Pre-Colonial Warfare and Long-Run Development in India
Mark Dincecco|James Fenske|Anil Menon|Shivaji Mukherjee
Abstract 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 historical conflicts on Indian subcontinent. We document robust positive relationship between conflict exposure and local economic today. Drawing archival secondary data, show that districts were more exposed to experienced greater early state-making, followed by lower political violence higher investments physical human capital long term.
The Economic Journal|Warwick Research Archive Portal (University of Warwick)|RePEc: Research Papers in Economics|RePEc: Research Papers in Economics