Physiological constraints and the transition to growth: implications for comparative development

Abstract It is a well known fact that economic development and distance to the equator are positively correlated variables in world today. perhaps less as recently 1500 C.E. it was other way around. The present paper provides theory of why ‘latitude gradient’ changed sign course last half millennium. In particular, we develop dynamic model physiological which households decide upon number nutrition their offspring. this setting demonstrate relatively high metabolic costs fertility, may have emerged due positive selection towards greater cold tolerance locations away from equator, would work stifle during pre-industrial times, yet allow for an early onset sustained growth. As result, suggests reversal fortune whereby activity gradually shifts process long-term development. Our empirical results give supporting evidence our hypothesis.