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Elite Identity and Political Accountability: A Tale of Ten Islands

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  • Jean-Paul Carvalho
  • Christian Dippel

Abstract

Emancipation of slaves in the 1830s transformed the political elites of the British-Caribbean plantation islands. New elites were more accountable to the citizenry. We develop a theory in which two factors limit and possibly reverse the effect of this on political outcomes, with legislators (i) ‘stepping up to pass extractive policies and/or (ii) weakening democratic institutions. The theory is supported by an historical analysis of ten Caribbean plantation islands, based on original archival data on legislator race, occupation and roll-call voting. Eventually, all assemblies that experienced a significant change in composition dissolved themselves and converted to British ‘Crown Rule’.

Suggested Citation

  • Jean-Paul Carvalho & Christian Dippel, 2016. "Elite Identity and Political Accountability: A Tale of Ten Islands," NBER Working Papers 22777, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:22777
    Note: DAE DEV LE POL
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. S.D.Smith & Martin Forster, 2013. "'The curse of the Caribbean'? Agency's impact on the efficiency of sugar estates in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, 1814-1829," Oxford Economic and Social History Working Papers _112, University of Oxford, Department of Economics.
    2. Christian Dippel & Avner Greif & Daniel Trefler, 2020. "Outside Options, Coercion, and Wages: Removing the Sugar Coating," The Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 130(630), pages 1678-1714.
    3. Simon D. Smith & Martin Forster, 2013. "‘The Curse of the Caribbean’? Agency’s impact on the efficiency of sugar estates in St.Vincent and the Grenadines, 1814-1829," Oxford University Economic and Social History Series _112, Economics Group, Nuffield College, University of Oxford.
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    Cited by:

    1. Collin Constantine, 2020. "A Community Divided: Top Incomes in CARICOM Member States," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 32(3), pages 738-758, July.
    2. Øivind Schøyen, 0. "What limits the efficacy of coercion?," Cliometrica, Springer;Cliometric Society (Association Francaise de Cliométrie), vol. 0, pages 1-52.
    3. Desierto, Desiree & Koyama, Mark, 2024. "The Political Economy of Status Competition: Sumptuary Laws in Preindustrial Europe," The Journal of Economic History, Cambridge University Press, vol. 84(2), pages 479-516, June.
    4. Øivind Schøyen, 2021. "What limits the efficacy of coercion?," Cliometrica, Springer;Cliometric Society (Association Francaise de Cliométrie), vol. 15(2), pages 267-318, May.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D71 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Social Choice; Clubs; Committees; Associations
    • N66 - Economic History - - Manufacturing and Construction - - - Latin America; Caribbean
    • O43 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - Institutions and Growth

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