Linguistic Diversity Drives Economic Growth, Challenging Ethnicity-Based Theories

This paper challenges the view that ethnolinguistic homogeneity boosts economic growth.

It argues language is primarily a practical communication tool rather than an ethnic marker. Language boundaries aren't static or necessarily tied to ethnicity. People can be multilingual and learn official languages.

Key Argument

The supposed benefits of linguistic unity should apply equally to countries with large numbers of non-native speakers learning the dominant language.

Causal Mechanism