Why Nations Fail: The Origins of Power, Prosperity, and Poverty

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On the opposition to the printing press in the Ottoman Empire, see
Savage-Smith (2003) pp. 656–59. Comparative historical literacy
comes from Easterlin (1981).
Our discussion of political institutions of Spain follows Thompson
(1994a, 1994b). For evidence on the economic decline of Spain over
this period, see Nogal and Prados de la Escosura (2007).
Our discussion of the impediments to economic development in
Austria-Hungary follows Blum (1943), Freudenberger (1967), and
Gross (1973). The quotation from Maria Theresa comes from
Freudenberger, p. 495. All other quotations from Count Hartig and
Francis I are from Blum. Francis’s reply to the delegates from the
Tyrol is quoted from Jászi (1929), pp. 80–81. The comment of
Friedrich von Gentz to Robert Owen is also quoted from Jászi (1929),
p. 80. The experience of the Rothschilds in Austria is discussed in
chap. 2 of Corti (1928).
Our analysis of Russia follows Gerschenkron (1970). The quotation
from Kropotkin is from p. 60 of the 2009 edition of his book. The
conversation between Nicholas and Mikhail is quoted from Saunders
(1992), p. 117. Kankrin’s quote on railways is in Owen (1991), pp.
15–16.
The speech by Nicholas to the manufacturers is reproduced from
Pintner 967), p. 100.
The quote from A. A. Zakrevskii is from Pintner (1967), p. 235.
On Admiral Zheng, see Dreyer (2007). The economic history of
early Modern China is covered by Myers and Wang (2002). The quote
from T’ang Chen is quoted from Myers and Wang, pp. 564–65.
See Zewde (2002) for an overview of the relevant Ethiopian
history. The data on how extractive Ethiopia has been historically
come from Pankhurst (1961), as do all the quotes we reproduce here.
Our description of Somali institutions and history follows Lewis
(1961, 2002). The heer of the Hassan Ugaas is reproduced on p.177 of
Lewis (1961); our description of a feud comes from chap. 8 of Lewis

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(1961), where he reports many other examples. On the Kingdom of
Taqali and writing, see Ewald (1988).

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