Development Economics: Economic Institutions are the sole cause of economic growth in the long run, discuss.

Economics

Essay Question: Economic Institutions are the sole cause of economic growth in the long run, discuss.
• The essay question must be discussed within the context of two or more developing countries. If
possible use Guatemala, Iraq and/or Pakistan.
• The three fundamental causes of growth must be discussed 1. Geography 2. Institution (Political +
Economic) and 3. Culture. You must talk about all three fundamental causes but do not
completely omit one of the three.
• Must link the three fundamental causes (1. Geography 2. Institution (Political + Economic) and

3. Culture)
   • Make sure facts are about the fundamental cause and not the proximal causes of growth
   • Show earlier on that the question is about fundamental causes of growth
   • You must forge an opinion and argue the case accordingly – supporting opinions with research
   papers
   • Don’t talk too much about politics
   • Must discuss what’s been discussed in the lecture material (attached below) and research papers
   (listed below), as well as other papers (from your research)
   • Word limit: 2500, without references
   Research papers that must be included in the essay
   • ‘The Macrogenoeconomics of Comparative Development’ (Ashraf and Galor)
   https://pubs.aeaweb.org/doi/pdfplus/10.1257/jel.20161314
   • ‘Institutions, Human Capital, and Development’ (Acemoglu et al)
   https://www.annualreviews.org/doi/pdf/10.1146/annurev- economics-080213-041119
   • ‘The Global Distribution of Economic Activity: Nature, History and the role of
   trade’ (Henderson et al)
   https://academic.oup.com/qje/article/133/1/357/4110418?l ogin=true
   *Additional to this, lecture material (attached) and 15 other sources must be included in the
   research. Refer to research by Stelios Michalopoulos, Felipe Valencia Caicedo & David Weil