This paper provides robust evidence on feedback effects of violent conflicts on firm growth. It uses South Asian firm level data that contain rare employment information on countries that experience severe conflicts. We show that firm growth exists in conflict areas. Yet, there are fewer...

Key institutions of the pre-modern Middle Eastern economy, all grounded in Islamic law, blocked the development of democratic institutions. This talk identifies three mechanisms that played critical roles. Islam's original tax system failed to produce lasting and credible constraints on...

Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan are the only cities in the world that have experienced an atomic bomb attack. This paper explores how this devastating experience affected victims’ tendency to trust others. Individual-level data were used to examine the long-term influence of experiencing an...

We find robust evidence that in ancient China that consists of many consecutive dynasties, within each dynasty, the inequality demonstrates a "U" shape (or a "spoon" shape to be more precise). Therefore, as inequality hits an upper bound, war happens and a new dynasty replaces the old one. The...

This paper documents the regional divide in educational facilities between East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) and West Pakistan between 1947 and 1971. During this period, the total number of primary schools in East Pakistan declined, leading to overcrowding of existing schools and classrooms. On the...

This working paper analyzes demographic change in Southeast Asia’s main cities during and soon after the World War II Japanese occupation. We argue that two main patterns of population movements are evident. In food-deficit areas, a search for food security typically led to large net inflows...

The financial troubles of Ottoman Empire which started in 16th century reached its ultimate point in 19th century. The Ottoman Empire searching to get rid of these troubles directed towards making some reform activities during the Tanzimat Era. Some of the money needed for these reform...

Modernism that occurred with the results of Industrial Revolution and Enlightenment caused new formations and changes especially in cities. The new city centres which developed around the traditional city centres caused the cities gain their modern character with the buildings which had new...

Söyleşi Genel Yayın Yönetmenimiz Ali Bilge tarafından Açık Radyo’nun Açık Gazete programı için yapılmıştır. 29-30 Haziran 2010 tarihlerinde yayınlanan söyleşi metni daha sonra Timur Kuran tarafından gözden geçirilmiş ve İktisat İşletme ve Finans Dergisinde...

This paper analyzes the problem of spatial inequality which covered farmers living in and outside the upper Chao Phraya basin during 1782-1855. The study period was before the signing of Bowring Treaty when Siam was transitionally trapped between subsistence and market economies. The study...