Which hypothesis mentioned in the book proposes that equatorial regions are poor because tropical diseases have consequences for health and production and that tropical soils do not allow for productive agriculture?

The answer is the Geography Hypothesis.

Explanation:

The geography hypothesis holds that the differences in prosperity that are found around the world are due in large part to forces of nature, like the differences in geography, climate, and ecology that are evident in different regions of the world. The geography hypothesis emphasizes how the natural environment can explain why some nations are more prosperous than others. In contrast, the institutions hypothesis emphasizes the influences that are made and caused by humans. Human poverty is largely man-made in the institutions view.