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Long-Run Effects of Forced Resettlement: Evidence from Apartheid South Africa

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  • Abel, Martin

Abstract

In an attempt to divide and marginalize the black population, the apartheid regime forcefully relocated some 3.5 million South Africans to rural homelands between 1960 and 1980. This event, considered one of history’s largest social engineering exercises, created overcrowded and economically deprived communities of displaced people. This article uses geo-coded data to explore the long-term effects of removals on current measures of social capital. Comparing people within the same homeland, I show that those living close to former resettlement camps have higher levels of trust towards members of their social network, people in general, and members of other ethnic groups. These findings are important, as solidarity among suppressed people is believed to be a critical factor in explaining the demise of the apartheid regime.

Suggested Citation

  • Abel, Martin, 2019. "Long-Run Effects of Forced Resettlement: Evidence from Apartheid South Africa," The Journal of Economic History, Cambridge University Press, vol. 79(4), pages 915-953, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:jechis:v:79:y:2019:i:4:p:915-953_1
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    Cited by:

    1. Sascha O. Becker, 2022. "Forced displacement in history: Some recent research," Australian Economic History Review, Economic History Society of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 62(1), pages 2-25, March.
    2. Pellicer, Miquel & Ranchhod, Vimal, 2023. "Understanding the effects of racial classification in Apartheid South Africa," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 160(C).
    3. Phillip Keefer & Carlos Scartascini, 2022. "Trust, Social Cohesion, and Growth in Latin America and the Caribbean," IDB Publications (Book Chapters), in: Phillip Keefer & Carlos Scartascini (ed.), Trust: The Key to Social Cohesion and Growth in Latin America and the Caribbean, edition 1, chapter 1, pages 1-26, Inter-American Development Bank.
    4. Bridgman, Grace & von Fintel, Dieter, 2022. "Stunting, double orphanhood and unequal access to public services in democratic South Africa," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 44(C).
    5. Phillip Keefer & Carlos Scartascini, 2022. "Institutions: Mitigating Mistrust," IDB Publications (Book Chapters), in: Phillip Keefer & Carlos Scartascini (ed.), Trust: The Key to Social Cohesion and Growth in Latin America and the Caribbean, edition 1, chapter 7, pages 169-194, Inter-American Development Bank.
    6. Daniel Hernaiz Diez de Medina & Phillip Keefer & Miguel Purroy & Diego A. Vera Cossio, 2022. "Trust and the Economy," IDB Publications (Book Chapters), in: Phillip Keefer & Carlos Scartascini (ed.), Trust: The Key to Social Cohesion and Growth in Latin America and the Caribbean, edition 1, chapter 3, pages 51-78, Inter-American Development Bank.
    7. Manea, Roxana Elena & Piraino, Patrizio & Viarengo, Martina, 2023. "Crime, inequality and subsidized housing: Evidence from South Africa," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 168(C).
    8. Panza, Laura, 2020. "The impact of ethnic segregation on schooling outcomes in Mandate Palestine," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 146(C).
    9. Phillip Keefer & Carlos Scartascini, 2022. "Navigating a Sea of Mistrust," IDB Publications (Book Chapters), in: Phillip Keefer & Carlos Scartascini (ed.), Trust: The Key to Social Cohesion and Growth in Latin America and the Caribbean, edition 1, chapter 10, pages 255-286, Inter-American Development Bank.
    10. Miguel Porrua & Benjamin Roseth, 2022. "The Link between Trust and Digital Transformation," IDB Publications (Book Chapters), in: Phillip Keefer & Carlos Scartascini (ed.), Trust: The Key to Social Cohesion and Growth in Latin America and the Caribbean, edition 1, chapter 6, pages 143-168, Inter-American Development Bank.
    11. Phillip Keefer & Carlos Scartascini, 2022. "Organization, Citizenship, and the Social Contract," IDB Publications (Book Chapters), in: Phillip Keefer & Carlos Scartascini (ed.), Trust: The Key to Social Cohesion and Growth in Latin America and the Caribbean, edition 1, chapter 8, pages 195-222, Inter-American Development Bank.
    12. Bastos, Paulo & Bottan, Nicolas, 2023. "Resource rents, coercion, and local development: Evidence from post-apartheid South Africa," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 169(C).
    13. Samuel Berlinski & Matias Busso & Phillip Keefer & Carlos Scartascini, 2022. "A Primer on Trust: Measures and Determinants," IDB Publications (Book Chapters), in: Phillip Keefer & Carlos Scartascini (ed.), Trust: The Key to Social Cohesion and Growth in Latin America and the Caribbean, edition 1, chapter 2, pages 27-50, Inter-American Development Bank.
    14. Phillip Keefer & Carlos Scartascini, 2022. "The Power of Information," IDB Publications (Book Chapters), in: Phillip Keefer & Carlos Scartascini (ed.), Trust: The Key to Social Cohesion and Growth in Latin America and the Caribbean, edition 1, chapter 9, pages 223-254, Inter-American Development Bank.
    15. Paz, Santiago, 2023. "Long Run Consequences of Ethnic Conflict On Social Capital: Evidence from South Africa," Documentos CEDE 20923, Universidad de los Andes, Facultad de Economía, CEDE.
    16. Sergio Perilla & Razvan Vlaicu & Phillip Keefer, 2022. "Trust, Citizenship, and the Making of Good Public Policy," IDB Publications (Book Chapters), in: Phillip Keefer & Carlos Scartascini (ed.), Trust: The Key to Social Cohesion and Growth in Latin America and the Caribbean, edition 1, chapter 4, pages 79-108, Inter-American Development Bank.
    17. Alexia Lochmann & Nidhi Rao & Martin A. Rossi, 2023. "The Long-Run Effects of South Africa’s Forced Resettlements on Employment Outcomes," CID Working Papers 141a, Center for International Development at Harvard University.
    18. Ricardo Hausmann & Tim O'Brien & Andres Fortunato & Alexia Lochmann & Kishan Shah & Lucila Venturi & Sheyla Enciso & Ekaterina Vashkinskaya & Ketan Ahuja & Bailey Klinger & Federico Sturzenegger & Mar, 2023. "Growth Through Inclusion in South Africa," CID Working Papers 434, Center for International Development at Harvard University.
    19. Norling, Johannes, 2020. "Education and employment following apartheid protests," Explorations in Economic History, Elsevier, vol. 77(C).
    20. Alexia Lochmann, 2022. "Diagnosing Drivers of Spatial Exclusion: Places, People, and Policies in South Africa’s Former Homelands," CID Working Papers 140a, Center for International Development at Harvard University.
    21. Patricio Dominguez & Veronica Frisancho & Bridget Hoffmann, 2022. "Trust and the Effectiveness of Public Policy," IDB Publications (Book Chapters), in: Phillip Keefer & Carlos Scartascini (ed.), Trust: The Key to Social Cohesion and Growth in Latin America and the Caribbean, edition 1, chapter 5, pages 109-142, Inter-American Development Bank.

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