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Culture and Contracts: The Historical Legacy of Forced Labour

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  • Arthur Blouin

Abstract

Can divide-and-rule colonial policy be responsible for contemporary ethnic tension? This paper empirically investigates the role of a divisive and extractive colonial policy on Hutu–Tutsi discord in Rwanda and Burundi. It shows that Hutu with a family history of subjugation to forced labour by Tutsi chiefs are less trusting of Tutsi today and less willing to partner with Tutsi for a cooperative task. This may have implications for agriculture insurance agreements because Hutu are more agrarian and Tutsi are more pastoral. Indeed, Hutu with a forced labour family history make fewer inter-household insurance agreements and are more likely to experience default.

Suggested Citation

  • Arthur Blouin, 2022. "Culture and Contracts: The Historical Legacy of Forced Labour," The Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 132(641), pages 89-105.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:econjl:v:132:y:2022:i:641:p:89-105.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/ej/ueab031
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    Cited by:

    1. Becker, Sascha O. & Mukand, Sharun & Yotzov, Ivan, 2022. "Persecution, pogroms and genocide: A conceptual framework and new evidence," Explorations in Economic History, Elsevier, vol. 86(C).
    2. Leander Heldring, 2019. "The Origins of Violence in Rwanda," HiCN Working Papers 299, Households in Conflict Network.
    3. Cogneau, Denis & Mo, Zhexun, 2024. "Enforcing Colonial Rule: Blood Tax and Head Tax in French West Africa," SocArXiv 7wnsz, Center for Open Science.
    4. Arthur Blouin & Sharun W. Mukand & Sharun Mukand, 2022. "Mistaking Noise for Bias - Victimhood and Hutu-Tutsi Reconciliation in East Africa," CESifo Working Paper Series 9854, CESifo.
    5. Blouin, Arthur & Mukand, Sharun W., 2022. "Mistaking noise for bias," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 158(C).
    6. Arthur Blouin & Julian Dyer, 2021. "How Cultures Converge: An Empirical Investigation of Trade and Linguistic Exchange," Working Papers tecipa-691, University of Toronto, Department of Economics.
    7. Fenske, James & Gupta, Bishnupriya & Mukhopadhyay, Anwesh, 2025. "Colonial Persistence," CAGE Online Working Paper Series 752, Competitive Advantage in the Global Economy (CAGE).
    8. Denis Cogneau & Zhexun Mo, 2025. "Enforcing Colonial Rule: Blood Tax and Head Tax in French West Africa," PSE Working Papers halshs-04823289, HAL.
    9. Arthur Blouin & Sharun W. Mukand, 2019. "Erasing Ethnicity? Propaganda, Nation Building, and Identity in Rwanda," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 127(3), pages 1008-1062.
    10. Blouin, Arthur & Mukand, Sharun W., 2022. "Mistaking Noise for Bias Victimhood and Hutu-Tutsi Reconciliation in East Africa," CAGE Online Working Paper Series 629, Competitive Advantage in the Global Economy (CAGE).
    11. Max Posch & Itzchak Tzachi Raz, 2025. "Doux Commerce: Markets, Culture, and Cooperation in 1850-1920 U.S," Discussion Papers 2503, University of Exeter, Department of Economics.

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