Areas of Expertise
- Economic Growth and Development
- Political Economy
- Macroeconomics
- Economic Demography
- Agent-Based Computational Economics
Education
B.A. Trinity College, Economics & Computer Science (1999)
M.A. Brown University, Economics (2004)
Ph.D. Brown University, Economics (2009)
Courses
- ECON 345/ECON 545 (S) SEM Growth Diagnostics
- ECON 376 LEC The Economics of Global Inequality (not offered 2026/27)
- ECON 378 LEC Long-Run Comparative Development (not offered 2026/27)
- ECON 459 SEM Institutions and Development (not offered 2026/27)
- ECON 501 (F) SEM Economic Growth and Development
Publications
Profiles @ IDEAS, SSRN, CitEc, and Google Scholar
- Author Profile @ IDEAS
- Author Profile @ SSRN
- Citations Profile @ CitEc
- Citations Profile @ Google Scholar
Books
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Economic Growth, 4th Edition (joint with David N. Weil), 2025, New York: Routledge. LINK
Journal Articles and Chapters in Edited Volumes
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Structural Change, Elite Capitalism, and the Emergence of Labor Emancipation (joint with Francesco Cinnirella, Oded Galor, Boris Gershman, and Erik Hornung), Review of Economic Studies, Forthcoming. DOI
[ Open-access Working Paper ] -
The Ancient Origins of the Wealth of Nations (joint with Oded Galor and Marc Klemp), in Alberto Bisin and Giovanni Federico (eds.), The Handbook of Historical Economics, 2021, pp. 675–717, Cambridge: Elsevier, Academic Press. DOI
[ Open-access Working Paper ] -
Diversity and Conflict (joint with Eren Arbatli, Oded Galor, and Marc Klemp), Econometrica, March 2020, 88(2), pp. 727–797. DOI
[ Open-access Working Paper | NBER Working Paper | Print Version | Online Appendix ]
[ Replication Files ]
Media Coverage: Worldcrunch -
The Macrogenoeconomics of Comparative Development (joint with Oded Galor), Journal of Economic Literature, September 2018, 56(3), pp. 1119–1155. DOI
[ Open-access Working Paper | NBER Working Paper | Print Version ]
Media Coverage: Evolving Economics -
Banks, Market Organization, and Macroeconomic Performance: An Agent-Based Computational Analysis (joint with Boris Gershman and Peter Howitt), Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization, March 2017, 135, pp. 143–180. DOI
[ Open-access Working Paper | NBER Working Paper | Print Version ]
[ C++ Source Code ]
Media Coverage: Bloomberg -
How Inflation Affects Macroeconomic Performance: An Agent-Based Computational Investigation (joint with Boris Gershman and Peter Howitt), Macroeconomic Dynamics, March 2016, 20(S2), pp. 558–581. DOI
[ Open-access Working Paper | NBER Working Paper | Print Version ]
[ Replication Files | C++ Source Code ] -
Climatic Fluctuations and the Diffusion of Agriculture (joint with Stelios Michalopoulos), Review of Economics and Statistics, July 2015, 97(3), pp. 589–609. DOI
[ Open-access Working Paper | NBER Working Paper | Print Version | Online Appendix ]
[ Replication Files ]
Media Coverage: Breviosity -
Genetic Diversity and the Origins of Cultural Fragmentation (joint with Oded Galor), American Economic Review Papers and Proceedings, May 2013, 103(3), pp. 528–533. DOI
[ Open-access Working Paper | NBER Working Paper | Print Version | Online Appendix ]
[ Replication Files ]
Media Coverage: The Economist (Weekly Papers) -
The Effect of Fertility Reduction on Economic Growth (joint with David N. Weil and Joshua Wilde), Population and Development Review, March 2013, 39(1), pp. 97–130. DOI
[ Open-access Working Paper | NBER Working Paper | Print Version ]
[ Replication Files ]
Media Coverage: The Economist (Free Exchange) | The Economist (Feast and Famine) | New Security Beat -
The “Out of Africa” Hypothesis, Human Genetic Diversity, and Comparative Economic Development (joint with Oded Galor), American Economic Review, February 2013, 103(1), pp. 1–46 [lead article]. DOI
[ Open-access Working Paper | NBER Working Paper | Print Version | Online Appendix ]
[ Replication Files ]
Media Coverage: Neue Zürcher Zeitung (in German) | Science Channel | Wilson Quarterly | Evolving Economics | Thomson Reuters | El Mundo (in Spanish) | Chronicle of Higher Education | Vice | American Enterprise Institute | Nature News | Brown Daily Herald | Marginal Revolution | Science (Editors’ Choice) | Gene Expression | Economic Logic -
Macroeconomics in a Self-Organizing Economy (joint with Boris Gershman and Peter Howitt), in Jean-Luc Gaffard and Mauro Napoletano (eds.), Agent-Based Models and Economic Policy, Revue de l’OFCE: Debates and policies, October 2012, 124, pp. 43–65. URL
[ Print Version ] -
Dynamics and Stagnation in the Malthusian Epoch (joint with Oded Galor), American Economic Review, August 2011, 101(5), pp. 2003–2041. DOI
[ Open-access Working Paper | NBER Working Paper | Print Version | Online Appendix ]
[ Replication Files ]
Media Coverage: Marginal Revolution -
Isolation and Development (joint with Oded Galor and Ömer Özak), Journal of the European Economic Association, April/May 2010, 8(2-3), pp. 401–412. DOI
[ Open-access Working Paper | Print Version ]
Media Coverage: Economic Logic -
When Does Improving Health Raise GDP? (joint with Ashley Lester and David N. Weil), in Daron Acemoglu, Kenneth Rogoff, and Michael Woodford (eds.), NBER Macroeconomics Annual 2008, Vol. 23, April 2009, pp. 157–204, Chicago: University of Chicago Press. DOI
[ Open-access Working Paper | NBER Working Paper | Print Version ]
Media Coverage: New York Times (Economix) | The Economist (Economics Focus)
Current Working Papers
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Heterogeneity and Productivity (joint with Oded Galor and Marc Klemp), April 2015, Brown University, Department of Economics, Working Paper 2015-4. Under revision.
[ Open-access Working Paper ] -
The “Out of Africa” Hypothesis of Comparative Development Reflected by Nighttime Light Intensity (joint with Oded Galor and Marc Klemp), April 2014, Brown University, Department of Economics, Working Paper 2014-4.
[ Open-access Working Paper ] -
Cultural Diversity, Geographical Isolation, and the Origin of the Wealth of Nations (joint with Oded Galor), December 2011, NBER Working Paper 17640.
[ Open-access Working Paper | NBER Working Paper ]
Media Coverage: Mic | The Atlantic | Wall Street Journal (Real Time Economics)
Selected Works in Progress
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Population Diversity and Differential Paths of Long-Run Development since the Neolithic Revolution (joint with Oded Galor and Marc Klemp). In progress.
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Industrialization and Slavery in the Antebellum U.S. South (joint with Boris Gershman). In progress.
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On the Deep-Rooted Origins of Heterogeneity in Political Preferences (joint with Oded Galor and Marc Klemp). In progress.
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Divided by Diversity: Genetic Diversity and the Roots of Mistrust in Human Societies (joint with Oded Galor and Marc Klemp). In progress.
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Population Diversity, Colonial Migrations, and the “Reversal of Fortune” in Long-Run Development (joint with Gregory Casey and Oded Galor). In progress.
Commentary and Other Writings
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Interpersonal Diversity and Socioeconomic Disparities Across Populations: A Reply to Rosenberg and Kang (joint with Oded Galor and Marc Klemp), December 2018, Brown University, Department of Economics, Working Paper 2018-14.
[ Open-access Working Paper ] -
The “Out of Africa” Hypothesis of Comparative Economic Development: Common Misconceptions (joint with Oded Galor and Marc Klemp), November 2018, Brown University, Department of Economics, Working Paper 2018-13.
[ Open-access Working Paper ] -
Deep Roots of Comparative Development (joint with Oded Galor), in Stelios Michalopoulos and Elias Papaioannou (eds.), The Long Economic and Political Shadow of History, Volume I. A Global View, January 2017, pp. 19–50, London: CEPR Press.
[ Link to Book Chapter ] -
The “Out of Africa” Hypothesis, Human Genetic Diversity, and Comparative Economic Development: A Response to Commonly Raised Criticisms (joint with Oded Galor), June 2014.
[ Link to Response ] -
Response to Comments made in a Letter by Guedes et al. on “The ‘Out of Africa’ Hypothesis, Human Genetic Diversity, and Comparative Economic Development” (joint with Oded Galor), October 2012.
[ Link to Response ] -
Reply to Comments by Alan Kirman on “Macroeconomics in a Self-Organizing Economy” (joint with Boris Gershman and Peter Howitt), in Jean-Luc Gaffard and Mauro Napoletano (eds.), Agent-Based Models and Economic Policy, Revue de l’OFCE: Debates and policies, October 2012, 124, pp. 13a–14a.
[ Link to Comment and Reply ] -
The “Out of Africa” Hypothesis, Human Genetic Diversity, and Comparative Economic Development (joint with Oded Galor), VoxEU.org, August 1, 2011.
[ Link to Article ] -
Cultural Assimilation, Cultural Diffusion, and the Origin of the Wealth of Nations (joint with Oded Galor), VoxEU.org, September 13, 2007.
[ Link to Article ]
Affiliations
- Member, The American Economic Association
- Member, The Econometric Society
- Fellow, The Global Labor Organization
Grants
- Halvorsen Professorship, Williams College (2021–2026)
- Class of 1957 Summer Research Assistant Program Grant, Williams College (2010–2021)
- Center for Development Economics Research Grant, Williams College (2020)
- Oakley Center Fellows Program Research Grant, Williams College (2016–2017)
- National Science Foundation, Award No. SES 1338738 (2013–2015)
- Hellman Fellows Program Research Grant, Williams College (2012–2013)
- Henry George Summer Research Grant, Williams College (2012)
Committees
- Campus Environmental Committee
More Information
Other Positions
- Associate Editor, Journal of Economic Growth (2018–)
- Associate Editor, Journal of Population Economics (2019–)
- Visiting Assistant Professor of Public Policy, Harvard Kennedy School (2012–2013)
- Visiting Scholar, Center for International Development, Harvard University (2012–2013)
- Short-term Consultant, The World Bank (2012)
Course Syllabi
- ECON 120 Principles of Macroeconomics (Spring 2019)
- ECON 376 The Economics of Global Inequality (Fall 2020)
- ECON 378 Long-Run Comparative Development (Fall 2022)
- ECON 459 Institutions and Development (Fall 2023)
- ECON 501 Economic Growth and Development (Fall 2023)
- ECON 545 Growth Diagnostics (Spring 2023)