Nathan Nunn

Nathan Nunn (born July 9, 1974) is an economist and Professor in the Vancouver School of Economics at the University of British Columbia.^[1] He is best known for his research on the long-term effects of slave trade on Africa. His research interests include economic development, cultural economics, political economy and international trade.^[2]

Biography

A native of Canada, Nathan Nunn earned first a

• Countries' ability to enforce contracts is possibly a more important determinant of their comparative advantage than skilled labour and physical capital combined.^[6]
• A substantial part of Africa's current underdevelopment appears to be caused by the long-term effects of the Atlantic, Indian Ocean, Trans-Saharan and Red sea slave trades.^[7]
• Current differences in trust levels within Africa are attributable to the impact of the slave trades, which have caused the emergence of low-trust cultural norms, beliefs, and values in ethnic groups heavily affected by slavery (with Leonard Wantchekon).^[8]
• By impeding not only trade and technological diffusion but also the depredations of slave traders, the ruggedness of certain African regions' terrain had a significant positive impact on these regions' development (with Diego Puga).^[9]
• The introduction of the potato within the Columbian exchange may have been responsible for at least a quarter of the population and urbanisation growth observed in the Old World between 1700 and 1900 (with Nancy Qian).^[10]
• In line with
  plough agriculture gave men a comparative advantage in work outside of the home and made gender norms less equal. Historical differences in the plough use of immigrants' ancestral communities predict contemporary attitudes regarding gender equality (with Alberto Alesina and Paola Giuliano).^[11]
• U.S. Food Aid is driven by U.S. objectives and can lead to increased conflict in recipient countries (with Nancy Qian).

References