State Capacity and Military Conflict
Review of Economic Studies 82(4), pp. 1409-1448 (2015)
Abstract
In 1500, Europe was composed of hundreds of statelets and principalities. By 1800, Europe had consolidated into a handful of powerful, centralized nation states. We build a model that simultaneously explains both the emergence of capable states and growing divergence between European powers.
Nicola Gennaioli, Hans-Joachim Voth (2015). “State Capacity and Military Conflict.” Review of Economic Studies.