The Association of Christian Economists

An Academic Society for Christians in the Economics Profession

  • Home
  • About ACE
    • Donate to ACE
  • 2023 ACE Conference
  • Faith & Economics
    • Aims and Scope
    • Instructions for Authors
    • Archives
  • Podcast
  • Membership
    • My Account
    • Join ACE
  • Log In

Physical Geography and the History of Economic Development – McCord & Sachs

Physical Geography and the History of Economic Development

Gordon C. McCord
School of Global Policy and Strategy
University of California-San Diego

Jeffrey D. Sachs
Columbia University and NBER

Full Text PDF

Abstract: The geographical patterns of income differences across the world have deep underpinnings. We emphasize that economic development is a complex process driven by economic, political, social, and biophysical forces. Some economists have argued that the patterns reflect mainly the historical footprint of colonial rule and political evolution, and that geography’s effects on development occurred exclusively through its effects on this historical institutional development. We suggest that economic development has also been shaped very importantly by the biophysical and geophysical characteristics of economies. Per capita incomes differ around the world in no small part because of sharp differences across regions in the natural resource base and physical geography, and by the amplification of those differences through the dynamics of saving and investment. We posit that the drivers of economic development include institutions, technology, and geography, and that none of these alone is sufficient to account for the diverse patterns of global growth. This paper discusses the role of physical geography in economic history, surveys relevant literature, presents new geographic variables for scholarly use, and documents empirical regularities suggesting an important role for geography in the distribution of economic activity around the world today.

JEL: O1, N1, R1.

Keywords: development, geography, economic history.

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Tumblr
  • Pocket
  • Print
January 1, 2016

Post navigation

Faith & Economics – Fall 2015 → ← The Law Does Not Make Us Righteous – Tiemstra

Journal and Website Search

Browse Recent Articles

Review of A Sacred Journey: Faithful Presence in the Secular Academy

Faith & EconomicsNUMBER 78, Fall 2021 Review ofA Sacred Journey: Faithful Presence in the Secular AcademyPaul Nicholas Wilson Reviewed by Andrew HansenAnselm House Full Text PDF

More Info

Review of Pricing Lives: Guideposts for a Safer Society

Faith & EconomicsNUMBER 78, Fall 2021 Review ofPricing Lives: Guideposts for a Safer Societyby W. Kip Viscusi Reviewed by Matthew P. ForsstromWheaton College Full Text PDF

More Info

Review of Political Economy as Natural Theology: Smith, Malthus, and Their Followers

Faith & EconomicsNUMBER 78, Fall 2021 Review ofPolitical Economy as Natural Theology: Smith, Malthus, and Their Followersby Paul Oslington Reviewed by Christina McRorieCreighton University [...]

More Info

Review of Capital and Ideology

Faith & EconomicsNUMBER 78, Fall 2021 Review ofCapital and Ideologyby Thomas Piketty Reviewed by Jamin HübnerUniversity of the PeopleLCC International University PDF Full Text

More Info

Review of Causal Inference: The Mixtape

Faith & EconomicsNUMBER 78, Fall 2021 Review of Causal Inference: The MixtapeBy Scott Cunningham Reviewed by Sarah HamersmaSyracuse University Full Text PDF

More Info

The Lost Sheep, God’s Body and Housing – Renewing Hearts and Minds into Renewed Communities

Faith & EconomicsNUMBER 78, Fall 2021 The Lost Sheep, God’s Body and Housing – Renewing Hearts and Minds into Renewed Communities Virginia BeardHope College Abstract: Home is part of what [...]

More Info

Economic and Environmental Religion: The Work of Robert H. Nelson

Faith & EconomicsNUMBER 78, Fall 2021 Economic and Environmental Religion: The Work of Robert H. Nelson Paul OslingtonAlphacrucis College Abstract: This article contextualizes and assesses [...]

More Info

Liberation Theology and Development Economics: Unlikely Allies?

Faith & EconomicsNUMBER 78, Fall 2021 Liberation Theology and Development Economics: Unlikely Allies? Annette Davis and Christina McRorieCreighton University Abstract: This article proposes [...]

More Info

Feedback

Any questions or feedback regarding site content or your membership account can be sent to the ACE webmaster.

Navigation

  • My Account
    • Membership Billing
    • Membership Cancel
    • Membership Checkout
    • Membership Confirmation
    • Membership Invoice
    • Join ACE
  • About ACE
    • Donate to ACE
  • Faith & Economics
    • Aims and Scope
    • Archives
    • Instructions for Authors
  • Membership
  • Home
  • Archives – Old Issues
  • Podcast
  • 2023 ACE Conference

Connect with ACE

Powered by WordPress | theme SG Double