Isolation and Development

Quamrul Ashraf (), Oded Galor () and Ömer Özak

No 2009-04, Department of Economics Working Papers from Department of Economics, Williams College

Abstract: This paper exploits cross-country variation in the degree of geographical isolation, prior to the advent of sea-faring and airborne transportation technologies, to examine its impact on the course of economic development across the globe. The empirical investigation establishes that prehistoric geographical isolation has generated a persistent beneficial effect on the process of development and contributed to the contemporary variation in the standard of living across countries.

Keywords: Growth; Development; Isolation; Agglomeration; Globalization (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O15 F15 N7 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-dev and nep-ure
Date: 2009-09
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Working Paper: Isolation and Development (2009)
Working Paper: Isolation and Development (2009)
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