International Economic Dependence and Human Misery, 1938–1980: A Global Perspective

Abstract

Previous quantitative cross-national studies of international inequality have skirted several basic questions raised by dependency and world-system theories. These shortcomings stem from data limitations and from difficult problems in design and conceptualization. This paper attempts to overcome some of these problems by: (1) complementing the study of economic development with analyses of cross-national variation in physical quality of life; (2) using data at five points in time (1938, 1950, 1960, 1970, and 1980) and reporting the results of a variety of panel models with different time lags; and (3) implementing a multiple indicator approach to the measurement of economic development, dependency, and physical quality of life. Overall, the analyses show that dependency has a more harmful effect on physical quality of life than on economic development. This holds for a variety of panels and sample definitions. The analysis shows, further, that these effects become stronger with a greater time lag, supporting the long-term historical view of dependency and world-system theories.