Research
Published Papers
"International Migration Intentions and Illegal Costs: Evidence Using Africa-to-Europe Smuggling Routes", CEPR DP 13326, with Guido Friebel, Miriam Manchin and Mariapia Mendola. Press coverage: Lavoce.info (in italian), VoxEu.org. Accepted at the Journal of International Economics.
“Islam and Human Capital in Historical Spain”, CEPR DP 14561 and CESifo WP 8223, with Francesco Cinnirella and Alireza Naghavi. Journal of Economic Growth, 2023.
"Historical Social Contracts and their Legacy: A Disaggregated Analysis for the Medieval Republics", (CEPR DP 14214), with Paolo Buonanno, Matteo Cervellati and Sara Lazzaroni. Journal of Economic Growth, 2022.
"Learning, Proximity and Voting: Theory and Empirical Evidence from Nuclear Referenda", with Giuseppe Pignataro, Social Choice and Welfare, 2020.
"Crime and the Legalization of Recreational Marijuana", with Davide Dragone, Paolo Vanin and Giulio Zanella. Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, 2018. Press coverage: Pacific Standard
"Harmonization and Globalisation of Intellectual Property Culture", with Alireza Naghavi. The World Economy, 2018.
"Trade and Geography in the Spread of Islam", with Stelios Michalopoulos and Alireza Naghavi (supercedes this and previous versions). The Economic Journal, 2017. Press coverage: VoxEU, LSE Business Review.
"Islam, Inequality and Pre-Industrial Comparative Development", with Stelios Michalopoulos and Alireza Naghavi (supercedes this and previous versions). Journal of Development Economics, 2016.
"Organized Crime and Electoral Outcomes. Evidence from Sicily at the Turn of the XXI Century", with Paolo Buonanno and Paolo Vanin. European Journal of Political Economy, 2016.
"Poor Institutions, Rich Mines: Resource Curse in the Origins of the Sicilian Mafia", with Ruben Durante, Paolo Buonanno and Paolo Vanin. The Economic Journal, 2015.
"Knowing the Right Person in the Right Place: Political Connections and Resistance to Change", with Giorgio Bellettini and Carlotta Berti Ceroni. Journal of the European Economic Association, 2014.
"Persistence of Politicians and Firms' Innovation", with Giorgio Bellettini and Carlotta Berti Ceroni. Economic Inquiry, 2013.
"Political Persistence and Economic Growth", with Giorgio Bellettini and Carlotta Berti Ceroni. European Journal of Political Economy, 2013.
"A Politico-Economic Model of Aging, Technology Adoption and Growth", with Francesco Lancia. Journal of Population Economics, 2012.
"Cultural Identity and Knowledge Creation in Cosmopolitan Cities", with Gianmarco I.P. Ottaviano. Journal of Regional Science, 2009.
Working Papers
"Political Geography and Pre-Industrial Development: A Theory and Evidence for Europe 1000-1850", CEPR DP 13719, with Matteo Cervellati, Sara Lazzaroni and Paolo Vanin.
"Curse or Blessing? Multinational Corporations and Labour Supply in Africa", LdA WP n.477, 2021, (new 2022 CEPR version) with Mariapia Mendola and Tommaso Sonno.
"Who turns out to vote? A fresh look into an old question", with Giorgio Bellettini, Carlotta Berti Ceroni, Daniela Iorio, and Chiara Monfardini.
Work in Progress
“Dissecting the Impact of Immigration on Voting: Survey and Administrative Evidence”, with Giorgio Bellettini, Carlotta Berti Ceroni, Lavinia Piemontese and Antonio Schiavone.
“Borders, Trade and Growth: Evidence for Europe 1000-1800”, with Matteo Cervellati, Sara Lazzaroni and Paolo Vanin.
Book Chapters
"Life Expectancy, Human Capital Accumulation, Technological Adoption and the Process of Economic Growth", with Francesco Lancia, in Labour Markets and Demographic Change, Ed. by Michael Kuhn and Carsten Ochsen (2009). VS Verlag Eds.
“Cultural Diversity and Economic Performance: Evidence from European Regions”, with Elena Bellini, Gianmarco I.P. Ottaviano and Dino Pinelli. In Geography, Institutions and Regional Economic Performance, Edited by Crescenzi, R., Percoco, M. (2013), Springer Eds.
"Diversity in European regions: Lessons from Germany", with Bellini, E., Christova-Balkanska, I., Damvakeraki, T., Ottaviano, G.I.P., Pichler, E., Pinelli, D., Prarolo, G., Steinhrdt, M., Tsipouri, L., in The Sustainability of Cultural Diversity, Edited by Janssens, M., Bechtoldt,M., De Ruijter, A., Pinelli, D., Prarolo, G., Stenius, V. (2010), Edward Elgar Eds.
Other Writings
Book Review of "Good Capitalism, Bad Capitalism and the Economics of Growth and Prosperity", di William J. Baumol, Robert E. Litan e Carl J. Schramm in Equilibri, 2008(3).
Research Evaluation