Resumen de Essays on long-run economic development and political economy
The effect of ethnic diversity on economic growth and development is a question of long-standing interest in economics (Easterly and Levine, 1997; Alesina and Glaeser, 2004). Diversity brings opportunities and challenges. While most empirical studies find corrosive effects, in the first chapter of this thesis I show that ethnic diversity need not spell poor development outcomes: a history of within-group heterogeneity can turn ethnic diversity into an advantage for development. I collect new data on a natural experiment from Peru's colonial history: the forced resettlement of native populations in the 16th century. This intervention forced together various ethnic groups in new jurisdictions. Where these groups were composed of more heterogeneous subpopulations, working in different ecological zones of the Andes prior to colonization, ethnic diversity has systematically lower costs and may even become advantageous. Cultural transmission is one likely channel. Specifically, where different ethnic groups were composed of more heterogeneous subpopulations, they engage in more cooperative behavior and exhibit more open attitudes toward out-group members.
The empirical analysis relies on anthropological and archaeological evidence on the spatial distribution of pre-colonial ethnic groups. In recent years, the literature on the roots of comparative development has incorporated relatively accurate historical maps, combining them with anthropological and high-resolution geospatial data. Specifically, maps on the approximate spatial distribution of pre-industrial ethnicities have received increasing attention. In the first chapter, I present a novel approach to validate historical ethnic borders. In certain contexts, provided that surnames are inherited, measures based on surname commonality between individuals can provide information on common ancestry. I use surnames from colonial baptism records in Peru. After identifying native surnames based on a novel dictionary of indigenous linguistic roots, the results suggest that, on average, surname heterogeneity among native populations was significantly higher close to ethnic borders, as compared to places that were located at the interior of ethnic homelands.
The ethnic background continues to be a relevant dimension in modern Peru. In the second chapter, co-authored with Lukas Kleine-Rueschkamp and Gianmarco León-Ciliotta, we study whether and how accountability mechanisms affect the characteristics and background of politicians who decide to run for office. In particular, we compare the characteristics of candidates running for mayor in municipalities where the incumbent was ousted from office through a recall referendum with those who run where the recall referendum failed by a small margin. Having a recalled incumbent in the previous term causes a negative selection of candidates in terms of their education and previous experience. They are also less representative of native populations. The results are driven by municipalities where the accountability institution is likely used for political purposes. They highlight that in countries with low state capacity, where accountability institutions are at risk of being captured or manipulated by political elites or special interest groups, the objectives of institutions that aim at increasing voters' control over politicians can be distorted.
References:
Alesina, A. and Glaeser, E. (2004). Fighting Poverty in the US andEurope: A world of Difference. Oxford University Press.
Easterly, W. and Levine, R. (1997). Africa’s growth tragedy: Policiesand ethnic divisions.The Quarterly Journal of Economics, 112(4):1203–1250.
