Is Poverty in the African DNA (Gene)?

Simplice Asongu and Oasis Kodila-Tedika

No 15/011, Research Africa Network Working Papers from Research Africa Network (RAN)

Abstract: A 2015 World Bank report on attainment of Millennium Development Goals concludes that the number of extremely poor has dropped substantially in all regions with the exception of Sub-Saharan Africa. We assess if poverty is in the African gene by revisiting the findings of Ashraf and Galor (2013, AER) and reformulating the ‘Out of Africa Hypothesis’ into a ‘Genetic Diversity Hypothesis’ for a ‘Within Africa Analysis’. We motivate this reformulation with five shortcomings largely drawn from the 2015 findings of the African Gerome Variation Project, notably: limitations in the conception of space, an African dummy in genetic diversity, linearity in migratory patterns, migratory origins and underpinnings of genetic diversity in Africa. Ashraf and Galor have concluded that cross-country differences in development can be explained by genetic diversity in a Kuznets or inverted U-shaped pattern. Our results from an exclusive African perspective partially confirm the underlying hypothesis in a contemporary context, but not in the historical analysis. From a historical context, the nexus is U-shaped for migratory distance, mobility index and predicted diversity while for the contemporary analysis; it is hump-shaped for ancestry-adjusted predicted diversity. Hence from a within-Africa comparative standpoint, poverty is not in the African gene.

Keywords: Africa; Genetic diversity; Comparative economic development (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: N10 N30 N50 O10 O50 Z10 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 34
Date: 2015-04
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (58)

Published: South African Journal of Economics

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http://publications.resanet.org/RePEc/abh/abh-wpap ... -the-African-DNA.pdf Revised version, 2017 (application/pdf)

Related works:
Journal Article: Is Poverty in the African DNA (Gene)? (2017)
Working Paper: Is Poverty in the African DNA (Gene)? (2015)
Working Paper: Is Poverty in the African DNA (Gene)? (2015)
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