Empirical Essays on the Political Economy of Heterogeneity, Migration, and Institutions

Identifier:  TDX:2875

Handle: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11797/TDX2875

Authors:  Zergawu, Yitagesu Zewdu

Abstract:
This dissertation comprises of four empirical essays looking at the political economy of social heterogeneity, international migration, and institutional quality. The first essay analyzes the impact of commodity price shocks and social heterogeneity on the incidence of civil conflicts. Using panel data for developing countries, this essay shows that commodity-price shocks influence intrastate conflicts in relation to pre-existing structures of social diversity as well as the types of commodities. The second essay analyzes international migration trends focusing on African immigrants to Europe. Using panel data on bilateral migration, it is shown that migration flows are determined by political and social factors in addition to economic factors. The results suggest that policy interventions by the European Union and partnership with African countries should address political push factors in order to manage international migrations. The third essay examines the joint impact of infrastructure capital and institutional quality on economic growth using a large panel dataset of 120 countries. The findings show that interaction terms between infrastructure capital and institutional quality have a positive and significant impact on economic growth. This highlights the role of institutional quality on the economic productivity of infrastructure capital. Finally, the fourth essay, which is a work in progress, examines how emigrants – specifically African emigrants, in this context – affect the political stability and institutional reforms of their home countries. Together, these essays contribute to our understanding of civil conflicts, international migration and institutional quality in contexts characterized by multi-lateral relationships between countries.