This paper combines cross-national statistical analysis and in-depth historical case studies of Argentina and Chile to explore the relationship between two crucial dimensions of state capacity. We show that information capacity contributes to the development of fiscal capacity. States require...

This chapter offers a general assessment of the economic activity in Bolivian regions thanks to an estimation, for the first time, of regional GDPs in Bolivia from 1950 onwards. The new quantitative evidence shows the economic upsurge and consolidation of new regions beyond the traditional...

In the context of exports expansion, we want to evaluate the ability of natural resource-abundant countries to reduce their dependence on natural resource exploitation in the long run. Specifically, we measure exports diversification in Chile and Norway in order to measure how they responded to...

This chapter compares the evolution of fiscal systems in Andean and Nordic countries between 1850 and 2010. It does so through the lens of the "fiscal contract": because tax revenues are in some degree voluntary, citizens who pay them would expect state services in return, and have incentives...

In this chapter, we explore how natural resources can be exploitable resources thanks to knowledge improvements. This issue is tackled by looking at the evolution of engineering faculties and graduate engineers from 1850 to 1939 in Andean and Nordic countries, two regions where natural resources...

Based on almost 5.000 direct observations on National Identification Cards, this paper offers the first estimation of the evolution of average heights in urban Bolivia for the decades 1880s-1920s. The analysis focuses on men aged 19-50 years registered in the city of La Paz. Despite city's...

Based on almost 5.000 direct observations on National Identification Cards, this paper offers the first estimation of the evolution of average heights in urban Bolivia for the decades 1880s-1920s. The analysis focuses on men aged 19-50 years registered in the city of La Paz. Despite city's...