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The Slave Trade and Conflict in Africa, 1400-2000

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  • Boxell, Levi
  • Dalton, John T.
  • Leung, Tin Cheuk

Abstract

Can the slave trade explain Africa's propensity for conflict? Using variation in slave exports driven by the interaction between foreign demand shocks and heterogeneity in trade costs, we show that the slave trade increased conflict propensities in pre-colonial Africa and that this effect has persisted to the present. Moreover, we find empirical evidence suggesting two related mechanisms for this persistence--natural resources and national institutions. These results "decompress" history by connecting the short-run and long-run effects of the African slave trade.

Suggested Citation

  • Boxell, Levi & Dalton, John T. & Leung, Tin Cheuk, 2019. "The Slave Trade and Conflict in Africa, 1400-2000," MPRA Paper 94468, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    • Handle: RePEc:pra:mprapa:94468
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    File URL: https://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/94468/1/MPRA_paper_94468.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Leoné Walters & Carolyn Chisadza & Matthew Clance, 2024. "Slave trades, kinship structures and women's political participation in Africa," Kyklos, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 77(3), pages 734-758, August.
    3. Tereza Nìmeèková & Arshad Hayat, 2022. "Does trade openness improve the quality of domestic institutions? Evidence from Africa," Equilibrium. Quarterly Journal of Economics and Economic Policy, Institute of Economic Research, vol. 17(4), pages 881-908, December.
    4. Nogues, Julio, 2020. "Europa, el comercio de esclavos y el subdesarrollo de África [European slave trade and Africa's underdevelopment]," MPRA Paper 102398, University Library of Munich, Germany.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    slave trade; conflict; resource curse; institutions; Africa;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • N47 - Economic History - - Government, War, Law, International Relations, and Regulation - - - Africa; Oceania
    • N57 - Economic History - - Agriculture, Natural Resources, Environment and Extractive Industries - - - Africa; Oceania
    • O13 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Agriculture; Natural Resources; Environment; Other Primary Products

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