Department of Economics, Williams College

Abstract: This research advances and empirically establishes the hypothesis that, in the course of the prehistoric exodus of Homo sapiens out of Africa, variation in migratory distance to various settlements across the globe affected genetic diversity and has had a persistent hump-shaped effect on comparative economic development, reflecting the trade-off between the beneficial and the detrimental effects of diversity on productivity. While the low diversity of Native American populations and the high diversity of African populations have been detrimental for the development of these regions, the intermediate levels of diversity associated with European and Asian populations have been conducive for development.

JEL-codes: N10 N30 N50 O10 O50 Z10 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 111 pages
Date: 2010-08, Revised 2012-12
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-afr and nep-dev
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (9)

Published in the American Economic Review, February 2013, 103(1), pp. 1-46.

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https://web.williams.edu/Economics/wp/AshrafGalor_OOA.pdf Full text (application/pdf)

Related works:
Journal Article: The 'Out of Africa' Hypothesis, Human Genetic Diversity, and Comparative Economic Development (2013)
Working Paper: The "Out of Africa" Hypothesis, Human Genetic Diversity, and Comparative Economic Development (2012)
Working Paper: The "Out of Africa" Hypothesis, Human Genetic Diversity, and Comparative Economic Development (2012)
Working Paper: The 'Out of Africa' Hypothesis, Human Genetic Diversity, and Comparative Economic Development (2011)
Working Paper: The "Out of Africa" Hypothesis, Human Genetic Diversity, and Comparative Economic Development (2011)
Working Paper: The "Out of Africa" Hypothesis, Human Genetic Diversity, and Comparative Ecomomic Development (2010)
Working Paper: Human Genetic Diversity and Comparative Economic Development (2008)
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