DAVID CLINGINGSMITH

Assistant Professor of Economics Weatherhead School of Management 11119 Bellflower Road Cleveland, Ohio 44106   Office Phone: 216-368-4294 Email: david.clingingsmith@case.edu

I am an economic historian and development economist. I am particularly interested in the economic history of South Asia and in understanding the interface between economic and other forms of social behavior. I completed my Ph.D. at Harvard University in June 2007.

Work in Progress

Estimating the Impact of the Hajj: Religion and Tolerance in Islam’s Global Gathering
With Asim Ijaz Khwaja and Michael Kremer

Abstract: We estimate the impact on pilgrims of performing the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca. Our method compares successful and unsuccessful applicants in a lottery used by Pakistan to allocate Hajj visas. Pilgrim accounts stress that the Hajj leads to a feeling of unity with fellow Muslims, but outsiders have sometimes feared that this could be accompanied by antipathy toward non-Muslims. We find that participation in the Hajj increases observance of global Islamic practices such as prayer and fasting while decreasing participation in localized practices and beliefs such as the use of amulets and dowry. It increases belief in equality and harmony among ethnic groups and Islamic sects and leads to more favorable attitudes toward women, including greater acceptance of female education and employment. Increased unity within the Islamic world is not accompanied by antipathy toward non-Muslims. Instead, Hajjis show increased belief in peace, and in equality and harmony among adherents of different religions. The evidence suggests that these changes are more a result of exposure to and interaction with Hajjis from around the world, rather than religious instruction or a changed social role of pilgrims upon return.

Bilingualism, Language Shift, and Industrialization in Mid-20th Century India

Abstract: Economists have linked linguistic heterogeneity to poor economic outcomes, including low economic growth. Linguists have noted that linguistic heterogeneity has been steadily declining for hundreds of years. This paper argues that an important factor behind the consolidation of languages noted by linguists has been the rise of economic activities in which communication is relatively important, such as manufacturing and services. When it is valuable to be able to communicate widely, there is an incentive to become bilingual, particularly for speakers of minority languages. The children of bilinguals may then assimilate to the bigger language, producing consolidation. I use a simple framework to illustrate the relationships between factory employment, bilingualism, and language consolidation. I then explore these relationships empirically using a new panel dataset of Indian districts for 1931 and 1961. My instrumental variables estimates show growth of manufacturing employment strongly encouraged bilingualism in mid-20th century India, particularly among minority language speakers. Bilingualism among speakers of a language is correlated with its relative decline; instrumental variables estimates show a one standard deviation increase in manufacturing employment decreased linguistic heterogeneity by a third of a standard deviation in Indian districts.

Contracting for Health: Evidence from Cambodia
With Indu Bhushan, Erik Bloom, Elizabeth King, Michael Kremer, Benjamin Loevinsohn, Rathavuth Hong, and J. Brad Schwartz

Abstract: Cambodia contracted the management of government health services to NGOs in five districts that had been randomly made eligible. The contracts set explicit targets for a set of maternal and child health services. Targeted outcomes improved by about one-half baseline standard deviation relative to comparison districts. Changes in non-targeted outcomes were small. The program increased the availability of 24-hour service, reduced provider absence, and increased supervisory visits. There is some evidence it improved health. The program involved increased public health funding, but led to roughly offsetting reductions in private expenditure as residents in treated districts switched from unlicensed drug sellers and traditional healers to government clinics. The program showed that relatively small expenditures can lead to large gains in health care provision when enforceable targets are set.

Recent Publications

Deindustrialization in 18th and 19th Century India: Mughal Decline, Climate Shocks and British Industrial Ascent
With Jeffrey Williamson

(Forthcoming, Explorations in Economic History)

Abstract: India was a major player in the world export market for textiles in the early 18th century, but by the middle of the 19th century it had lost all of its export market and much of its domestic market, primarily to Britain. The ensuing deindustrialization was greatest c1750-c1860. We ask how much of India's deindustrialization was due to local supply-side forces -- such as political fragmentation and a rising incidence of drought, and how much to world price shocks. An open, three-sector neo-Ricardian model organizes our thinking and new relative price database implements the empirical analysis. We find local supply side forces were important from as early as 1700. The size of Indian deindustrialization is then assessed by comparison with other parts of the periphery.