In this paper we evaluate the impact of colonialism on development in Sub-Saharan Africa. In the world context, colonialism had very heterogeneous effects, operating through many mechanisms, sometimes encouraging development sometimes retarding it. In the African case, however, this heterogeneity is muted, making an assessment of the average effect more interesting. We emphasize that to draw conclusions it is necessary not just to know what actually happened to development during the colonial period, but also to take a view on what might have happened without colonialism and also to take into account the legacy of colonialism. We argue that in the light of plausible counter-factuals, colonialism probably had a uniformly negative effect on development in Africa. To develop this claim we distinguish between three sorts of colonies: (1) those which coincided with a pre-colonial centralized state, (2) those of white settlement, (3) the rest. Each have distinct performance within the colonial period, different counter-factuals and varied legacies.
A new paper by Leander Heldring and Jim Robinson.
Good thing academic paywall keeps this important study on African development blocked off from the world. Via @cblatts http://t.co/Q2venevP
MT: New research uses econ analysis to show negative impact of colonialism on econ development in Africa–via @cblatts http://t.co/r9CBAseA
Colonialism probably had a uniformly negative effect on development in Africa. http://t.co/I0RCLomO
For a close-up look at colonialism in Africa (and a riveting read), check out “MOOROSI: A South African king’s battle for survival” on amazon or at http://www.moorosi.com
[...] Chris Blattman, a new paper that argues, “In the light of plausible counter-factuals, colonialism probably [...]