The Colonial Legacy: Income Inequality in Former British African Colonies

Anthony Atkinson

No wp-2014-045, WIDER Working Paper Series from World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER)

Abstract: This paper examines the distribution of top incomes in 15 former British colonies in Africa, drawing on evidence available from income tax records. It seeks to throw light on the position of colonial elites during the period of British rule. Just how unequal were incomes? How did the position of the rich in the colonies compare with that of the rich in the United Kingdom?

Keywords: History of economics; Equality and inequality; Income distribution (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (15)

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