Recent empirical evidence suggests an ambiguous relationship between internal conflicts,
state capacity, and tax performance. In theory, internal conflict should create strong …

Since the advent of public and private initiatives in Colombia, there has been interest in
exploring the possible future pathways of the Colombian business cycle. Based on a …

We develop a model of the politics of state capacity building undertaken by incumbent
parties that have a comparative advantage in clientelism rather than in public goods …

Development outcomes come in 'clusters' that seem difficult to exit. Typically juxtapositioned
are states that are both weak in the sense of lacking fiscal resources, but also patrimonial or …

Many insurgent groups operate across international borders, but transnational insurgent
activities are seldom observable and little is known about their consequences. In this paper I …

This paper studies the effects of violent crime on market prices and size using plant-level
panel data in Colombia. To estimate causal effects, I exploit reductions in violence driven by …

Conflict economics contributes to an understanding of violent conflict and peace in two
important ways. First, it applies economic concepts and models to help one understand …

A peace agreement represents a chance for the state to renew its social contract with the
conflict-affected population. Conflict may reoccur if their expectations of a peace dividend …

Nonviolent resistance is considered one of the most effective methods of bringing about
political change. Yet empirical research on how nonviolent campaigns emerge is limited …

I propose three broad sets of political economy underpinnings for the persistence of conflict
and the weak state. First, a “public goods trap” rooted in inequality implies that a low supply …