Colonisation, institutions, and development: new evidence

Jose Antonio Alonso (1)

1 Department of Applied Economics [Madrid]

This article analyses current attempts to identify the factors underlying long-term economic growth. The author criticises some of the arguments on which the two main explanations that dominate recent literature are based: institution vs. geographical factors. Using an eclectic approach, the author considers the role of geography, trade, human capital and institutional quality in explaining development. The results of the empirical model confirm the central role of institutions in long-term economic growth. However, certain geographical conditions also seem to have influenced countries' development. Several questions remain to be answered, suggesting that cross-country estimations need to be complemented with historical analysis.

Mots clés: Social Sciences & Humanities

Domaines: Sciences de l'Homme et Société

Jose Antonio Alonso. Colonisation, institutions, and development: new evidence. The Journal of Development Studies, 2011, 47 (07), pp.937-958. ⟨10.1080/00220388.2010.527948⟩. ⟨hal-00720857⟩