In this online appendix we extend the basic model in the paper in several directions, discuss the robustness of the results, and moreover what new mechanisms our extensions implies as compared to the ones in the basic model.

In this note we show how a considerably simpler model than the one in our original JDE 2006 paper generates all the same results. We also acknowledge an error in the specification of a utility function in our previous paper.

In this paper we argue that the political incentives that resource endowments generate are the key to understanding whether or not they are a curse. We show: (1) politicians tend to over-extract natural resources relative to the efficient extraction path because they discount the future too...

Why do soft budget constraints exist and persist? In this paper we argue that the prevalence of soft budget constraints can be best explained by the political desirability of softness. We develop an infinite horizon political economy model where neither democratic nor autocratic politicians can...

We explore how democratic elections in Nepal influenced the onset of the Nepalese Civil War (1996-2006). Specifically, we use an original dataset to systematically examine local-level electoral outcomes and their relationship with the onset of violence against government officials during the...

Policies aimed at increasing the resources and autonomy of subnational governments are often proposed as a conflict resolution strategy. This paper explores a particular threat to the effectiveness of such reforms in war-torn countries, namely the capture of local governments by non-state armed...

Spanish Abstract: Estudiamos el impacto de la descentralización en la capacidad fiscal local en Colombia. Específicamente, estimamos el efecto de mediano plazo del gran incremento en transferencias de origen nacional durante la década de los noventas sobre las fuentes principales del recaudo...