The Economic Origins of Government

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Allen, Robert C.; Bertazzini, Mattia C.; Heldring, Leander
• 署名单位: New York University; New York University Abu Dhabi; University of Oxford; University of Oxford; Northwestern University
• 刊物名称: AMERICAN ECONOMIC REVIEW
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0002-8282
• DOI: 10.1257/aer.20201919
• 发表日期: 2023
• 页码: 2507-2545
• 关键词: state; INEQUALITY; DEMOCRACY; climate; cities; TRADE

摘要

We test between cooperative and extractive theories of the origins of government. We use river shifts in southern Iraq as a natural experiment, in a new archeological panel dataset. A shift away creates a local demand for a government to coordinate because private river irrigation needs to be replaced with public canals. It disincentivizes local extraction as land is no longer productive without irrigation. Consistent with a cooperative theory of government, a river shift away led to state formation, canal construction, and the payment of tribute. We argue that the first governments coordinated between extended households which implemented public good provision.