Pre-Colonial Warfare and Long-Run Development in India. Issue 643 (16th November 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Dincecco, Mark; Fenske, James; Menon, Anil; Mukherjee, Shivaji
• Is Part Of: Economic journal. Volume 132:Issue 643(2022)
• Page Start: 981
• Page End: 1010
• Publication Date: 2021-11-16
• Subjects: Economics -- Periodicals; Économie politique -- Périodiques; 330.05
• DOI: 10.1093/ej/ueab089
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0013-0133

Abstract

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 of historical conflicts on the Indian subcontinent. We document a robust positive relationship between pre-colonial conflict exposure and local economic development today. Drawing on archival and secondary data, we show that districts that were more exposed to pre-colonial conflict experienced greater early state-making, followed by lower political violence and higher investments in physical and human capital in the long term.