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Discussion Paper Details

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Title: Further Evidence on the Link between Pre-Colonial Political Centralization and Comparative Economic Development in Africa

Author(s): Stelios Michalopoulos and Elias Papaioannou

Publication Date: November 2014

Keyword(s): Africa, development, ethnicity, institutions and state capacity

Programme Area(s): Development Economics

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.

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Bibliographic Reference

Michalopoulos, S and Papaioannou, E. 2014. 'Further Evidence on the Link between Pre-Colonial Political Centralization and Comparative Economic Development in Africa'. London, Centre for Economic Policy Research. https://cepr.org/active/publications/discussion_papers/dp.php?dpno=10258