Greg Rosalski

These are the places that tended to become poorer countries.

These are the places that tended to become poorer countries.

So the economists began searching for some kind of random factor unrelated to a country's potential for economic growth that affected which places got settler colonies.

So the economists began searching for some kind of random factor unrelated to a country's potential for economic growth that affected which places got settler colonies.

So the economists began searching for some kind of random factor unrelated to a country's potential for economic growth that affected which places got settler colonies.

Then the economists had their big breakthrough. they found a kind of random reason why Europeans put settler colonies in some places and not others. Disease.

Then the economists had their big breakthrough. they found a kind of random reason why Europeans put settler colonies in some places and not others. Disease.

Then the economists had their big breakthrough. they found a kind of random reason why Europeans put settler colonies in some places and not others. Disease.

The economists go searching for data so they can conduct a statistical analysis of all this. They find it in a set of books by historian Philip Curtin. He had meticulously compiled records on how many Europeans died from diseases in colonies around the world.

The economists go searching for data so they can conduct a statistical analysis of all this. They find it in a set of books by historian Philip Curtin. He had meticulously compiled records on how many Europeans died from diseases in colonies around the world.

The economists go searching for data so they can conduct a statistical analysis of all this. They find it in a set of books by historian Philip Curtin. He had meticulously compiled records on how many Europeans died from diseases in colonies around the world.

That's because the way they saw it, the death rates of colonizers was this kind of random independent factor determining which places got growth-friendly institutions and which places did not. This was the natural experiment the economists were looking for.

That's because the way they saw it, the death rates of colonizers was this kind of random independent factor determining which places got growth-friendly institutions and which places did not. This was the natural experiment the economists were looking for.

That's because the way they saw it, the death rates of colonizers was this kind of random independent factor determining which places got growth-friendly institutions and which places did not. This was the natural experiment the economists were looking for.

But it turned out not to be ridiculous. In fact, it ended up being Nobel Prize winning research, Mr. Distinguished Economist. Yeah.

But it turned out not to be ridiculous. In fact, it ended up being Nobel Prize winning research, Mr. Distinguished Economist. Yeah.

But it turned out not to be ridiculous. In fact, it ended up being Nobel Prize winning research, Mr. Distinguished Economist. Yeah.

When Simon shared this first round of results with Daron, he was like, wait, what?

When Simon shared this first round of results with Daron, he was like, wait, what?

When Simon shared this first round of results with Daron, he was like, wait, what?