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Culture and Contracts: The Historical Legacy of Forced Labour

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  • Arthur Blouin

Abstract

Can divide-and-rule colonial policy be responsible for contemporary ethnic tension? This paper empirically investigates the role of a divisive and extractive colonial policy on Hutu–Tutsi discord in Rwanda and Burundi. It shows that Hutu with a family history of subjugation to forced labour by Tutsi chiefs are less trusting of Tutsi today and less willing to partner with Tutsi for a cooperative task. This may have implications for agriculture insurance agreements because Hutu are more agrarian and Tutsi are more pastoral. Indeed, Hutu with a forced labour family history make fewer inter-household insurance agreements and are more likely to experience default.

Suggested Citation

  • Arthur Blouin, 2022. "Culture and Contracts: The Historical Legacy of Forced Labour," The Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 132(641), pages 89-105.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:econjl:v:132:y:2022:i:641:p:89-105.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/ej/ueab031
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Michal Bauer & Christopher Blattman & Julie Chytilová & Joseph Henrich & Edward Miguel & Tamar Mitts, 2016. "Can War Foster Cooperation?," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 30(3), pages 249-274, Summer.
    2. Samuel Bazzi & Christopher Blattman, 2014. "Economic Shocks and Conflict: Evidence from Commodity Prices," American Economic Journal: Macroeconomics, American Economic Association, vol. 6(4), pages 1-38, October.
    3. Sara Lowes & Nathan Nunn & James A. Robinson & Jonathan Weigel, 2015. "Understanding Ethnic Identity in Africa: Evidence from the Implicit Association Test (IAT)," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 105(5), pages 340-345, May.
    4. Sara Lowes & Eduardo Montero, 2021. "Concessions, Violence, and Indirect Rule: Evidence from the Congo Free State," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 136(4), pages 2047-2091.
    5. Melissa Dell & Benjamin A Olken, 2020. "The Development Effects of the Extractive Colonial Economy: The Dutch Cultivation System in Java," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 87(1), pages 164-203.
    6. Alesina, Alberto & La Ferrara, Eliana, 2002. "Who trusts others?," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 85(2), pages 207-234, August.
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    Cited by:

    1. Becker, Sascha O. & Mukand, Sharun & Yotzov, Ivan, 2022. "Persecution, pogroms and genocide: A conceptual framework and new evidence," Explorations in Economic History, Elsevier, vol. 86(C).
    2. Leander Heldring, 2019. "The Origins of Violence in Rwanda," HiCN Working Papers 299, Households in Conflict Network.
    3. Arthur Blouin & Sharun W. Mukand, 2019. "Erasing Ethnicity? Propaganda, Nation Building, and Identity in Rwanda," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 127(3), pages 1008-1062.
    4. Arthur Blouin & Sharun W. Mukand & Sharun Mukand, 2022. "Mistaking Noise for Bias - Victimhood and Hutu-Tutsi Reconciliation in East Africa," CESifo Working Paper Series 9854, CESifo.
    5. Blouin, Arthur & Mukand, Sharun W., 2022. "Mistaking noise for bias," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 158(C).
    6. Blouin, Arthur & Mukand, Sharun W., 2022. "Mistaking Noise for Bias Victimhood and Hutu-Tutsi Reconciliation in East Africa," CAGE Online Working Paper Series 629, Competitive Advantage in the Global Economy (CAGE).
    7. Arthur Blouin & Julian Dyer, 2021. "How Cultures Converge: An Empirical Investigation of Trade and Linguistic Exchange," Working Papers tecipa-691, University of Toronto, Department of Economics.
    8. Arthur Blouin & Sharun W. Mukand & Sharun Mukand, 2022. "Mistaking Noise for Bias - Victimhood and Hutu-Tutsi Reconciliation in East Africa," CESifo Working Paper Series 9854, CESifo.

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