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Decolonization And Economic Growth: The Case Of Africa

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  • Kevin Sylwester

    (Department of Economics, Southern Illinois University)

Abstract

This paper examines growth rates of real GDP per capita during decolonization in sub-Saharan Africa. For each period considered, I divide the sample between those countries that gained independence during the period and those that either remained colonies or were already independent. These newly independent countries grew slower than the control group. However, a more refined categorization shows that decolonizers grew slower than those that received their independence previously but did not grow slower than those that remained colonies. Thus, whether or not one perceives a cost of decolonization depends on what one uses as the control group.

Suggested Citation

  • Kevin Sylwester, 2005. "Decolonization And Economic Growth: The Case Of Africa," Journal of Economic Development, Chung-Ang Unviersity, Department of Economics, vol. 30(2), pages 87-102, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:jed:journl:v:30:y:2005:i:2:p:87-102
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Alam, M S, 1994. "Colonialism, Decolonisation and Growth Rates: Theory and Empirical Evidence," Cambridge Journal of Economics, Oxford University Press, vol. 18(3), pages 235-257, June.
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    3. Robert J. Barro, 1991. "Economic Growth in a Cross Section of Countries," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, Oxford University Press, vol. 106(2), pages 407-443.
    4. Bertocchi, Graziella & Canova, Fabio, 2002. "Did colonization matter for growth?: An empirical exploration into the historical causes of Africa's underdevelopment," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 46(10), pages 1851-1871, December.
    5. De Gregorio, Jose, 1992. "Economic growth in Latin America," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 39(1), pages 59-84, July.
    6. Chai, Sun-Ki, 1998. "Endogenous Ideology Formation and Economic Policy in Former Colonies," Economic Development and Cultural Change, University of Chicago Press, vol. 46(2), pages 263-290, January.
    7. Romer, Paul M., 1990. "Human capital and growth: Theory and evidence," Carnegie-Rochester Conference Series on Public Policy, Elsevier, vol. 32(1), pages 251-286, January.
    8. Minier, Jenny A, 1998. "Democracy and Growth: Alternative Approaches," Journal of Economic Growth, Springer, vol. 3(3), pages 241-266, September.
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    Cited by:

    1. Verstraeten, Soraya P.A. & van Oers, Hans A.M. & Mackenbach, Johan P., 2016. "Decolonization and life expectancy in the Caribbean," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 170(C), pages 87-96.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Sub-Saharan Africa; Economic Growth; Decolonization;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O55 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economywide Country Studies - - - Africa
    • N17 - Economic History - - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics; Industrial Structure; Growth; Fluctuations - - - Africa; Oceania

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