CAGE Working Papers October 2025

777 Heritage of Hostility: How Anti-Missionary Violence and Industrial Capacity Shaped China’s Quid Pro Quo for Foreign TechnologyLink opens in a new window

Authors: Renliang Liu, Jian Xie

Theme: Global Economic History

Summary: This paper investigates how anti-foreign sentiment affected technology adoption during China’s 1983 Quid Pro Quo policy, which exchanged market access for foreign technology. Using difference-in-differences and triple-differences analyses, the study finds that while industrially developed cities benefited most, historical anti-missionary violence erased about three-quarters of these gains. The effects were strongest for critical equipment and licensing. Mechanism tests show that anti-foreign sentiment weakened municipal ties and deterred foreign firms, reducing city-level productivity by an estimated 0.128%.

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776 Air Quality and Conferences' EngagementLink opens in a new window

Authors: Francesco Ferlenga

Theme: Global Economic History

Summary: This paper examines how divisive public symbols influence migration, focusing on Confederate monuments in the U.S. South. Using historical data, the study finds that counties erecting monuments experienced significant declines in Black population shares due to out-migration. To address endogeneity, an instrument based on transportation costs to a monument producer confirms a causal effect. Complementary online experiments reveal that Confederate monuments still deter Black individuals today, who demand higher wages and are less likely to accept job offers.

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775 Immigrant Rights Expansion and Local Integration: Evidence from ItalyLink opens in a new window

Authors: Francesco Ferlenga, Stephanie Kang

Theme: Responsive Public Policy

Summary: This paper examines how expanding immigrants’ rights influences their political and social integration, leveraging Romania’s 2007 EU accession, which granted Romanian immigrants in Italy voting and residency rights. Event study and instrumental difference-in-differences analyses show that enfranchisement increased Romanian turnout and representation, driven by existing residents rather than new arrivals. It also boosted prosocial behavior, such as organ donation consent. However, immigrant presence continued to heighten native support for right-leaning parties and security spending, revealing persistent backlash effects.

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