Institutions and U.S. regional development
Subtitle: a study of Massachusetts and Virginia
By: Sukkoo Kim.
Contributors: National Bureau of Economic Research.
Series: NBER working paper series -- no. 13431.; Working paper series (National Bureau of Economic Research) -- working paper no. 13431.
Publisher: National Bureau of Economic Research
Published: 2007
Place of publication: Cambridge, Mass
Language: eng
Number of pages: 37
Subjects: Public institutions -- Massachusetts -- History; Public institutions -- Virginia -- History; Economic development -- Massachusetts -- History -- Econometric models; Economic development -- Virginia -- History -- Econometric models
Description: The development of the American economy was accompanied by significant spatial income inequalities between the northern and southern regions. While many factors contributed to northern industrialization and southern stagnation, an important factor was differences in their institutions. In the North, a democratic institution fostered growth whereas in the South, an oligarchic institution favored status quo. To gain some insights on the nature and causes of the divergence of these institutions, this paper examines the development of political and legal institutions in Massachusetts and Virginia, the two leading states in the North and the South.
Notes: "September 2007"

Includes bibliographical references (p. 33-37).

Also available in PDF from the NBER world wide web site (www.nber.org).