Disease and diversity in long-term economic development

Javier Birchenall

World Development, 2023, vol. 161, issue C

Abstract: Ethnographic data and archeological censuses of cities suggest that sub-Saharan Africa lagged behind tropical America during pre-colonial times. Disease (i.e., environmentally determined pathogen stress) has a negative impact on pre-colonial economic conditions, as measured by the presence of large physical structures in ethnographic data. This negative relationship is seen primarily, but not exclusively in African societies. Using a simple coalitional game, I propose a causal path from disease to ethnic diversity. Ethnographic data suggests a positive effect of disease on ethnic diversity, and persistent effects on long-term economic development. Even today, pre-colonial factors influence income per capita and ethnolinguistic fractionalization.

Keywords: Communicable diseases; Economic development; Ethnic diversity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: J11 O11 P51 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:wdevel:v:161:y:2023:i:c:s0305750x22002765

DOI: 10.1016/j.worlddev.2022.106086

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