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Nationalism and government effectiveness

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  • Ahlerup, Pelle
  • Hansson, Gustav

Abstract

Nation-building is believed to have a positive influence on economic and political outcomes, especially in countries with ethnically fragmented populations. Yet nationalism, an indicator of successful nation-building, has been empirically linked to protectionism and intolerance, which suggests that dismal performance is a more likely outcome. This paper empirically identifies an inverted U-shaped relationship between nationalism and government effectiveness. The results suggest that the level of nationalism in the population is higher than optimal in most countries. It is further shown that nationalism may mitigate the negative effects of ethnic heterogeneity in former colonies. We find no clear linkages between nationalism and trade openness.

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  • Ahlerup, Pelle & Hansson, Gustav, 2011. "Nationalism and government effectiveness," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 39(3), pages 431-451, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jcecon:v:39:y:2011:i:3:p:431-451
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    1. Can civic nationalism help reduce corruption? Insights from Solomon Islands
      by Grant Walton in Development Policy Blog on 2022-11-16 19:00:10

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    4. Alberto Alesina & Bryony Reich & Alessandro Riboni, 2017. "Nation-Building, Nationalism, and Wars," Working Papers 2017-80, Center for Research in Economics and Statistics.
    5. Tamilina, Larysa, 2021. "The Dynamics of National Identity and Pride Formation in Ukraine," MPRA Paper 111033, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    6. Fabio Padovano & Yvon Rocaboy, 2018. "How defense shapes the institutional organization of states," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 175(1), pages 111-134, April.
    7. Mario Coccia & Igor Benati, 2017. "What is the relation between public manager compensation and government effectiveness? An explorative analysis with public management implications," quaderni IRCrES 201701, CNR-IRCrES Research Institute on Sustainable Economic Growth - Moncalieri (TO) ITALY - former Institute for Economic Research on Firms and Growth - Torino (TO) ITALY.
    8. Alaa Bakur, 2017. "Hearing Foreigners’ Voices: Unprecedented Communication for Hearing Foreigners’ Voices in Saudi Arabia," International Journal of Social Science Studies, Redfame publishing, vol. 5(12), pages 1-9, December.
    9. Ghassan Dibeh & Ali Fakih & Walid Marrouch & Ghida Matar, 2021. "Who Cares About Environmental Quality in the MENA Region?," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 157(2), pages 603-629, September.
    10. Bevaola Kusumasari & MD Enjat Munajat & Fadhli Zul Fauzi, 2023. "Measuring global pandemic governance: how countries respond to COVID-19," Journal of Management & Governance, Springer;Accademia Italiana di Economia Aziendale (AIDEA), vol. 27(2), pages 603-629, June.
    11. Ani Harutyunyan, 2020. "National Identity and Public Goods Provision," Comparative Economic Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Association for Comparative Economic Studies, vol. 62(1), pages 1-33, March.
    12. Stergios Skaperdas & Patrick A. Testa, 2023. "National Identity, Public Goods, and Modern Economic Development," CESifo Working Paper Series 10358, CESifo.
    13. Alexander Hamilton & John Hudson, 2014. "Bribery and identification: evidence from Sudan," Department of Economics Working Papers 21/14, University of Bath, Department of Economics.
    14. Petrova, Kristina & Rosvold, Elisabeth L., 2024. "Mitigating the legacy of violence: Can flood relief improve people’s trust in government in conflict-affected areas? Evidence from Pakistan," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 173(C).
    15. Ahlerup, Pelle & Baskaran, Thushyanthan & Bigsten, Arne, 2016. "Government Impartiality and Sustained Growth in Sub-Saharan Africa," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 83(C), pages 54-69.
    16. Alon, Anna & Dwyer, Peggy D., 2014. "Early Adoption of IFRS as a Strategic Response to Transnational and Local Influences," The International Journal of Accounting, Elsevier, vol. 49(3), pages 348-370.
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    18. Tamilina, Larysa, 2022. "Political factors as possible determinants behind the sense of identificationwith the nation, state, or society: hte case of Ukraine and Russia," MPRA Paper 115406, University Library of Munich, Germany.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Ethnic diversity Government effectiveness Nation-building Nationalism Protectionism;

    JEL classification:

    • F52 - International Economics - - International Relations, National Security, and International Political Economy - - - National Security; Economic Nationalism
    • N40 - Economic History - - Government, War, Law, International Relations, and Regulation - - - General, International, or Comparative

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