Online Appendix to: Eurasia Advantage, not Genetic Diversity: Against Ashraf and Galor's "Genetic Diversity" Hypothesis

Abstract

Ashraf and Galor (2012) advanced the bold thesis that genetic diversity within different human populations has been a foundational determinant of long-run economic development. In the HSR article "Eurasia Advantage, not Genetic Diversity: Against Ashraf and Galor’s 'Genetic Diversity' Hypothesis," we show that their results are not robust after controlling for a key missing variable - the Eurasia dummy. After controlling for the Eurasia dummy, all indicators of genetic diversity lose statistical significance in regressions with indicators of economic development as dependent variables. Ashraf and Galor's statistical results merely "reflect" - literally - Eurasia's unique advantage in supporting economic development that was mostly based on settled agriculture until about AD1500. The appendices included in this volume of HSR Trans complement the following article: Shiping Tang, 2016, Eurasia Advantage, not Genetic Diversity: Against Ashraf and Galor's "Genetic Diversity" Hypothesis, Historical Social Research 41 (1): 287-327. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.12759/hsr.41.2016.1.287-327.