National borders, conflict and peace

National borders, conflict and peace

by Enrico Spolaore

Book 15560 of NBER working paper series -- working paper

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"This paper reviews the economics approach to conflict and national borders. The paper provides a summary of ideas and concepts from the economics literature on the size of nations; illustrates them within an analytical framework where populations engage in conflict over borders and resources, and may form non-aggression pacts, military alliances, and political unions; and discusses extensions and directions for further research"--National Bureau of Economic Research web site.

Discussion questions for National borders, conflict and peace

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  1. 1

    How does viewing the formation and dissolution of national borders through an economic lens—weighing the costs of conflict against the benefits of integration—change your perspective on historical and current geopolitical disputes?

  2. 2

    Spolaore highlights how shared cultural, linguistic, or historical traits can reduce transaction costs between populations; in your own experience, how do shared identities facilitate cooperation, and when might they exacerbate division?

  3. 3

    If you were to apply the trade-off between the security benefits of a larger state and the governance costs of a diverse population to an organization or community you belong to, where is the optimal balance found?

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