Historical legacy and institutions across countries

Kevin Sylwester
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Kevin Sylwester: Southern Illinois University, http://www.siuc.edu/

Journal of Applied Economics, 2008, vol. 11, 373-398

Abstract: Several recent theories postulate why some countries were able to devise institutions conducive to long-run economic growth whereas others were not. Most of these consider various historical factors or geographic characteristics as important predeterminants. But which of these theories comes closest to the truth? This paper simultaneously considers several competing theories and empirically examines which ones provide the strongest explanations for contemporary institutions. I find that settler mortality rates are strongly associated with contemporary institutions even when controlling for other important historical factors, including ones from theories that do not emphasize geographic characteristics. However, Englebert's concept of state legitimacy does best at explaining institutional outcomes within sub-Saharan Africa.

Keywords: institutions; colonial legacy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O11 O17 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2008
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:cem:jaecon:v:11:y:2008:n:2:p:373-398

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