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Land revenue, inequality, and development in colonial India (1880–1910)

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  • Jordi Caum-Julio

Abstract

In my dissertation, I explore how colonial land institutions influenced both income inequality and the provision and funding of hospitals in colonial India. To do so, I present the first income inequality estimates assessing its evolution and levels across provinces and districts as well as a novel georeferenced hospital-level database. Findings suggest that the introduction of different colonial landownership rights—granting landownership and land revenue liability either to intermediaries or cultivators—explain differences in agricultural income inequality across districts and correlate with its evolution. These different landownership rights also affected the funding of hospitals through its interaction with local agency.

Suggested Citation

  • Jordi Caum-Julio, 2024. "Land revenue, inequality, and development in colonial India (1880–1910)," European Review of Economic History, European Historical Economics Society, vol. 28(2), pages 300-302.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:ereveh:v:28:y:2024:i:2:p:300-302.
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Tirthankar Roy, 2007. "Globalisation, Factor Prices, And Poverty In Colonial India," Australian Economic History Review, Economic History Society of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 47(1), pages 73-94, March.
    2. Abhijit Banerjee & Lakshmi Iyer, 2005. "History, Institutions, and Economic Performance: The Legacy of Colonial Land Tenure Systems in India," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 95(4), pages 1190-1213, September.
    3. Stefania Galli & Klas Rönnbäck, 2020. "Colonialism and rural inequality in Sierra Leone: an egalitarian experiment," European Review of Economic History, European Historical Economics Society, vol. 24(3), pages 468-501.
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