The Size of Nations
"In this superb and pathbreaking monograph, Alesina and Spolaore convincingly apply the tools of economics to show how economic and political forces influence the breakup and integration of nations in an evolving world. This is a new domain of analysis that will be of utmost importance in the twenty-first century."--Gérard Roland, Professor of Economics, University of California, Berkeley"The Size of Nationsexemplifies the best of political economy. It makes simple but incisive arguments about a large, complex, and multifaceted set of phenomena, and then tests these arguments using the best available techniques. The result is a breathtaking combination of analytic acuity and real world importance. The claim that the confluence of globalization, democratization, and the end of the cold war was the perfect incubator for the explosion of nation states in the 1990s is arrestingly powerful.The Size of Nationswill long be admired and studied in the social sciences; it will also stimulate considerable debate and further research on its fascinating subject matter." Geoffrey Garrett, Vice Provost of the International Institute and Professor of Political Science, University of California, Los Angeles"This book is a tour de force..." Leonard Dudley EH.NET"This intriguing study by two political economists seeks to discover an economic logic behind the size of nations." Foreign Affairs"This is an extraordinary book that provides a rigorous, fun, and highly original view of what determines the number and size of countries. A must-read for all scholars in the fields of public economics, international economics and international relations" Jaume Ventura, CREI and Universitat Pompeu Fabra"This is an extraordinary book that provides a rigourous, fun, and highly original view of what determines the number and size of countries. A must-read for all scholars in the fields of public economics, international economics and international relations"--Jaume Ventura, CREI and Universitat Pompeu Fabra"*The Size of Nations* exemplifies the best of political economy. It makes simple but incisive arguments about a large, complex and multifaceted set of phenomena, and then tests these arguments using the best available techniques. The result is a breathtaking combination of analytic acuity and real world importance. The claim that the confluence of globalization, democratization and the end of the cold war was the perfect incubator for the explosion of nation states in the 1990s is arrestingly powerful. The Size of Nations will long be admired and studied in the social sciences; it will also stimulate considerable debate and further research on its fascinating subject matter."--Geoffrey Garrett, Vice Provost of the International Institute and Professor of Political Science, University of California, Los AngelesPlease note: Endorser gives permission to excerpt from quote in promotional pieces, but it should remain intact on the book jacket.