Was the Wealth of Nations Determined in 1000 BC?
研究了公元前1000年、公元0年和1500年的技术采用数据，发现技术差异在长期内惊人地持久，且1500年的技术与当今人均收入和技术采用关联最强。
We assemble a dataset on technology adoption in 1000 BC, 0 AD, and 1500 AD for the predecessors to today's nation states. Technological differences are surprisingly persistent over long periods of time. Our most interesting, strong, and robust results are for the association of 1500 AD technology with per capita income and technology adoption today. We also find robust and significant technological persistence from 1000 BC to 0 AD, and from 0 AD to 1500 AD. The evidence is consistent with a model where the cost of adopting new technologies declines sufficiently with the current level of adoption.