European Trade, Colonialism, and Human Capital Accumulation in Senegal, Gambia and Western Mali, 1770–1900

We trace the development of human capital in today's Senegal, Gambia, and Western Mali between 1770 and 1900. European trade, slavery, and early colonialism were linked to human capital formation, but this connection appears to have been heterogeneous. The contact with the Atlantic slave trade...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	The Journal of economic history 2017-09, Vol.77 (3), p.920-951
Main Authors:	Cappelli, Gabriele, Baten, Joerg
Format:	Article
Language:	eng
Subjects:	18th century 19th century 20th century Accumulation Agricultural production Agricultural products Capital formation Coasts Colonialism Crops Economic development Economic history Economic incentives Economic inequality Economic models Endowment Human capital Hypotheses Migrant workers Regional variations Regions Rivers Slave trade Slavery
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Summary:	We trace the development of human capital in today's Senegal, Gambia, and Western Mali between 1770 and 1900. European trade, slavery, and early colonialism were linked to human capital formation, but this connection appears to have been heterogeneous. The contact with the Atlantic slave trade increased regional divergence, as the coast of Senegambia developed more quickly than inner areas. This pattern was affected by French early colonialism and by the reaction of different West African populations to the economic incentives provided by foreign demand for agricultural products. The peanut trade since the mid-nineteenth century further amplified regional economic inequalities.
ISSN:	0022-0507 1471-6372