American Economic Review
ISSN 0002-8282 (Print) | ISSN 1944-7981 (Online)
The Effect of the TseTse Fly on African Development
American Economic Review
(pp. 382–410)
Abstract
The TseTse fly is unique to Africa and transmits a parasite harmful to humans and lethal to livestock. This paper tests the hypothesis that the TseTse reduced the ability of Africans to generate an agricultural surplus historically. Ethnic groups inhabiting TseTse-suitable areas were less likely to use domesticated animals and the plow, less likely to be politically centralized, and had a lower population density. These correlations are not found in the tropics outside of Africa, where the fly does not exist. The evidence suggests current economic performance is affected by the TseTse through the channel of precolonial political centralization. (JEL I12, N57, O13, O17, Q12, Q16, Q18)Citation
Alsan, Marcella. 2015. "The Effect of the TseTse Fly on African Development." American Economic Review 105 (1): 382–410. DOI: 10.1257/aer.20130604Additional Materials
JEL Classification
- I12 Health Behavior
- N57 Economic History: Agriculture, Natural Resources, Environment, and Extractive Industries: Africa; Oceania
- O13 Economic Development: Agriculture; Natural Resources; Energy; Environment; Other Primary Products
- O17 Formal and Informal Sectors; Shadow Economy; Institutional Arrangements
- Q12 Micro Analysis of Farm Firms, Farm Households, and Farm Input Markets
- Q16 Agricultural R&D; Agricultural Technology; Biofuels; Agricultural Extension Services
- Q18 Agricultural Policy; Food Policy