Cultural doorways in the barriers to development
研究基于口头传统构建族群文化相似度指数，发现其显著影响当前人均收入差异，并探讨了民间传说相似性影响收入差距的机制，支持知识和技术传播在发展扩散中的作用。
Abstract We develop novel indices of cultural similarity among ethnic groups derived from their oral traditions. We find that variation in these indices significantly affects currently observed pairwise disparities in income per capita, even after controlling for measures of geo-climatic, historical, religious, and linguistic barriers. We also propose an empirical exploration of the mechanisms linking folklore similarities to income differences. These findings lend support to the relevance of knowledge, information and technological transfers across people and societies in the diffusion of development.