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IMPERIAL LEGACY The Persistence of Colonial Trade Patterns

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  • Aditya Bhattacharjea

    (Delhi School of Economics)

Abstract

Several decades after formally attaining independence, many developing countries continue to trade disproportionately with the European countries that once ruled them. Earlier attempts to examine this phenomenon have relied on inappropriate statistical techniques. After reviewing the existing literature, this paper draws on insights from economic history as well as the theory of industrial organization in order to motivate a different approach. History shows that there were crucial differences between the major colonial powers in respect of the nature and duration of the trade-diverting policies they imposed on their colonies; their treatment of different colonies; and of colonial exports as against imports. Theory suggests that when early entrants have sunk costs of marketing and distribution, market size is an important determinant of the entry of new suppliers. These insights are combined in an econometric specification that seeks to explain the market shares of Britain and France in different countries by their size, distance and (where relevant) time since independence. Exploratory tests, using panel data on imports by 119 developing countries for the period 1994-1999, give qualified support to the hypothesis that high market shares for the former colonial powers persist, especially in smaller, nearer, and more recently independent countries.

Suggested Citation

  • Aditya Bhattacharjea, 2004. "IMPERIAL LEGACY The Persistence of Colonial Trade Patterns," Working papers 126, Centre for Development Economics, Delhi School of Economics.
  • Handle: RePEc:cde:cdewps:126
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Yeats, Alexander J., 1978. "Monopoly power, barriers to competition and the pattern of price differentials in international trade," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 5(2), pages 167-180, June.
    2. Henri L. F. De Groot & Gert‐Jan Linders & Piet Rietveld & Uma Subramanian, 2004. "The Institutional Determinants of Bilateral Trade Patterns," Kyklos, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 57(1), pages 103-123, February.
    3. Rauch, James E., 1999. "Networks versus markets in international trade," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 48(1), pages 7-35, June.
    4. Steven Husted & James Cassing, 2006. "Trade Pattern Persistence," Working Paper 223, Department of Economics, University of Pittsburgh, revised Jan 2006.
    5. Michael G. Plummer (ed.), 2004. "Empirical Methods in International Trade," Books, Edward Elgar Publishing, number 3447.
    6. James E. Rauch & Alessandra Casella, 2003. "Overcoming Informational Barriers to International Resource Allocation: Prices and Ties," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 113(484), pages 21-42, January.
    7. Ritschl, Albrecht & Wolf, Nikolaus, 2003. "Endogeneity of Currency Areas and Trade Blocs: Evidence from the Inter-war Period," CEPR Discussion Papers 4112, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    8. James E. Rauch & Vitor Trindade, 2002. "Ethnic Chinese Networks In International Trade," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 84(1), pages 116-130, February.
    9. James Cassing & Steven Husted, 2004. "Trade Pattern Persistence," Chapters, in: Michael G. Plummer (ed.), Empirical Methods in International Trade, chapter 6, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    10. Mordechai E. Kreinin, 1972. "Some Economic Consequences Of Reverse Preferences," Journal of Common Market Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 11(3), pages 161-172, September.
    11. Kleiman, Ephraim, 1976. "Trade and the Decline of Colonialism," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 86(343), pages 459-480, September.
    12. Livingstone, Ian, 1976. "The Impact of Colonialism and Independence on Export Growth in Britain and France," Oxford Bulletin of Economics and Statistics, Department of Economics, University of Oxford, vol. 38(3), pages 211-218, August.
    13. Svedberg, Peter, 1981. "Colonial Enforcement of Foreign Direct Investment," The Manchester School of Economic & Social Studies, University of Manchester, vol. 49(1), pages 21-38, March.
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    1. repec:dau:papers:123456789/9564 is not listed on IDEAS
    2. Emmanuelle Lavallée & Julie Lochard, 2012. "Independence and trade: the specic effects of French colonialism," Post-Print hal-01609942, HAL.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Trade Patterns; Persistence; Colonialism; Developing Countries;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F14 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Empirical Studies of Trade
    • N70 - Economic History - - Economic History: Transport, International and Domestic Trade, Energy, and Other Services - - - General, International, or Comparative
    • O19 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - International Linkages to Development; Role of International Organizations

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