Family Characteristics, Productivity and Economic Development

47 Pages Posted: 18 Oct 2014 Last revised: 23 Dec 2023

Date Written: October 28, 2016

Abstract

This paper links economic development to age-old family characteristics through the propensity to invest and thus, increase human productivity. Inequality among siblings favors investment in physical capital, whereas a high status of women and strong parental authority favor investment in human capital. To test this theory, a family score is built according to the presence of these three characteristics in the traditional family type of each country. This family score, as well as basic family characteristics, are significantly associated with better economic outcomes (GDP per capita as well as proxies for investments in human and physical capital). These relationships are robust to other factors already identified as playing a role, such as geography, ethnic fractionalization, genetic diversity, religion and formal institutions. Reverse causality is rejected by history of family systems.

Keywords: Economic development, Family model, Cultural economics, Reversal of fortune

JEL Classification: N10, N30, N50, O10, O50, Z10

Suggested Citation

Le Bris, David, Family Characteristics, Productivity and Economic Development (October 28, 2016). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2511173 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2511173

David Le Bris (Contact Author)

Toulouse Business School ( email )

20, bd Lascrosses
Toulouse, 31068
France

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