Islands as ‘Bad Geography’. Insularity, Connectedness, Trade Costs and Trade

TitleIslands as ‘Bad Geography’. Insularity, Connectedness, Trade Costs and Trade
Publication TypeWorking Paper
Year of Publication2015
AuthorsDeBenedictis, L, Pinna, AM
Number2015_04
ISBN Number978 88 8467 925 3
KeywordsConnectedness, Geography, gravity model, Islands, trade
Abstract

In this paper we explore the geographical dimension of insularity, measuring its effect on a comprehensive measure of trade costs (Novy 2012). Controlling for other geographical characteristics, connectedness (spatial proximity) and the role of historical events in shaping modern attitudes towards openness (measured through a quantification of routes descriptions in logbooks between 1750 and 1850), we give evidence that to be an island is not bad per se in terms of trade costs. Bad geography can be reversed by connectedness and open institutions.

Citation Key6495
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