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The Western Expansion as a Common Pool Problem: The Contrasting Histories of the Brazilian and North American Pioneers

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  • Fernando Zanella
  • Christopher Westley

Abstract

Before the year 1600, Brazil and the United States were very similar regions in terms of geographic development and colonial status, and yet both countries developed in remarkably different ways. In this article, we apply institutional analysis and the common pool approach to explain differences in the western expansion of Brazil and the United States. We find that (i) such analysis complements much of the previous literature that heretofore explained differences in these regions using sociological and ideological analytical tools, and (ii) the theory that the distinctive behavior between the Brazilian bandeirantes and the North American pioneers is due to sociological factors is refuted.

Suggested Citation

  • Fernando Zanella & Christopher Westley, 2009. "The Western Expansion as a Common Pool Problem: The Contrasting Histories of the Brazilian and North American Pioneers," American Journal of Economics and Sociology, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 68(3), pages 775-789, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:ajecsc:v:68:y:2009:i:3:p:775-789
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1536-7150.2009.00646.x
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    3. North, Douglass C., 1989. "Institutions and economic growth: An historical introduction," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 17(9), pages 1319-1332, September.
    4. Daron Acemoglu & Simon Johnson & James A. Robinson, 2002. "Reversal of Fortune: Geography and Institutions in the Making of the Modern World Income Distribution," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 117(4), pages 1231-1294.
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    6. H. Scott Gordon, 1954. "The Economic Theory of a Common-Property Resource: The Fishery," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 62(2), pages 124-124.
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    Cited by:

    1. Fernando Zanella & Christopher Westley, 2015. "Degredados, Their Human Agency, and Micro Institutions in Colonial Brazil: An Institutionalist Reinterpretation," Journal of Economic Issues, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 49(1), pages 143-156, January.

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