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Economic Forms in Pre-Colonial Ghana

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  • Hymer, Stephen H.

Abstract

This paper uses a simple physiocratic model to examine forms of economic organization prevailing in Ghana before it was incorporated into the British Empire at the end of the nineteenth century. It is divided into three parts. The first analyzes the village subsistence economy and suggests that the egalitarian nature of the land-tenure system prevented the emergence of a land-owning class and the appropriation of an economic surplus. This led to an economic structure characterized by a low level of material production and a low degree of specialization and exchange. The second part analyzes forms of economic organization associated with long distance trade: that is, the very old northern trade with other parts of Africa, and the southern coastal trade with Europe which began in the fifteenth century. It argues that foreign trade not only expanded the consumption possibilities of the society, as predicted by the theory of international trade, but also introduced a new class structure and greater income inequality, since it allowed a small group to appropriate a surplus for its own use. The third part discusses the relevance of Pre-Colonial forms to twentieth century economic development.

Suggested Citation

  • Hymer, Stephen H., 1970. "Economic Forms in Pre-Colonial Ghana," The Journal of Economic History, Cambridge University Press, vol. 30(1), pages 33-50, March.
  • Handle: RePEc:cup:jechis:v:30:y:1970:i:01:p:33-50_07
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    Cited by:

    1. Franklin Obeng-Odoom, 2016. "Understanding Land Reform in Ghana," Review of Radical Political Economics, Union for Radical Political Economics, vol. 48(4), pages 661-680, December.
    2. Klas Rönnbäck, 2014. "Living standards on the pre-colonial Gold Coast: a quantitative estimate of African laborers’ welfare ratios," European Review of Economic History, European Historical Economics Society, vol. 18(2), pages 185-202.
    3. Buckley, Peter J., 2006. "Stephen Hymer: Three phases, one approach?," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 15(2), pages 140-147, April.
    4. Molini, Vasco & Keyzer, Michiel A. & van den Boom, Bart & Zant, Wouter, 2007. "Creating safety nets through semi-parametric index-based insurance: A simulation for Northern Ghana," 101st Seminar, July 5-6, 2007, Berlin Germany 9263, European Association of Agricultural Economists.
    5. Mintah, Kwabena & Boateng, Festival Godwin & Baako, Kingsley Tetteh & Gaisie, Eric & Otchere, Gideon Kwame, 2021. "Blockchain on stool land acquisition: Lessons from Ghana for strengthening land tenure security other than titling," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 109(C).
    6. Helena Barnard & Kenneth Amaeshi & Paul M. Vaaler, 2023. "Theorizing international business in Africa: A roadmap," Journal of International Business Policy, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 6(4), pages 389-407, December.

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