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The Black Man's Burden

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  • Elise Huillery

    (Université Paris Dauphine-PSL - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres, ECON - Département d'économie (Sciences Po) - Sciences Po - Sciences Po - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Sciences Po - Sciences Po)

Abstract

Was colonization costly for France? Did French taxpayers contribute to colonies' development? This article reveals that French West Africa's colonization took only 0.29 percent of French annual expenditures, including 0.24 percent for military and central administration and 0.05 percent for French West Africa's development. For West Africans, the contribution from French taxpayers was almost negligible: mainland France provided about 2 percent of French West Africa's revenue. In fact, colonization was a considerable burden for African taxpayers since French civil servants' salaries absorbed a disproportionate share of local expenditures.

Suggested Citation

  • Elise Huillery, 2014. "The Black Man's Burden," SciencePo Working papers Main hal-03460531, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:spmain:hal-03460531
    DOI: 10.1017/S0022050714000011
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://sciencespo.hal.science/hal-03460531
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Elise Huillery, 2009. "History Matters: The Long-Term Impact of Colonial Public Investments in French West Africa," American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, American Economic Association, vol. 1(2), pages 176-215, April.
    2. James Foreman-Peck, 1989. "Foreign investment and imperial exploitation: balance of payments reconstruction for nineteenth-century Britain and India," Economic History Review, Economic History Society, vol. 42(3), pages 354-374, August.
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    4. repec:hal:spmain:info:hdl:2441/10262 is not listed on IDEAS
    5. Abhijit Banerjee & Lakshmi Iyer, 2005. "History, Institutions, and Economic Performance: The Legacy of Colonial Land Tenure Systems in India," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 95(4), pages 1190-1213, September.
    6. Moggridge, D E, 1992. "The," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 6(3), pages 207-209, Summer.
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