Climate and Economic History

Climate is not simply a backdrop to economic change but a major force shaping development. My research focuses on tropical and monsoon regions, especially in South Asia and Africa, where water scarcity, seasonal rainfall, floods, and droughts profoundly influenced economic growth and social organization. By tracing responses through irrigation, water extraction, technological innovation, and institutional reform, I show that development followed ecological pathways distinct from those of temperate Europe. This work offers a new framework for understanding the historical relationship between environment, climate, and prosperity.