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Future challenges in measuring Africa’s past: Lessons from estimating GDP for the Gold Coast, 1891-1954

Author

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  • Jerven , Morten

    (School of International Studies, Simon Fraser University)

Abstract

There has been a recent surge in research on long term African development. For this research agenda to be fruitful and its theories, it is crucial to have consistent estimates of economic change. This paper contributes with a new GDP time series for Ghana, 1891-1954. The series implies a sustained period of economic expansion from the late 19th century into the 1960s. This suggests a revision of some prevalent truths about the history of economic growth in Sub-Saharan Africa. The paper discusses the potential of creating historical national accounts for other African economies across the colonial and post-colonial period.

Suggested Citation

  • Jerven , Morten, 2012. "Future challenges in measuring Africa’s past: Lessons from estimating GDP for the Gold Coast, 1891-1954," African Economic History Working Paper 3/2012, African Economic History Network.
    • Handle: RePEc:hhs:afekhi:2012_003
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    Cited by:

    1. Andersson, Jens & Lazuka, Volha, 2019. "Long-term drivers of taxation in francophone West Africa 1893–2010," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 114(C), pages 294-313.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Afriica; GDP; Gold Coast; Colonialism;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • N17 - Economic History - - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics; Industrial Structure; Growth; Fluctuations - - - Africa; Oceania
    • N27 - Economic History - - Financial Markets and Institutions - - - Africa; Oceania
    • N37 - Economic History - - Labor and Consumers, Demography, Education, Health, Welfare, Income, Wealth, Religion, and Philanthropy - - - Africa; Oceania
    • N47 - Economic History - - Government, War, Law, International Relations, and Regulation - - - Africa; Oceania
    • N57 - Economic History - - Agriculture, Natural Resources, Environment and Extractive Industries - - - Africa; Oceania

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