Colony

This is one of the most cited papers in modern economics. It argues that the types of institutions established by colonial powers (extractive vs. settler) were heavily influenced by European settler mortality rates, which in turn explains current global income disparities.

If your interest is in biology , this paper examines how ant colonies grow and reproduce, comparing independent versus dependent foundation strategies among queens. Colony

(Cambridge University Press).

by Acemoglu, Johnson, and Robinson (2001). This is one of the most cited papers in modern economics