Size Matters: The Effect of the Scramble for Africa on Informal Institutions and Development

Arcangelo Dimico

No 14-02, QUCEH Working Paper Series from Queen's University Belfast, Queen's University Centre for Economic History

Abstract: We argue that the partition of ethnic groups following the Scramble for Africa does not itself matter for development in Africa. It matters only when the partitioned groups are relatively small because small groups lack political representation which may promote ethnic mobilization and foster support for informal (rather than formal) institutions which then may a ect development. Furthermore, the analysis of data from the Afrobarometer shows that the persistence of informal/tribal institutions related to property rights and the rule of law is one of the possible channels through which the size of the partitioned group a ects development

Keywords: partition; ethnic groups; development (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: N17 N47 O10 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-afr and nep-evo
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Working Paper: Size Matters: The Effect of the Scramble for Africa on Informal Institutions and Development (2014)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:zbw:qucehw:1402

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