Fractionalization

72 Pages Posted: 3 Jan 2003 Last revised: 19 Sep 2022

See all articles by Alberto F. Alesina

Alberto F. Alesina

Harvard University - Department of Economics; Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR); National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

William Easterly

New York University - Department of Economics

Arnaud Devleeschauwer

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Sergio Kurlat

World Bank

Romain T. Wacziarg

UCLA Anderson School of Management; National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

Multiple version iconThere are 2 versions of this paper

Date Written: January 2003

Abstract

We provide new measures of ethnic, linguistic and religious fractionalization for about 190 countries. These measures are more comprehensive than those previously used in the economics literature and we compare our new variables with those previously used. We also revisit the question of the effects of ethnic, linguistic and religious fractionalization on quality of institutions and growth. We partly confirm and partly modify previous results. The patterns of cross-correlations between potential explanatory variables and their different degree of endogeneity makes it hard to make unqualified statements about competing explanations for economic growth and the quality of government.

Suggested Citation

Alesina, Alberto F. and Easterly, William and Devleeschauwer, Arnaud and Kurlat, Sergio and Wacziarg, Romain T., Fractionalization (January 2003). NBER Working Paper No. w9411, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=366448

Alberto F. Alesina (Contact Author)

Harvard University - Department of Economics ( email )

Littauer Center
Cambridge, MA 02138
United States
617-495-8388 (Phone)
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Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR)

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National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

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William Easterly

New York University - Department of Economics ( email )

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New York, NY 10003
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Arnaud Devleeschauwer

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Sergio Kurlat

World Bank ( email )

1818 H Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20433
United States

Romain T. Wacziarg

UCLA Anderson School of Management ( email )

110 Westwood Plaza
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1481
United States

National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) ( email )

1050 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02138
United States

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