Ethnic Diversity and Growth: Revisiting the Evidence

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Montalvo, Jose G.; Reynal-Querol, Marta
• 署名单位: Barcelona School of Economics; Pompeu Fabra University; Pompeu Fabra University; ICREA; Barcelona School of Economics
• 刊物名称: REVIEW OF ECONOMICS AND STATISTICS
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0034-6535
• DOI: 10.1162/rest_a_00901
• 发表日期: 2021-07
• 页码: 521-532
• 关键词: cultural-diversity; political-economy; institutions; TRADE; PRODUCTIVITY; exchange; origins; STATES; south

摘要

The relationship between ethnic heterogeneity and economic growth is complex. Empirical research working with cross-country data finds a negative, or statistically insignificant, relationship. However, analysis at the city level finds a positive effect of diversity on wages and productivity. Generally there is a trade-off between the economic benefits of diversity and the costs of heterogeneity. Using cells of fixed size, we find that the relationship between diversity and growth is positive for small geographical areas. In the case of Africa, we argue that the explanation is the increase in trade at the boundaries between ethnic groups due to ethnic specialization.