The “Deep Roots” literature investigates the effects of ancient cultural
variables on economic outcomes. We extend Putterman and Weil’s (Q J Econ
125(4):1627–1682, 2010) inquiry into the effects of State History and Agricultural
History to the economic output in ethnically and racially diverse fifty U.S. States.
The ethnic and racial differences across the populations of the fifty U.S. states vary
considerably due to historical immigration and slave flows that, as a result, produced
radically different State History and Agricultural History scores across the states.
Results derived from Putterman and Weil’s methodology do not robustly predict per
capita levels of economic output across U.S. States. We also investigate the institutions
channel, and find that they impact some measures of institutions, but they do
not impact the quality of economic institutions which may be essential for promoting
economic growth and development.

• The deep roots of economic development in the U.S. states: an application of Putterman and Weil (2010)