In this paper we explore the long-run settlement and economic activities in the highlands of Asia. The highland terrains uniquely determined seasonal migration paths by nomadic pastoralists (so called “nomadic corridors”), along which trade routes and settlements formed. Using simulated nomadic corridors as a proxy for ancient transportation networks, we study how closely contemporary economic activities remain around these routes. We find that in the highlands, the ancient routes are associated with positive economic outcomes in the long run; trade hubs along the routes continued to draw people and are more populated today relative to other areas in the region.

在本文中，我们探讨了亚洲高地的长期定居和经济活动。高地地形独特地决定了游牧民的季节性迁徙路径（所谓的“游牧走廊”），贸易路线和定居点沿着这些路径形成。我们使用模拟游牧走廊作为古代交通网络的代表，研究当代经济活动在这些路线周围的存在程度。我们发现，从长远来看，在高地，古老的路线与积极的经济成果相关；沿线的贸易中心继续吸引着人们，而且今天相对于该地区的其他地区而言人口更多。