Pre-Colonial Warfare and Long-Run Development in India

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Dincecco, Mark; Fenske, James; Menon, Anil; Mukherjee, Shivaji
• 署名单位: University of Michigan System; University of Michigan; University of Warwick; University of Toronto
• 刊物名称: ECONOMIC JOURNAL
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0013-0133
• DOI: 10.1093/ej/ueab089
• 发表日期: 2022
• 页码: 981-1010
• 关键词: economic-development; state capacity; CONFLICT; legacy; institutions; WAR; distance; GROWTH; IMPACT; CHINA

摘要

Does pre-colonial history-and in particular the role of interstate warfare-help explain long-run development patterns across India? To address this question, we construct a new geocoded database of historical conflicts on the Indian subcontinent. We document a robust positive relationship between pre-colonial conflict exposure and local economic development today. Drawing on archival and secondary data, we show that districts that were more exposed to pre-colonial conflict experienced greater early state-making, followed by lower political violence and higher investments in physical and human capital in the long term.