In the intricate web of global economic disparities, one pattern stands out: nations closer to the equator often grapple with lower per capita incomes compared to their temperate counterparts. This phenomenon, long debated by economists and geographers, finds a compelling explanation in the interplay of climate and topography. As detailed in a recent analysis by Tomas Pueyo in Uncharted Territories, the preference for settlement in cooler, elevated regions in tropical areas reveals why heat can stifle development.

Consider Italy, where population clusters densely in fertile plains, illuminated by satellite imagery of nighttime lights. These lowlands offer ideal conditions for agriculture and urbanization, free from the extremes of altitude. Contrast this with Colombia, where the bulk of inhabitants reside not in coastal lowlands but in mountainous high plateaus. Pueyo’s mapping highlights how Bogotá, perched at 2,600 meters, hosts a climate far more temperate than sea-level cities like Barranquilla, despite being farther from the equator.

The Altitude Advantage in Tropical Climates

This inversion—mountains over plains—stems from a basic atmospheric principle: temperatures drop by approximately 4 to 9 degrees Celsius for every 1,000 meters of elevation gain. In Colombia’s case, Bogotá enjoys an annual average 14 degrees cooler than its coastal counterparts, making highland living not just viable but preferable. Spanish colonizers recognized this as early as 1538, founding the city inland amid the Andes to escape the oppressive equatorial heat that saps productivity and invites disease.

Such patterns extend beyond Colombia, influencing economic trajectories across the Global South. In warm climates, lowlands often become breeding grounds for tropical diseases like malaria, which historically decimated populations and deterred investment. Pueyo notes in Uncharted Territories that this forces societies to prioritize elevated terrains, which, while cooler, impose their own challenges: rugged landscapes hinder transportation, fragment communities, and limit scalable agriculture.

Economic Ramifications of Geographical Choices

The result is a fragmented economic base. Unlike the expansive river valleys of Europe or North America that facilitated trade and industrialization, tropical highlands create isolated pockets of development. Infrastructure costs soar—building roads through mountains demands exponentially more resources than across flat expanses—stifling connectivity and market integration. Pueyo’s analysis draws parallels to other nations, such as Ethiopia or Peru, where similar altitude-driven settlements correlate with persistent poverty traps.

Moreover, this geographical determinism intersects with colonial legacies. European powers, acclimated to milder climates, often imposed extractive economies on tropical colonies, exploiting resources without investing in resilient infrastructure. The cooler highlands became refuges for elites, but the broader populace remained vulnerable to climate-induced vulnerabilities, perpetuating cycles of underdevelopment.

Broader Implications for Global Policy

For industry insiders in development finance and urban planning, these insights underscore the need for targeted interventions. Climate adaptation strategies, such as advanced irrigation in lowlands or high-speed rail through highlands, could unlock potential. Pueyo’s work in Uncharted Territories suggests that as global warming intensifies, these dynamics may exacerbate inequalities, pushing more populations toward precarious elevations.

Yet, innovation offers hope. Advances in biotechnology, like disease-resistant crops, and renewable energy grids could mitigate heat’s economic drag. Policymakers must heed these geographical nuances to foster equitable growth, transforming what was once a climatic curse into a foundation for prosperity.