The Origins of Ethnolinguistic Diversity: Theory and Evidence

Stelios Michalopoulos

MPRA Paper from University Library of Munich, Germany

Abstract: This research examines theoretically and empirically the economic origins of ethnolinguistic diversity. The empirical analysis constructs detailed data on the distribution of land quality and elevation across contiguous regions, virtual and real countries, and shows that variation in elevation and land quality has contributed �significantly to the emergence and persistence of ethnic fractionalization. The empirical and historical evidence support the theoretical analysis, according to which heterogeneous land endowments generated region specific� human capital, limiting population mobility and leading to the formation of localized ethnicities and languages. The research contributes to the understanding of the emergence of ethnicities and their spatial distribution and offers a distinction between the natural, geographically driven, versus the artificial, man-made, components of contemporary ethnic diversity.

Keywords: Ethnic Diversity; Geography; Technological Progress; Human Capital; Colonization (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: J24 O1 O43 Z13 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2008-10-19
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-his, nep-hrm and nep-mig
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (28)

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Related works:
Working Paper: The Origins of Ethnolinguistic Diversity: Theory and Evidence (2008)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:pra:mprapa:11531

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