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Did it pay to be a pioneer? Wealth accumulation in a newly settled frontier society

Author

Listed:
  • Cilliers, Jeanne

    (Department of Economic History, Lund University)

  • Green, Erik

    (Department of Economic History, Lund University)

  • Ross, Robert

    (Institute for History, Leiden University)

Abstract

While wealth-holding patterns in rural areas have been well studied, the link between initial conditions, prospects for wealth accumulation, and the persistence of inequality at an agricultural frontier is less clear. On the one hand, the frontier is thought to have had a levelling effect, with the availability of cheap land acting as an equalizer. On the other hand, land rents, accumulated during the settlement process, are thought to have the opposite effect. In this paper, we contribute to the debate on inequality in pre-industrial societies using a unique dataset that allows us to identify different wealth-accumulation strategies in an agrarian frontier society: the Graaff-Reinet district in South Africa’s Cape Colony between 1786-1850.

Suggested Citation

  • Cilliers, Jeanne & Green, Erik & Ross, Robert, 2022. "Did it pay to be a pioneer? Wealth accumulation in a newly settled frontier society," Lund Papers in Economic History 237, Lund University, Department of Economic History.
    • Handle: RePEc:hhs:luekhi:0237
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    South Africa; pre-industrial; frontier; wealth accumulation; life-cycle;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • N00 - Economic History - - General - - - General
    • N37 - Economic History - - Labor and Consumers, Demography, Education, Health, Welfare, Income, Wealth, Religion, and Philanthropy - - - Africa; Oceania

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