INFORMAL INSTITUTIONS AND LOCAL PUBLIC INVESTMENTS IN RURAL CHINA

In this paper, we empirically investigate the impact of informal institutions on local public investment in rural China. We find that lineage groups have a significant effect on local public investment (per capita investment in irrigation, schools, roads, etc.): One clan is good for local public goods investment, while two or more clans in a village have a negative effect. The effect is increasing with the coverage of the largest clan. The evidence on religious groups is mixed.