Working Paper: CEPR ID: DP10258
Authors: Stelios Michalopoulos; Elias Papaioannou
Abstract: We examine the link between pre-colonial statehood and contemporary regional African development, as reflected in satellite images on light density at night. We employ a variety of historical maps to capture the former. Our within-country analysis reveals a strong positive correlation between pre-colonial political centralization and contemporary development (and urbanization). If anything, the association strengthens when we account for measurement error on the historical maps of pre-colonial political organization.
Keywords: Africa; Development; Ethnicity; Institutions; State Capacity
JEL Codes: O10; O40; O43
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| precolonial political centralization (F54) | contemporary development (O29) |
| precolonial political centralization (F54) | higher levels of contemporary development (O29) |
| precolonial political centralization (F54) | contemporary development (O29) |
| precolonial political centralization (F54) | urbanization (R11) |