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Formation of the legacy of slavery: Evidence from the US South

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  • Jung, Yeonha

Abstract

Where slavery had been more prevalent, African Americans accumulated human capital at a slower rate after the Civil War. However, the shadow of slavery emerged after Reconstruction. This study suggests a mechanism by which the historical prevalence of slavery led to selective application of post-Reconstruction labor policies, which in turn reduced the effectiveness of Black human capital. Supporting this hypothesis, evidence indicates a decline in the return to Black literacy after Reconstruction with historical slave concentration. To identify the roles of post-Reconstruction policies, we examine the consequences of anti-enticement laws, which embodied the essence of labor polices after Reconstruction. Border-county analyses show that the laws were applied more effectively in slave-intensive counties, which reinforced racial hierarchy among workers and thus reduced the return to Black literacy. Evidence from the return to education echoes the findings from literacy.

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  • Jung, Yeonha, 2023. "Formation of the legacy of slavery: Evidence from the US South," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 154(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:eecrev:v:154:y:2023:i:c:s0014292123000387
    DOI: 10.1016/j.euroecorev.2023.104409
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Slavery; Post-Reconstruction; Return to human capital; Anti-enticement laws;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • N31 - Economic History - - Labor and Consumers, Demography, Education, Health, Welfare, Income, Wealth, Religion, and Philanthropy - - - U.S.; Canada: Pre-1913
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration

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