Full Citation

Title: Leader selection and why it matters: Education and the endogeneity of favouritism in 11 African countries

Citation Type: Journal Article

Forthcoming?: Yes

ISBN:

ISSN: 1467-9361

DOI: 10.1111/RODE.12981

NSFID:

PMCID:

PMID:

Abstract: A large literature on favouritism argues that leaders favour their own ethnicity or administrative birthplace. We question the assumption that these leaders are exoge-nously selected for office. Using historical censuses from 11 African countries, we show that leaders are selected from more advanced regions. In other words, our sample shows that African leaders were created by colonial (and pre-colonial) institutions, which often meant large educational differences between regions. Our paper's historical perspective shows that these often-overlooked institutions can account for much of the variation in post-colonial outcomes. Favouritism was at least partially endogenous.

Url: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/rode.12981

User Submitted?: No

Authors: Maravall, Laura; Baten, Jörg; Fourie, Johan

Periodical (Full): Review of Development Economics

Issue:

Volume:

Pages: 1-46

Data Collections: IPUMS International, IPUMS Global Health - DHS

Topics: Education, Housing and Segregation, Race and Ethnicity

Countries: Benin, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia