Local institutions and pandemics: City autonomy and the Black Death
Han Wang|Andrés Rodríguez‐Pose
Local institutions have long been regarded as key drivers of economic development. However, little is known about the role in preparing places to cope with public health crises and pandemics. This paper sheds light on how nature a local institution, city autonomy, influenced variations incidence Black Death —possibly worst pandemic ever recorded— across cities Western Europe between 1347 1352. We examine urban autonomy not only because it represented major political shift medieval times, but because, more importantly, also represents prototype modern institution. By exploiting data spatial variation Death's mortality rates duration using OLS 2SLS methods, we uncover that reduced by, average, almost 10 percent. Autonomous were better position adopt swift efficient measures against than those governed by remote kings emperors. relationship has confirmed series placebo tests robustness checks. In contrast, there no evidence suggest was factor reducing European cities.
Applied Geography