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THE DYNAMICS AND DETERMINANTS OF SLAVE PRICES IN AN URBAN SETTING: SANTIAGO DE CHILE, c. 1773-1822

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  • Cussen, Celia
  • Llorca-Jaña, Manuel
  • Droller, Federico

Abstract

This paper provides the first survey of slave prices for Santiago de Chile, c. 1773-1822. It also establishes the main determinants of slave prices during this period. We gathered and analysed over 3,800 sale operations. Our series confirm the usual inverted U-shape when prices are plotted against age, and that age was a very important determinant of slave prices. We also found that: female slaves were systematically priced over male slaves, quite contrary to what happened in most other markets; the prime age of Santiago slaves was 16-34, a younger range than for most other places; male slave prices moved in the same direction as real wages of unskilled workers; and the impact of the free womb law on market prices in 1811 was dramatic. Este es el primer estudio de precios de esclavos para Santiago de Chile, c. 1773-1822. Reunimos más de 3,800 contratos de compraventa, una serie que confirma la forma de U invertida habitual en la relación entre precio y edad. También se encontró que: las mujeres esclavas eran siempre más costosas que los esclavos varones, al contrario de lo sucedido en varios otros mercados; la edad óptima de esclavos en Santiago fue de 16-34, un rango etáreo menor que lo común en otros lugares; los precios de esclavos hombres se movían en la misma dirección que los salarios reales de los trabajadores no calificados; y la libertad de vientres produjo un impacto dramático en los precios de mercado en 1811.

Suggested Citation

  • Cussen, Celia & Llorca-Jaña, Manuel & Droller, Federico, 2016. "THE DYNAMICS AND DETERMINANTS OF SLAVE PRICES IN AN URBAN SETTING: SANTIAGO DE CHILE, c. 1773-1822," Revista de Historia Económica / Journal of Iberian and Latin American Economic History, Cambridge University Press, vol. 34(3), pages 449-477, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:reveco:v:34:y:2016:i:03:p:449-477_00
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    Cited by:

    1. Llorca-Jaña, Manuel & Navarrete-Montalvo, Juan & Droller, Federico & Araya-Valenzuela, Roberto, 2018. "Height in eighteenth-century Chilean men: Evidence from military records, 1730–1800s," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 29(C), pages 168-178.

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