Testing Todd: family types and development

Abstract Many years ago, Emmanuel Todd came up with a classification of family types and argued that the historically prevalent in society have important consequences for its economic, political, social development. Here, we evaluate Todd's most predictions empirically. Relying on parsimonious model exogenous covariates, find mixed results. On one hand, authoritarian are, stark contrast to predictions, associated increased levels rule law innovation. other line expectations, communitarian are linked racism, low law, late industrialization. Countries which endogamy is frequently practiced also display an expectedly high level state fragility weak civil organizations.