Ethnic geography: Measurement and evidence

• We develop and axiomatize a novel index of ethnic segregation. It is based on spatial distances between pairs individuals. decomposable into fractionalization, dispersion, alignment. compute our indices for many countries using ethnographic maps survey data. show their relation to geographic factors measures comparative development. know little about how geography, i.e., the distribution groups across space, shapes economic, political social To make progress harness growing availability spatially explicit data, we need summarizing key aspects geography. segregation that takes both individuals account. can decompose this generalized alignment distances. For application, different country-level versions its components either or geo-referenced Reassuringly, are highly correlated. explore (i) existing diversity; (ii) climatic geographical factors; (iii) quality government, economic development, trust.